Tomb of Princess Yongtai Xian
China - Xian - Beijing - Guangzhou - Chengdu - Dalian - Shenzhen - Shanghai - Hangzhou
Tomb of Princess Yongtai is situated 2.5 kilometers (1.5 miles) south east of the Qian Mausoleum. Li Xianhui, the Princess Yongtai was the seventh daughter of Emperor Zhong Zong and grand daughter of Gao Zong and the Empress Wu Zetian. This maiden was considered very beautiful. She was adored by her imperial father for her beauty and wisdom. She was married to Wu Yanji in 700 AD. Her newly wed husband's father was a nephew of the Empress. A year after her marriage and only seventeen years of age the princess was put to death in the same fashion as her brother Li Chongrun, the Crown Prince Yide. The young, ill-fated bride was recognized posthumously as Princess Yongtai in 706.
The road to the tomb is lined with a pair of stone lions, two pairs of stone figures, and a pair of ornamental stone columns. The tomb is pyramid-shaped, 87.5 meters long and 3.9 meters wide. The tomb chamber is also 16.7 meters deep. The tomb consists of a main passage, five doorways, six sky-lights, a paved path leading to the tomb, eight small niches, an antechamber and a burial chamber. The burial chamber represents the house that she lived in before her death.
The walls on both sides of the tomb passage are covered with murals of a blue dragon, a white tiger and warriors in uniforms, with gilded swords in their belts, famous buildings and towers, the rich trappings of courtly life and magnificent ceremonial parades. It is the painting of sixteen maids of honor that catch the attention of visitors. One of these elegant young women is known as the 'First Oriental Beauty'. Her round face with her well shaped eyebrows, alluring lips and graceful figure has evoked admiration from all who have looked upon her.
In the eight small niches on both sides of the sky-lights there are a multitude of tricolour glazed pottery of figurines of heavenly kings, male, female and ethnic equestrians, musicians complete with their musical instruments and animals and porcelain wares, and some other burial articles.
The murals have been removed to the Shaanxi Provincial Museum for safekeeping and replaced with replicas. This tomb had been subject to raids and many grave goods have been stolen. However, some 1046 pieces have survived intact.