School of Historical and Philosophical Studies - Research Publications

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The Political and the Personal in Five Tang Dynasty Imperial Tombs of the Post-Wu Zetian Period

Eckfeld, T ; ZHOU, T (Wenwu Chubanshe, 2022)

After his 705 resumption of the throne, Emperor Zhongzong (r.684 and 705-710) commissioned the construction of imperial tombs to reinstate the official status of members of the Tang dynasty imperial family who had been demoted and put to death in the Wu Zetian period. These grand tombs stood as symbols of both Li family political legitimacy and posthumous rehabilitation of the deceased. Five tombs containing mural paintings from 706, have been excavated, belonging to: Crown Prince Yide (d.701), Princess Yongtai (d.701) and Prince Li Xian (later Crown Prince Zhanghuai, d.684) at Qianling; and two concubines of Li Dan (later Emperor Ruizong, r.684- 690 and 710-712), Tang shi Anguo Xiangwang ruren (662-693) and Cui shi Anguo Xiangwang ruren (d.???) at Luoyang. These mural paintings are the largest number of discovered from any one year of the Tang dynasty. Comparison of the tombs and their mural paintings reveals new information about mortuary entitlements, relative status, standardisation of mural painting pictorial programs and personalisation reflecting the individual tastes and interests of tomb occupants or patrons commissioning the tombs.