Emperor Yan's Mausoleum

Emperor Yan's Mausoleum

Emperor Yan’s Mausoleum, the tomb of Emperor Yan (or Shennong) the ancestor of the Chinese Nation, is located in Luyuanpo, 19 kilometers away from the west of Yanling County, Zhuzhou City, Hunan Province. The total planning area reaches 111.86 km2, and the core area covers 2.4 km2. It is now a cultural relic site under the protection of national government, national patriotism education demonstration base, patriotism education demonstration base for all-China returned overseas Chinese, national AAAA scenic spot, the best scenic spot of Hunan Province, and among the first batch of national intangible cultural heritages, top ten cultural heritages of Hunan Province, eight new human landscapes of Xiaoxiang, and the top scenic spot in Hunan Province.

Historical data shows that Emperor Yan (Shennong) was the leader of a tribe surnamed Jiang in ancient times, around 4,800 ~ 10,000 years ago. Emperor Yan (Shennong) is the father of Chinese farming culture, and contributed greatly to the flourishing and multiplication of the Chinese Nation. He invented the plough and plowshare and taught people to farm; he tasted herbs and invented medicines; he wove hemp into fabric and invented garments; he gathered people to trade at noon and initiated markets; he made pottery and built houses for people to stay in; he made Qin, a musical instrument, from tung; he made bows and arrows, showing his strength to the world. The spirits of Emperor Yan for being firm and indomitable during exploration, being undaunted against repeated setbacks during invention, being unremitting during self-improvement and being selfless during contribution are key integral parts of the spirits of the Chinese Nation, and also the sources of power for the Chinese Nation to prosper and thrive forever. In his later years of life, Emperor Yan gathered herbs in Hunan Province to cure diseases of people. Although he encountered about 70 poisonous herbs one day, he did not give up. Unfortunately, he tasted “gelsemium elegans” and died and was buried in Luyuanpo, Yanling County, Zhuzhou City, Hunan Province.

With the changes of dynasties, Emperor Yan’s Mausoleum went through vicissitudes and was damaged and rebuilt for many times. Historical data shows that large scale repair happened once in the Song Dynasty, three times in the Ming Dynasty, nine times in the Qing Dynasty and four times in the Republic of China. The most recent large-scale repair happened in 1986. In October 1988, the restoration of the hall of Emperor Yan’s Mausoleum completed. The rebuilt Emperor Yan’s Mausoleum has the layout of imperial palaces in the Qing Dynasty. The hall of Emperor Yan’s Mausoleum is consisted of four parts, namely, the Meridian Gate, the Salute Pavilion, the Main Hall, and the Monument Pavilion. Behind the Monument Pavilion, it is the tumulus. At present, over 30 natural and human landscapes, either restored or newly built, are open to visitors, including the hall of Emperor Yan’s Mausoleum, Imperial Steles Park, Huangshan Steles, Imperial Envoy Mansion, Holy Fire Platform, Shennong Hall, Chaojin Square, Virtue Forest, Shennong Bridge, Memorial Arch of Emperor Yan’s Mausoleum, Chongde Hall, Luyuanpo, Dragon Head Rock, Dragon Talon Rocks, Herb Washing Pool, Yiyou Shengling, etc.

As early as in the Western Han Dynasty, the Mausoleum was built. In the Tang Dynasty, sacrifice offering was frequent. In the fifth Qiande Year of the Song Dynasty (967 A.D.), temple was built in front of the Mausoleum, and sacrifice was offered in front of the portrait of Emperor Yan. Sacrifice was offered once in every three years, which is made a routine event. In over 150 years of the Northern Song Dynasty, sacrifice was offered for more than 50 times. In the Yuan and Ming Dynasties, sacrifice was also offered. In the Qing Dynasty, sacrifice offering was very frequent and grand. There are 53 steles of sacrificial oration that can be dated back to early dynasties. There are also over 20 steles and stone inscriptions for other purposes. Emperor Yan has always been in people’s minds for several thousand years. And sacrifice offering will be held continuously.

Emperor Yan’s Mausoleum is the best choice for root exploration, ancestor worship, sightseeing, study of Emperor Yan Culture, and patriotism education. Since it was restored and opened for the public in 1988, Emperor Yan’s Mausoleum has been visited by over 8 million person-times of domestic and foreign visitors, including 600,000 person-times of visitors from Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, as well as overseas Chinese and foreign guests. Over 30 party and state leaders, including Jiang Zemin, Hu Yaobang and Chen Yun, inscribed for Emperor Yan’s Mausoleum. In addition, over 20 party and state leaders, including Song Renqiong, Yang Rudai, Song Jian, Wang Enmao, Mao Zhiyong, Wang Hanbin, Peng Peiyun, Li Tieying, Wei Jianxing, Zhang Zhen, Uyunqimg, Zhang Huaixi and Zhang Siqing, visited Emperor Yan’s Mausoleum and proposed suggestions for its construction. Since the official memorial ceremony resumed in 1993, grand memorial ceremonies were held every year in Emperor Yan’s Mausoleum. In 1993, the torch of Yan-Huang Cup World Dragon Boat Race for overseas Chinese was kindled in Emperor Yan’s Mausoleum. Public Memorial Ceremonies were held by various circles of Hunan Province in 1993, 1994, 1997, 1999, 2002, 2004 and 2007 respectively. In addition, other memorial events were also held, such as the Opening Ceremony of 2005 China • Hunan Tourist Festival and the Grand Memorial Ceremony of Early Ancestor in Emperor Yan’s Mausoleum, 2006 Emperor Yan’s Mausoleum Ancestor Memorial Ceremony of Worldwide Overseas Chinese, 2007 Public Memorial Ceremony of Emperor Yan’s Mausoleum Blessing for World Harmony held by domestic and foreign Buddhism circle, and 2009 China Tea Ancestor Festival and Grand Ceremony of Emperor Yan (Shennong) the Tea Ancestor. Public memorial ceremonies of Emperor Yan’s Mausoleum were held by various circles of Zhuzhou City in 1995, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2008 and 2009. In every Tomb-sweeping Day, various circles of Yanling County will organize memorial ceremonies. 
In 1992, Emperor Yan’s Mausoleum was identified as the international special tourist line for root seeking and homage tour by the National Tourism Administration. In 1993, it was approved as a provincial scenic spot. In 1996, it was approved by the State Council as a cultural relic site under the protection of national government. In 1997, it was identified by the Propaganda Department of the CPC Central Committee as one of the 100 national patriotism education demonstration bases. Emperor Yan’s Mausoleum has been honored as the best scenic spot of Hunan Province for nine times respectively in 1997, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008 and 2009. In 2000, All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese identified it as the patriotism education base. In 2002, it was approved by the National Tourism Administration as a national AAAA scenic spot. In 2004, it was honored the first place among the “Top Ten Cultural Heritages of Hunan Province”. In 2006, “Memorial Ceremony of Emperor Yan’s Mausoleum” was included in the first list of national intangible cultural heritages. In April 2007, “Emperor Yan's Mausoleum” was listed as one of the eight new human landscapes of Xiaoxiang.

Virtue Forest In 2003, Yang Zhengwu, Secretary of CPC Hunan Provincial Committee, advocated to “show filial respect, develop merits and virtues, and donate a tree” to green the Emperor Yan's Mausoleum. In total, 246 large trees were donated by 123 counties (cities, districts) of Hunan Province. In the forest, there are steles describing events and praising virtues, which reflect the sincerity of Hunan people to respect ancestors and guard the Mausoleum. 

Stone Sculptures of Eagle and DeerIt is said that after Emperor Yan was born, his mother Nvdeng carried him on her back to get food. Sometimes, they needed to walk a long way and climbed very high mountains to get food, so his mother put Emperor Yan on a rock and named him Shi Nian. Sitting on the rock, Shi Nian was exposed to the sun and rain. It was hot and he was hungry. The creature living in the mountain heard his cry, then the eagle from the Yanyin Mountain provided him shelter to keep him away from rain and heat, and deer from the mountain suckled him. As time passed by, Shi Nian was as brave and strong as the eagle, and as mild as the deer. He finally became the leader of his tribe. According to legends passing down from generation to generation, Emperor Yan has three mothers. Nvdeng was his biological mother, eagle was his foster mother and deer was his nannie. To memorize the care of eagle and deer to Emperor Yan, the descendents of Emperor Yan made stone sculptures of eagle and deer, and put them in the hall of Emperor Yan's Mausoleum, to enjoy the sacrifice offering together with Emperor Yan.   

Holy Fire Platform  The Holy Fire Platform, 40m high, is located at the peak of the Dragon Ball Mountain. The platform is a 25m wide square. In the middle of the platform, there is a three-level round terrace, indicating the concept of “circinal sky and square earth”. Right in the middle of the round terrace, there stands a red flint, 3.9m high and 31m3 large, which symbolizes the beginning of civilization. In grand events, fire will be made from the flint and torch will be lightened, so as to memorize the significant contribution of Emperor Yan by applying fire extensively in production and living.

Harvest Chanting Platform  It was built in the seventh Daoguang Year of the Qing Dynasty (1827). When there was no drought or flooding, and people were cerebrating harvests, Emperor Yan (Shennong) asked people “to create the music of plough and the song of harvest” to celebrate harvests. It was originally a platform made with wood and brick, and was rebuilt in 1988 as a pavilion. In 2002, it was moved to the current location, and a stele carrying “咏丰台” (harvest chanting platform) was made. On the protection plate behind the stele, patterns of paddy rice, millet, beans, wheat and grains were inscribed, indicating good harvest every year.

Nine Quadripods and Nine Gui (Cup with Two Handles)Quadripod and gui (cup with two handles) are sacrificial vessels. In ancient times, nine quadripods and eight gui were used to offer sacrifice to emperors.

Emperor Yan (Shennong) is the ancestor of the Chinese Nation, thus nine quadripods and nine gui were used in sacrifice offering. The stimulated unearthed items of quadripods and gui are carved by bluestone.

The nine quadripods (from north to south) are named Animal-look and Nail Carving-vein Square Quadripod (early period of the Shang Dynasty), Simuwu Quadripod (later period of the Shang Dynasty), Human-look Carving-vein Square Quadripod (later period of the Shang Dynasty), Yi Quadripod (later period of the Shang Dynasty), Animal-look Carving-vein Square Quadripod (later period of the Shang Dynasty), Xu Heir Quadripod (later period of the Shang Dynasty), Yu Quadripod (early period of the Western Zhou Dynasty), Ci Quadripod (middle period of the Western Zhou Dynasty), and Dake Quadripod (later period of the Western Zhou Dynasty).

Nine Gui (from north to south) are named: Nail Carving-vein Gui (later period of the Shang Dynasty), Guizai Gui (later period of the Shang Dynasty), Li Gui (early period of the Western Zhou Dynasty), Qin Gui (middle period of the Western Zhou Dynasty), Animal-look Carving-vein Gui (middle and early period of the Western Zhou Dynasty), Shiyou Gui (middle period of the Western Zhou Dynasty), Dongge Gui (middle period of the Western Zhou Dynasty), Chenhou Gui (later period of the Western Zhou Dynasty) and Qin’gong Gui (the Spring and Autumn Period).

Chaojin Square  Historical data show that Emperor Yan (Shennong) inherited the throne from Fuxi. He also developed the sixty-four hexagrams from the eight trigrams, and wrote the Lian Shan Yi. The square is an octagon. The middle axle is 48m long, and the side is 20m long. In the middle of the square, it has the pattern of eight trigrams. The trigrams, including Qian (heaven), Kan (water), Gen (mountain), Zhen (thunder), Xun (wind), Li (fire), Kun (earth) and Dui (lake) are used to indicate directions. It symbolizes the union of the heaven and earth, and obeisance from all directions.

Dragon Head Rock  Dragon Talon RocksThere is a rock hanging at the bank of the river, looking like the of a dragon head. In the water, there are two rocks looking like the talons of a dragon in waves. It is said that after Emperor Yan died, a raft that carried the coffin of Emperor Yan travelled upstream from the Mishui River. But in Luyuanpo, the raft encountered strong wind and heavy storm. Unfortunately, the raft sunk in a whirlpool. The Celestial Ruler Supreme God was very angry and investigated the accident. It turned out to be that a golden dragon took the coffin to its palace to thank Emperor Yan for saving its life. Celestial Ruler Supreme God said No. And then the gold dragon turned its head into the Dragon Head Rock, talons into Dragon Talon Rocks, and guarded Emperor Yan’s Mausoleum day and night. 

Dragon Ball Bridge Dragon Ball Bridge spans 6m. The main bridge is 6m wide, while the auxiliary bridge is 3m wide. On the protecting plates at both sides, the patterns of over 10 ancient instruments were carved to commemorate the invention of musical instruments by Emperor Yan, including qin (a seven-stringed plucked instrument), Chinese plucked zither, yu (a free reed wind instrument), sheng (a mouth-blown free reed instrument), flute, Chinese vertical bamboo flute, yunban (an iron or wooden percussion instrument), chime, yueqin (a four-stringed plucked instrument with a full-moon-shaped sound box), and Chinese lute.

Sacrificial Square Sacrificial Square is where large-scale sacrifice offering is held.

The square, 40m wide and 59m long, is adjacent to Sacrificial Avenue in the south and Shennong Hall in the north. On the slopes in the east and west, there are dense ancient woods, including yacca tree, ginkgo, ancient cypress, java bishopwood, glossy privet, camphor wood and other rare trees.

Shennong Hall Shennong Hall is a building with the style of the Qing Dynasty. It is consisted of the main hall, side hall, corridor and square pavilion. It covers a land area of 3,920m2, and a building area of 1,680m2. There are 10 stone pillars, with 5.4m height and 0.8m diameter, with the carvings of curled-up dragon standing in the front of the hall. And 20 stone pillars, 5.4m high and having diameter of 0.6m, are standing at the back and both sides of the hall. These stone pillars are all made of a whole piece of granite.

There are three terraces in front of the hall, 3.36m high and 80m wide. About 100 patterns of herbal medicines are caved on the protection plats of the terraces. The terraces are connected by nine steps. Between the left and right steps, there are imperial road stones with nine dragons, 3.2m long, 2.8m wide and 17t weight. In front of the imperial road stone, there is an incense burner, 0.98m high and 1.2m diameter, with a pattern of nine dragons playing a ball. Two high incense burners that are 3.9m high and 24t weight respectively and have a diameter of 1.5m are located at both sides of the second-level terrace.

Main Hall The Main Hall is 37m wide, 24m deep and 22.9m high. In the middle of the hall, there is a statue of Emperor Yan that is carved with red granite. The statue is 9.7m high, 4.7m wide, and 390t weight and has an 8.7m-long base. “Emperor Yan” holds millet sprays on one hand and plough on the other hand, which symbolize the exploration of farming culture. Red sandstone relief sculptures that describe the achievements of Emperor Yan are decorated at the walls of the Main Hall. The relief sculptures are 7.9m high and 53m long in total, covering an area of 391m2.

Chongde Hall  It was built in the Tianqi years of the Ming Dynasty, which was originally located in the right front of the hall of Emperor Yan’s Mausoleum. In 1998, it was rebuilt on the hills of the Mausoleum behind the hall, and was moved to the current location in 2002.

Meridian GateThe Meridian Gate, 8.67m high and 2.6m wide, is the main entrance of Emperor Yan’s Mausoleum. On both sides of the Meridian Gate, there are Halberd Gates, 6m high and 2m wide.

Meridian Gate was the main entrance of imperial palaces in the Ming and Qing Dynasties, and was the entrance for emperors and the place to hold significant events. In the Qing Dynasty, officials were waiting for morning meetings or imperial orders at the Meridian Gate. In the 11th Yongzheng Year of the Qing Dynasty (1733), the emperor approved and allotted money to repair Emperor Yan’s Mausoleum. According to the design issued by the Ministry of Works, three gates were built in front of the halls of Emperor Yan’s Mausoleum, the Meridian Gate in the middle and Halberd Gates at both sides. Today, the design is still used.

In ancient times, the Meridian Gate only opened in grand sacrificial ceremonies. The dragon pavilion where the Imperial Sacrificial Oration, incense and silks were put passed through the Meridian Gate. The imperial envoy and accompanied officials entered the Mausoleum through the east Halberd Gate and exited through the west Halberd Gate.

Hall of Emperor Yan’s MausoleumThe Hall of Emperor Yan’s Mausoleum was built in the fifth Qiande Year of the Song Dynasty (967), and was expanded and improved for many dynasties. Now, it has five parts and the building style of the Qing Dynasty. The first part includes the Meridian Gate, and the Halberd Gate and Side Gate at both sides. The second part is the Salute Pavilion that has hipped roof. The Salute Pavilion, 8.33m high, 14m wide and 6.67m deep, is a place to burn incense and worship. On the left and right sides, there are rooms, 6.33m high, 15.33m wide and 5.67m deep, for storing sacrificial oration from the Qing Dynasty. These rooms have flush gable roof and round ridge roof. The third part is the main hall, which is skirt-roof and gable-and-hip-roof structure. It has yellow glazed tilts on the roof. The hall is 19.33m high, 20.67m wide and 16m deep. In the middle of the hall, there is an idol of Emperor Yan (Shennong). The fourth part is the Monument Pavilion, a pavilion-roof structure. It is 5m high, 8m wide and 5m deep. In the middle of the pavilion, there is a white marble monument. Behind the Monument Pavilion, it is the tumulus.

It covers a land area of 3,836m2, and a building area of 903m2. In front of the Mausoleum, there are the Mishui River and the Yunqiu Mountain, presenting an open view. The Hall of Emperor Yan’s Mausoleum is solemn, antique and dignified.

Egrets Guarding the Mausoleum Egret is a migrant bird. There are around 100,000 egrets of several species living in the trees near the tumulus. Egrets follow a strict migrant schedule. They come to the Mausoleum before the Tomb-sweeping Day and leave after the Double Ninth Festival.

It is said that Emperor Yan (Shennong) taught people to eat grains as food. Thus ancient people did not take birds and animals as food, and fur and feather as clothes. Birds and animals were grateful for that. When Emperor Yan died, birds and animals condoled. But egrets could not make it due to the long distance. Egrets swore that they would guard the Mausoleum and be in mourning from generation to generation.

Imperial Steles Park The Imperial Steles Park, to the west of the Hall of Emperor Yan’s Mausoleum, covers an area of 6,400m2. At the east and west sides, there are steles corridor covering an area of 280m2, where 51 steles of imperial sacrificial oration from the Ming and Qing Dynasties and five record steles are exhibited. In the middle of the park, there is a terrace where nine stone quadripods are exhibited. In the north, a mural wall presents the Shennong’s Achievement Fresco. In front of the mural wall, there are modern monument, sacrificial steles and inscription steles.

Shennong’s Achievements Fresco  Shennong’s Achievements Fresco, themed the main achievements of Emperor Yan, adopts traditional painting techniques and engraving process, and shows the scenes of life and work of ancient people, which reflects the course of civilization from living in caves and living on fishing and hunting to living in residence and living on farming. The fresco is 1.5m high and 40m long. Due to exquisite design, the mural wall can conduct and amplify sound. Thus, it is also called “Shennong Sound Conducting Wall”. 

Nine-quadripod Terrace   (The original steles are preserved).

Fresco of Shennong’s Detoxification by Tea(The original steles are preserved).

Imperial Envoy Mansion The Imperial Envoy Mansion, also called the Imperial Envoy Accommodation, was the place where imperial envoys and accompanied officials fasted and lived before the sacrifice offering. It was built in early years of the Ming Dynasty. It has three dwellings for the envoy, vice envoy and accompanied officials. In front of the mansion, there are outer gate, drum pavilion and other auxiliary buildings. Due to natural disasters, warfare and other reasons, the Imperial Envoy Mansion has been repaired or moved for many times. The Imperial Envoy Mansion today was rebuilt in 1988 when repairing Emperor Yan’s Mausoleum.

Fresco of Emperor Yan’s Eight Achievements

Emperor Yan built residence  Ancient people obtained food by fishing and hunting. They migrated frequently and had no fixed residence. Emperor Yan taught them to plough, choose proper location of residence, and build terraces from soil and build shed on such terraces. Thus people could avoid rain and wind, and were safe in winter and summer. They had a place to stay safely. Therefore, ancient people left their life of hunting, fishing and living in caves, and started the life of farming and residence.

Emperor Yan produced strings from silk and invented music Emperor Yan (Shennong) produced qin (a seven-stringed plucked instrument) from tung, and produced strings from silk and invented Shennong qin. Historical data shows that Shennong qin is about 122 cm long. It can produce five tunings, including gong (do), shang (re), jiao (mi), zhi (sol), and yu (la). Emperor Yan (Shennong) believed that qin can access to the mind of god, and confront to the harmony of the world. Thus he asked Xing Tian to create the music of plough and the song of harvest. At the end of the year, La sacrifice was held; Nuo dance was performed to expel pestilence; drum was played to celebrate harvest, pay back the heaven and earth and civilize people.

Emperor Yan made bows and arrows In ancient times, dead people were wrapped with cogon grass and abandoned in the wild. Ancient people could not bear seeing birds and animals eating the bodies of their cognition. Thus they expelled animals and birds by shooting earth and rocks with bamboo chips. Emperor Yan made arcs from branches with good flexibility, and fixed both ends of an arc to make a bow. He cut hard branches into portable arrows. He used these bows and arrows to expel birds that damaged crops and animals that threatened people’s safety. Upon continuous improvements, bows and arrows become powerful weapons.

Emperor Yan tasted herbs and invented medicines When Emperor Yan found food for ancient people, he found that some herbs could relieve or cure diseases. Then he tasted herbs and felt how they reacted in the body, to distinguish their properties. He once tasted 70 poisonous herbs in a single day, but he did not give up. Finally, he invented medicine, and saved people’s life. To commemorate the contribution and devotion of Emperor Yan (Shennong) in invention of medicine, the first works about medicinal plants of China the Shennong Ben Cao Jing is named after him.

Emperor Yan invented plough and plowshare and taught people to farmEmperor Yan invented plough and plowshare and taught people to farm. At the very beginning, people used sharp stick to make pits on the ground and then sowed. Then, people heated one end of a wood stick on fire and bent it. The other end of the stick was cut into flat blade. The blade can help save efforts and enabled continuous ground breaking. The bent part is called “plow”, and the part that breaks ground is called “ploughshare”. The wooden ploughshare is easily damaged. Then ancient people changed wooden ploughshare into replaceable stone ploughshare, bone ploughshare and pottery ploughshare. In addition, they made double-blade plough and plowshare. Thus they were able to grow crops in large scale. The real plow-planting agriculture was developed.

Emperor Yan made pottery and axes At the same time of farming, Emperor Yan (Shennong) made pottery wares for daily use, including knifes, axes, chisels, plowshares and other farming tools. In the times of Emperor Yan (Shennong), people had used pottery in cooking, such as tripod, rice pot, kettle and jar. They also had pottery wares to contain food, like earthen bowel, bowl, pot, dish and cup. In addition, pottery handicraft articles and pottery musical instruments were invented. People also made painted pottery and pottery with pattern ornaments. The production and application of pottery significantly changed the production and life of ancient people.

Emperor Yan gathered people to trade at noon and initiated marketsFarming and residence promoted the labor division in animal husbandry and handicraft industry. These two industries were gradually separated from agriculture, thus there were demands of trade. According to the Book of Changes, when Shennong was the leader of the tribe, he made noon the time of trade. He gathered people to trade and people all got what they needed after the trade. 

Emperor Yan wove hemp into fabrics and invented garments Ancient people wore animal fur and bird feather to keep warm. But as the population grew, birds and animals were not easily caught. Shennong taught people to grow hemp and mulberry, collect fabric of plants and weave fabrics into garments. Shennong believed that if men did not farm, people would suffer from hunger; if women did not weave, people would suffer from cold. Shennong did farm work in person, and his wife wove fabrics by herself, setting a good example to the world.