The Mausoleum of Yellow Emperor, memorial mausoleum of
legendary Yellow Emperor, is the most important ancient grave site in
China. After many years' development and construction, the mausoleum
became not only a mausoleum, but a key point of interest for historical
Chinese culture. The main sights in this scenic spot are Mausoleum of
Yellow Emperor and Xuanyuan Temple. Before visiting this location, one
should know about Yellow Emperor in detail.
Yellow Emperor, the
initiator of Chinese civilization, was a great tribal leader in the
final primitive society of ancient China. His family name was Gongsun.
Because he grew up at Xuanyuan Hill (in Xinzheng County of Henan
Province), he was called Xuanyuan. He worshipped the virtue of the
yellow earth (the source of foods and clothes); hence people call him
Yellow Emperor. It is said that 5000 years ago, Yellow Emperor
cooperated with Yandi to defeat the Chiyou tribe, then unified the other
tribes and established the Hua Xia nationality (the former name of the
Chinese Nation). Yellow Emperor was able to make weapons, vessels and
vehicles, and to raise silkworms. He and his contemporaries created the
characters, instruments, medicines and counting systems etc, which ended
the savage and wild period. Yellow Emperor is remembered in history for
punishing evils and for the first unification of the Chinese Nation. It
is said that Yellow Emperor lived for 118 years. Once during his tour
in Henan Province, a yellow dragon fell down from the heaven after a
thunderbolt. The dragon said to Yellow Emperor: 'Your task is finished.
You should follow me to heaven.' Yellow Emperor knew he could not
disobey destiny so he rode on the dragon. As they flew over Mt. Qiao,
Yellow Emperor asked to be allowed to go down to comfort his country.
People cried out and came here; they pulled on Yellow Emperor's clothes
to try to keep him on earth, but it was in vain. He only left his
clothes. Afterwards, people buried Yellow Emperor's clothes here and
established the mausoleum. Some writings claim Yellow Emperor himself
was buried here.
The Mausoleum of Yellow Emperor is the tomb of
Yellow Emperor, hidden inside the dense evergreen cypresses on Mt. Qiao
(Bridge). Mt. Qiao won the name because it looks like a bridge. More
than 8000 cypresses on Mt. Qiao, most alive for thousands of years, form
the largest old cypress forest in China. The Mausoleum of Yellow
Emperor is called the First Mausoleum of China and is located in the
center of the top of Mt. Qiao, 1 kilometer (about 0.6 miles) north of
Huangling County, Yan'an City. Covering an area of 4 square kilometers
(about 1.5 square miles), The Mausoleum of Yellow Emperor is surrounded
by a verdant forest and clear water. When you reach the top of Mt. Qiao,
a stone stele will first catch your eye. In front of the mausoleum is a
pavilion, where stands another tall stone stele displaying the
characters of 'Huangdiling'. Then you see the tomb of Yellow Emperor. It
is a 4-meter-high (4.4 yards) mound, around which is a 1-meter-high
(about 1.1 yards) brick-wall. In Chinese history, many emperors held
memorial ceremonies to Yellow Emperor. About 40 meters (about 43.7
yards) ahead of the tomb is a platform called 'Hanwu Xiantai', where
Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty (206 BC - 24) held ceremonies honoring
Yellow Emperor. Longyu Pavilion is a remarkable structure in the tomb
area. Its fanciful architecture stands 5 stories and 20 meters (about
21.9 yards) high, and tourists may walk up steps to overlook Mt. Qiao
and Huangling County. Since Longyu Pavilion is the highest point in the
tomb area, it is also used for spotting fires. When you climb up Longyu
Pavilion, you may clearly see Mt. Yintai, located to the south of Mt.
Qiao. The shape of the mountain reminds one of a big Yintai (great
seal), so people call it Mt. Yintai. Interesting sights on the east and
west hillsides are abundant: the mazes, forests and clear waters here
feel secret, deep and remote. Another interesting view is that of Mt
Qiao from the top of Mt Yintai.
Xuanyuan Temple is also named
the Temple of Yellow Emperor, established in the Ming Dynasty (1368 ---
1644). The main structures inside the temple are Temple Gate, Chengxin
Kiosk, Stele Pavilion and 'Renwen Chuzu' (Huangdi, the initiator of
Chinese civilization) Hall. Inside the grand 'Renwen Chuzu' Hall, Yellow
Emperor's seat of spirit tablet (an exquisite piece of wood with his
name on it) is worshipped. People can do obeisance or hold ceremonies in
front of it. Among 14 cypresses in the courtyard, the must-see ones are
two: the cypress planted by Huangdi and the Jiangjun (general) cypress.
It is said that Yellow Emperor planted the cypress thousands of years
ago to encourage planting of trees and forestation. Now the huge green
umbrella is 19 meters high (about 20.8 yards) and is the oldest cypress
in the world. There is another legend about the Jiangjun cypress that
says Emperor Wu of Han Dynasty ever hung his visor on the pine, so
people call it Jiangjun cypress. It is also a rare type of cypress.
Situated in the west portion of the Temple of Yellow Emperor is the
Gongde (merits and virtues) Altar, the theme of which is the outstanding
achievements of Yellow Emperor. Gongde Altar is a round platform with
three concentric cylindrical walls on which embossed characters describe
Yellow Emperor and his country's contribution to human progress. The
altar is surrounded by 33 stone steles (representing 33 provinces of
China) called China Tongxin (meaning 'with one heart') Stone Steles,
symbolizing the solidarity of the Chinese Nation.
Yellow
Emperor made great contributions to Chinese civilization and the role of
China among the four ancient civilized countries in the world. Today,
the Mausoleum of Yellow Emperor, the center of magnificent cultural
activity in China, is the symbol of Chinese civilization and the 'root'
of the Chinese Nation. For thousands of years, every Tomb-Sweeping Day
swarms of people have come here to hold a memorial ceremony to Yellow
Emperor.
Address: Huangling County, Shaanxi Province
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