Xuzhou Imperial Edict Museum

Xuzhou Imperial Edict Museum

Xuzhou Imperial Edict Museum Scenic Area

The Xuzhou Imperial Edict Museum is located in the picturesque Lianghan Cultural Tourism Zone at Jiuli Mountain, adjacent to the tomb of Liu Zhu, the King of Chu from the Western Han Dynasty. It is currently the only museum in China dedicated to displaying imperial edicts. The museum houses dozens of imperial edicts from the Ming and Qing dynasties, featuring documents issued by ten emperors—from Shunzhi, the founding emperor of the Qing Dynasty, to Puyi, the last emperor. The collection continues uninterrupted and is considered the first of its kind in China. Among the over 20 official commendation edicts in the collection, one rare piece spans two reigns, conferring hereditary noble titles upon Kuaiding, a Fenyi General, and his son Yugang during the reigns of Emperors Daoguang and Xianfeng. This is the so-called “hereditary without substitution” edict.

This particular edict was acquired by the museum from Shanxi. It measures 4.16 meters in length and 0.33 meters in width. Unlike typical imperial edicts, the top of this one is woven with gold thread, and the surrounding auspicious dragons are painted with mineral pigments by master court artists. The dragon designs are vivid and lifelike, and the edict bears the seals of two emperors. According to Zhou Qingming, the museum director, over his 30-plus years of collecting imperial edicts, this is the first time he has come across an edict that simultaneously conferred the title of Fenyi General upon both a father and son across two reigns. No similar edicts have been found in any other museums nationwide, making this a true rarity.

Address: Inside Guishan Scenic Area, No. 3 Xiangwang North Road, Gulou District, Xuzhou City

Type: Museum

Recommended visiting time: 1–2 hours

Phone: 0516-85881189-8000; 0516-85780999

Official Website: http://www.xzszbwg.com/

Opening Hours:

8:30-17:30

Ticket Information:

No separate ticket required. Included in the 80 RMB Guishan Scenic Area admission fee.

Further Reading:

· National Third-Class Museum of China