Tomb of Zhu Quan and Tomb of Prince Le’an

Tomb of Zhu Quan and Tomb of Prince Le’an

The Tomb of Zhu Quan and Tomb of Prince Le’an are listed as Major Historical and Cultural Sites Protected at the National Level.

The Tomb of Zhu Quan is located on Goulíng Hill in Huángyuán Village, Shipu Township, Xinjian County. Zhu Quan (1378–1448) was the 16th son of the Ming Dynasty’s founding emperor, Zhu Yuanzhang. In 1394, during the 27th year of the Hongwu reign, he was enfeoffed as the Prince of Ning, with his fiefdom in Daning (modern-day Jinzhou and Chengde regions). In 1403, the first year of the Yongle reign, his title was relocated to Nanchang. Zhu Quan was highly learned and talented, and authored works such as "Comprehensive Discussions on Comprehensive Mirror," "Secret Histories of Han and Tang," and "Poetic Spectrum." According to ground surveys of the tomb site and records from Hu Yan, Chief Compiler of the Ming Dynasty’s National History, such as the "Imperial Edict Stele for the Southern Pole Longevity Palace," the original surface structures of the tomb complex included buildings such as the Hall of Longevity, the Hall of the Southern Pole, the Hall of Taiyuan, the Hall of Soaring Heights, and the Hall of the Spinning Pivot. All of these were later destroyed during the Japanese invasion. The tomb chamber itself is magnificent, with a grand structure featuring a brick-vaulted ceiling in an arched style. The total length of the tomb chamber is 31.7 meters, with the widest section measuring 21.45 meters and a height of 4.5 meters. It consists of six individual chambers. Excavation took place in 1958. Artifacts unearthed inside the tomb include gold axes, silver ear spoons, jade belts, Taoist caps, bronze ware, wooden figurines, and pottery. The tomb chamber has since been restored and remains well-preserved. In front of the tomb stands a pair of stone pillars inscribed with talismanic symbols and epitaph texts. In 1957, it was designated as a Cultural Relics Protection Unit of Jiangxi Province.

Further Reading:

· Seventh Batch of Major Historical and Cultural Sites Protected at the National Level