Longyao Tang Ancestral Mausoleum

Longyao Tang Ancestral Mausoleum

The Longyao Tang Ancestral Mausoleum is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

The Tang Imperial Mausoleum is situated 200 meters north of Wangyin Village, Weijiazhuang Town, approximately 6 kilometers due south of Longyao County. It includes the "Jianchu Mausoleum" of Emperor Gaozu of Tang, Li Yuan — posthumously honored as ancestral Emperor Xuān, Li Xi, and the "Qiyun Mausoleum" of his third-generation ancestor, posthumously honored as ancestral Emperor Guāng, Li Tianci. These two mausoleums share a burial site and are collectively known as the "Tang Imperial Mausoleum," referred to simply as the Tang Mausoleum or Tang Ancestral Mausoleum. Construction began during the reign of Emperor Gaozu of Tang. In the 20th year of the Zhenguan era (647 AD) under Emperor Taizong, envoys such as Changsun Zunshi, Chief Clerk of the Left Vanguard Guard Command, along with Xingtai Prefect Li Kuan and Zhaozhou Prefect Du Ao, were repeatedly sent to inspect the mausoleum grounds, drawing maps which were submitted to the imperial court. In the 13th year of the Kaiyuan era (725 AD), Emperor Xuanzong dispatched Shangzhuoguo Tian Zaisi and Xiangcheng Magistrate Song Wensu to construct Guangye Temple 500 meters east of the mausoleum as an auxiliary structure. Both the mausoleum and its steles are Key Cultural Relics Protection Units of Hebei Province.

Having endured over 1,300 years of vicissitudes, the Tang Mausoleum today no longer has visible earthen mounds. Moreover, due to long-term soil extraction, the entire mausoleum area has become a depression about 1–2 meters lower than the surrounding land. It was not until 1984, when a large brick tomb chamber with a vaulted ceiling was discovered 1.5 meters below the surface, that the exact location of the mausoleum was confirmed.

The terrain of the Tang Mausoleum is higher on the east, west, and north sides, and lower on the south. The grand stone carvings of the prosperous Tang period are all situated in the central depression. The tombs themselves are on the high ground to the north, oriented from north to south. In front of the tombs, four stone statues of civil officials stand on either side. To their south, two stone lions poised to roar flank the path. Further south, six stone horses are arranged in pairs, with a groom standing beside each horse on the left. At the very southern end, two stone ornamental columns face each other from east to west. Even at a distance, the former majestic and imposing presence of the Tang Mausoleum ruins can still be felt.

The Longyao Tang Ancestral Mausoleum consists of the "Jianchu Mausoleum" of Emperor Xuān, Li Xi — the fourth-generation ancestor of Emperor Gaozu of Tang, Li Yuan, and the "Qiyun Mausoleum" of Emperor Guāng, Li Tianci — the third-generation ancestor. These two mausoleums share a burial site and are collectively known as the "Tang Imperial Mausoleum," referred to simply as the Tang Mausoleum or Tang Ancestral Mausoleum. Construction began during the reign of Emperor Gaozu of Tang. In the 13th year of the Kaiyuan era (725 AD), Emperor Xuanzong had Guangye Temple built 500 meters east of the mausoleum as an auxiliary building. In 646 AD (the 20th year of the Zhenguan era), Emperor Taizong repeatedly sent envoys such as Changsun Wuji, Chief Clerk of the Left Vanguard Guard Command, together with Xingtai Prefect Li Kuan and Zhaozhou Prefect Du Ao, to "inspect the mausoleum grounds, draw maps, and submit them to the court," initiating planning for the ancestral mausoleum's construction. By 664 AD, the ancestral mausoleum was completed after 18 years of work. Emperor Gaozong decreed that "each of the two ancestral mausoleums shall be guarded by thirty households," and ordered local governments to send representatives to conduct annual imperial worship ceremonies. In 677 AD, he further posthumously honored the two ancestors as Emperors Xuān and Guāng. In the 12th year of the Kaiyuan era (724 AD), Emperor Xuanzong assigned Zhaozhou Prefect and Shangzhuoguo Tian Zaisi, along with Xiangcheng Magistrate Zong Wensu, to oversee the repair and expansion of Guangye Temple — an auxiliary structure of the Tang Ancestral Mausoleum — by mobilizing residents from Xiangcheng, Bairen, and Renxian counties. The project was completed in 725 AD, after which the Guangye Temple Stele was erected.

The Jianchu Mausoleum lies in an area higher on the east, west, and north sides, and lower on the south. The grand stone carvings of the prosperous Tang period are all situated in the central depression. The tombs are on the high ground to the north, oriented from north to south. In front of the tombs, four stone statues of civil officials stand on either side. To their south, two stone lions poised to roar flank the path. Further south, six stone horses are arranged in pairs, with a groom standing beside each horse on the left. At the very southern end, two stone ornamental columns face each other from east to west. Even at a distance, the former majestic and imposing presence of the Tang Mausoleum ruins can still be felt.

After more than 1,300 years of change, the Tang Ancestral Mausoleum’s earthen mounds have been leveled, and the entire site has become a depression lower than the surrounding land. The mausoleum area stretches approximately 350 meters from north to south and about 80 meters from east to west, covering an area of about 28,000 square meters. The sacred way in the southern part of the mausoleum site is 100 meters long and 40 meters wide. Along both sides, the original Tang Dynasty stone carvings — preserved from south to north — once included: one pair of stone ornamental columns, one pair of winged horses, two pairs of saddled horses and their handlers, three pairs of civil and military attendants, and one pair of stone guardian lions, totaling 20 pieces. Today, 17 pieces remain, with 3 lost.

The auxiliary structure of the Tang Ancestral Mausoleum, Guangye Temple, served as an imperial mausoleum lodging and was a renowned royal-level temple of grand scale. It was located 500 meters east of the Tang Ancestral Mausoleum (now west of Zhao Meng Village). The temple once housed three main halls, as well as a bell and drum tower, pagoda, pearl platform, immortal hall, and stele forest. Today, only the "Stele of the Grand Buddha Hall of Guangye Temple of the Tang Imperial Mausoleum" (referred to as the "Guangye Temple Stele") remains. Standing 4.3 meters tall and 1.1 meters wide, it was erected in the 13th year of the Kaiyuan era (725 AD) and features inscriptions of over 3,000 characters written by Yang Jin, magistrate of Xiangcheng County. It details the life stories, posthumous honors, and the history of the construction of the mausoleum and temple of the two Tang ancestors. This stele is the most authoritative physical evidence confirming Longyao as the ancestral home of the Li family of the Tang Dynasty, and it is also the most historically significant stele in Longyao County.

The surviving pair of stone lions from the Jianchu Mausoleum stands 1.5 meters tall and rests on a two-tiered base. These lions are representative of Tang Dynasty mausoleum stone carvings and are the only set of imperial mausoleum-level stone carvings from the Tang Dynasty in Hebei Province. The base and the lions are carved from a single piece of stone. The lions stand proudly with heads raised, sitting back in a dominant posture. Their expressions glare fiercely forward, mouths open as if to roar. Under their chins, three strands of beard are carved in openwork; their manes curl naturally behind their heads. Their limbs show pronounced muscle definition, with rows of curly fine hairs on the rear sides of their front legs. The lion claws are embedded 2 centimeters into the stone base. The stone carving artistry of the Tang mausoleum lions is exquisite, with lifelike images, accurate structure, and appropriate yet unexaggerated forms. They fully embody the artistic vision of early Tang craftsmen who, based on realism, pursued inner spirit and grandeur. The lions survived two major threats: in 1926, they were bought by foreigners but were recovered midway; during the Cultural Revolution, they narrowly escaped being destroyed by being buried in time. Their survival to this day makes them particularly precious.

In 2006, the Longyao Tang Ancestral Mausoleum was listed in the sixth group of Major Historical and Cultural Sites Protected at the National Level by the State Council as an ancient tomb from the Tang Dynasty.

Weijiazhuang Town: Located at the southern end of the county, the town government is seated in Weijiazhuang, which lies 7.8 kilometers southwest of the county seat. The town covers a total area of 43.5 square kilometers and administers 20 natural villages and 25 village committees. To the south, it borders Renxian County; to the north, it connects with Baishe Township; to the east, it neighbors Lianzi Town Township; and to the west, it adjoins Beilou Township. Established as a township in 1953, it was incorporated into Chengguan Commune in 1958. In 1961, it was separated from Chengguan to form Weijiazhuang People’s Commune. In 1984, the commune was abolished and the area became a township, which was upgraded to a town in 1987.

Administrative Villages under Weijiazhuang: Weijiazhuang, Guojia, Lijia, Mengjia, Wangguanzhuang, … More detailed information on Weijiazhuang Town ++

Further Reading:

· Second Group of Hebei Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units

· Sixth Group of Major Historical and Cultural Sites Protected at the National Level