Tomb of the Crown Prince Li

Tomb of the Crown Prince Li

The Tomb of the Crown Prince Li is a cultural relic protection unit of Henan Province.

The Tomb of the Crown Prince Li, also known as "Han Terrace in the Wind and Rain," is located at the site of Didong Village in Yuling Town, and is one of the Eight Scenic Spots of ancient Lingbao.

The prince refers to Liu Ju, son of Emperor Wu of the Western Han Dynasty, and his two sons. Liu Ju was appointed as the crown prince, but conflict arose between him and Jiang Chong, the Commandant of the Imperial Parks. Jiang Chong falsely accused the crown prince of burying wooden figurines to curse the emperor. Following the advice of his junior tutor Shi De, the crown prince mobilized warriors to execute Jiang Chong. Jiang Chong’s associate Su Wen then falsely accused the crown prince of rebellion. Emperor Wu ordered the prime minister to arrest the prince. After suffering defeat in battle, the crown prince fled to Huxian County with his two sons and hid in Quanjiu Li (present-day Didong Village). Eventually, word got out, local officials captured the prince, who then hanged himself behind closed doors. His two sons resisted arrest and were killed. The father and his two sons were buried together by the Jiu River.

The following year (the third year of the Yuanshou era during the Han Dynasty, i.e., 92 BCE), Emperor Wu came to his senses, executed Jiang Chong, personally traveled to Huxian County, built the Palace of Remembrance and the Platform of Longing to mourn the crown prince, and renamed the Jiu River to the Lost Sons River, now known as the Shierli River.

The tombs of the crown prince and his grandsons still remain. In January 2016, the Tomb of the Crown Prince Li in Didong Village, Yuling Town, was included in the seventh batch of Henan Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units.

Didong Village: Didong Village…… More information about Didong Village++

Further reading:

· Seventh Batch of Henan Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units