Former Site of the Huang Xing Investiture Platform

Former Site of the Huang Xing Investiture Platform

The Former Site of the Huang Xing Investiture Platform is a cultural relic protection unit of Hubei Province.

The Investiture Platform is located at the southern end of Shouyi Square in Yuemachang, Wuchang, facing the former site of the Wuchang Uprising of the 1911 Revolution from afar. On November 3, 1911, Li Yuanhong, the Governor of the Hubei Military Government, emulated Emperor Gaozu of Han’s ceremony of appointing Han Xin as general. Here, he built a platform to confer the title of general upon Huang Xing, appointing him as the Commander-in-Chief during the wartime. Hence, this place came to be known as the “Investiture Platform.” In 1928, comrades of the 1911 Revolution built a memorial pavilion here. In 1948, the pavilion was destroyed and replaced with a memorial monument. The current purple-red terrazzo monument was reconstructed in 1955 by the Wuchang District People’s Government.

The current monument of the Investiture Platform faces north. Its front side is inscribed with “At the Investiture Platform, Li Yuanhong, Governor of the Hubei Military Government during the 1911 Revolution, appointed Huang Xing as Commander-in-Chief and conferred the seal here,” while the reverse side bears the inscription “Comrades of the 1911 Revolution, October 10, 1928.” It narrates this piece of history to visitors.

After the victory of the Wuchang Uprising, the Qing government urgently deployed Minister of the Army Yin Chang to lead troops southward and ordered Navy Admiral Sa Zhenbing to sail up the Yangtze River, attempting to retake Wuhan as quickly as possible and extinguish the flames of revolution. To defend the newly established revolutionary government, the Hubei Military Government actively expanded its forces to prepare for battle. However, due to the lack of a commander to lead the operations, it was decided to send a telegram requesting Huang Xing to come to Wuhan to take command. On October 28, 1911, Huang Xing arrived in Wuchang from Shanghai accompanied by Song Jiaoren, Li Shucheng, and Tian Tong. The Hubei Military Government decided to emulate Emperor Gaozu of Han’s story of appointing Han Xin as general, and Governor Li Yuanhong conferred the title of Commander-in-Chief during the wartime upon Huang Xing. On November 3, at noon, a wooden investiture platform was erected in front of the Governor’s Office. Governor Li Yuanhong summoned personnel from various departments and military commanders in Wuchang, and then invited Huang Xing to ascend the platform for the investiture ceremony.

Regarding the details of the investiture ceremony, Hu Egong, the overall commander of the land and naval forces of the revolutionary army, provided the most detailed account in his work “Thirty-Five Days of the Wuchang Uprising.” On the morning of November 3, “the rain had cleared, the wind was gentle, and the morning sunlight was radiant.” Before 6 a.m., “the platform had been built, about ten feet high and over forty feet wide. On the platform was placed a desk, on which lay the seal, command flag, and command arrows of the Commander-in-Chief during wartime. Behind the platform stood two pillars, with a long white cloth banner stretched between them, inscribed with the words ‘Commander-in-Chief during Wartime.’ At the four corners of the platform were military flags, presenting an unprecedentedly solemn and majestic sight. About one battalion of infantry had already gathered around Yuemachang, and all the officers had arrived. Shortly after, the military band also arrived, gathering both civil and military officials. Before long, Governor Li Yuanhong and Huang Xing rode out together from the Governor’s Office, and the military band struck up a lively tune. All the officers and troops raised their swords and guns in salute. After Governor Li Yuanhong and Huang Xing ascended the platform, the music stopped.” The 141st page of “The Bloody History of Ezhou” records the same details. During the investiture ceremony, “Governor Li Yuanhong and Huang Xing stood on the left and right sides of the platform. The ceremonial officer read the appointment decree aloud, and Governor Li handed the decree to Li Guoyong, instructing him to read it. The decree was a beautifully written document of about seven hundred words. Its main content was, first, a narration of the tyranny of the Qing Dynasty and how the Wuchang Uprising came about; second, the necessity of having someone to lead the three armies in overthrowing the Qing court and leading a northern expedition; third, a recounting of Huang Xing’s glorious history of revolutionary struggle and the significance of appointing him as Commander-in-Chief; and finally, an encouragement to Huang Xing and the soldiers to strive to complete the revolution. After Li Guoyong finished reading, he returned the decree to Governor Li Yuanhong, who then respectfully presented it to Huang Xing with both hands. Huang Xing saluted Governor Li in military fashion and received the decree with both hands. Then, Governor Li conferred the seal, which Huang Xing accepted; next, Governor Li conferred the command flag and arrows, which Huang Xing also accepted, all following the same ritual. For each part of the ceremony, the ceremonial officer read the corresponding text. Governor Li then withdrew, the music played again, civil and military officers and troops saluted, and the music stopped. Huang Xing delivered a speech. After the speech, Huang Xing reviewed the troops around Yuemachang, descended from the platform, and slowly rode his horse around the field. With this, the ceremony concluded, and the crowd chanted three times: ‘Long live the forty million compatriots of the Republic of China, Long live Governor Li Yuanhong, Long live Commander-in-Chief Huang!’ After this, Huang Xing withdrew.” According to “Biographies of Figures of the 1911 Wuchang Uprising,” during the investiture, Deng Xiancai was the one who conferred the seal. Huang Xing once gave him a couplet: “The treasured sword at your waist soars to the sky; the secret strategy on the mat is admired over wine.”

The investiture ceremony enhanced Huang Xing’s military authority and boosted the morale of the troops, fostering unity in the mission to “drive out the Tartars” and “establish a truly good republic for the welfare of the people.” Subsequently, donning the uniform of Commander-in-Chief, Huang Xing personally went to the front lines to direct the defense of Hanyang and Hankou. During the Battle of Yangxia, he fought against Qing forces for over a month in grueling combat, achieving remarkable success and buying precious time for the independence of other provinces. Huang Xing’s leadership in the defense of Wuhan during the Wuchang Uprising made significant contributions to safeguarding the fruits of the revolution.

Source: Hubei Provincial Cultural Relics Bureau

Further Reading:

· First Batch of Hubei Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units