Tianyi Tomb

Tianyi Tomb

Tianyi Tomb is a protected cultural heritage site of Beijing.

Tianyi Tomb, also known as Cixiang An or Shixianglu An, is located at No. 80 Mokou Street at the foot of Cuiwei Mountain in Shijingshan District, Beijing. It lies to the north of Panlong Mountain and is approximately one Chinese mile from Fahai Temple. It is currently the only well-preserved, highest-standard, and most exquisitely carved Ming Dynasty eunuch tomb in China, built during the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty, covering an area of about 4,000 square meters. It is also China’s first thematic museum dedicated to the history of eunuchs. It is now a district-level cultural heritage protection site.

Constructed in the 33rd year of the Wanli reign of the Ming Dynasty (1605), Tianyi Tomb houses the remains of Tianyi, the most favored and prominent eunuch of Emperor Wanli, along with over ten other eunuchs from the Ming and Qing Dynasties. By the Qing Dynasty, the site had been abandoned and left unattended. A monk who visited the area greatly admired the scenery of the tomb complex and, fearing it might be vandalized by opportunists, petitioned Emperor Kangxi for permission to build “Cixiang An” (Compassionate and Peaceful Nunnery) next to the tombs, referred to as the “East Curve,” incorporating Tianyi Tomb as the “West Curve.” Because there was a massive stone incense burner in front of the nunnery, it became known as “Shixianglu An” (Stone Incense Burner Nunnery). The nunnery has two courtyards with three bays each, housing a statue of Guanyin, flanked by meditation rooms, and connected to Tianyi Tomb via a small gate. Currently, these halls serve as exhibition rooms for the “Beijing Eunuch Culture Museum.”

The eunuch Tianyi, also known as Weichuan, was from Huayin, Shaanxi. Born in the 13th year of the Jiajing reign (1534), he entered the imperial palace at the age of nine and served through the Jiajing, Longqing, and Wanli reigns. He was the seal-holding eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial during the Wanli era and also managed the Wine, Vinegar, and Flour Bureau. He was once appointed to guard Nanjing. During his tenure, he was described as “cautious, prudent, experienced, and sincere,” earning the deep trust of Emperor Wanli. He was frequently entrusted with important military and political responsibilities and was granted special honors such as dragon robes and jade belts, enjoying a life of wealth and prestige. Tianyi died in the 11th year of the Wanli reign (1583). After his death, the emperor specially granted him a burial site at Mokou as his final resting place. Emperor Shenzong personally composed the eulogy and ordered the construction of his tomb. Following him, more than ten other eunuchs, admiring his character and prestige, chose to be buried in the same area, forming a modest yet richly detailed cluster of eunuch tombs.

The structure of Tianyi Tomb is relatively well-preserved. Existing features include a gate tower, ornamental columns, stone statues of civil and military officials, the Lingxing Gate, three stele pavilions, a sacrificial hall, stone offerings, the Shouyu Gate, and an underground palace. The underground palace has been opened, revealing one epitaph and two nanmu coffin boards. Due to multiple thefts, precious funerary objects have been looted.

Tianyi Tomb can be considered a treasure trove of stone carving art. This is reflected not only in the grand, solemn, and unified style of the entire tomb complex but also in the large-scale, intricate design of the stonework. Components such as the memorial archway, sacrificial hall, tomb mound, and ceremonial utensils are predominantly carved from white marble, showcasing extremely high artistic and aesthetic value and representing the refined and delicate stone carving artistry of the late Ming Dynasty. The stone carvings feature a rich array of content: musical instruments of the eight tones, the eight treasures, the seven jewels, the four treasures of the study, auspicious motifs based on homophonic symbolism, the legendary Eight Immortals, as well as historical tales and folklore such as Su Wu Tending Sheep and Yang Xu Hanging Fish. The attire of the civil and military officials along the spirit way, the design of the stelae, and the numerous dragon carvings are all exquisitely crafted. All stone sculptures in the tomb area depict animals, plants, figures, musical instruments, and mountain streams, with diverse forms and dignified postures.

Address: No. 80 Mokou Street, Shijingshan District, Beijing (near Fahai Temple Park Morning Market)

Type: Cemetery/Tomb

Phone: 010-88724148

Opening Hours:

9:00-16:30

Ticket:

Beijing Tianyi Tomb Adult Ticket: 8 RMB

Half-price for students and seniors

Further Reading:

· Sixth Batch of Municipal-Level Cultural Heritage Protection Units in Beijing