The Monument Commemorating Emperor Kangxi’s Victory over Galdan

Monument Commemorating Emperor Kangxi’s Victory over Galdan

The Monument Commemorating Emperor Kangxi’s Victory over Galdan is a cultural tourism attraction.

Originally known as the Imperial Stele of Chongfu Temple Commissioned by the Sacred Ancestor, the Monument Commemorating Emperor Kangxi’s Victory over Galdan is located within the Xilituzhao and Xiaozhao (Chongfu Temple) temples in the old city of Hohhot. After Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty quelled the rebellion led by Galdan of the Zunghar tribe of the Oirat Mongols, he commissioned and erected this stele in the 42nd year of his reign (1703) to commemorate the victory and to honor the war-supporting merits of the two temples. Both stone stelae are inscribed in four scripts—Manchu, Mongolian, Tibetan, and Chinese—with each script carved on two separate stones, one character per face, and each stone housed under an octagonal pyramidal-roofed stele pavilion. While the main body of the inscriptions describing the suppression of the rebellion and its significance is the same, the texts praising the individual merits of the two temples differ slightly. The stele at Xilituzhao remains in its original location; the one from Xiaozhao has been moved to the Inner Mongolia Museum. The inscription records that armor and precious swords bestowed upon Xiaozhao were once publicly displayed every Spring Festival in an event called “Drying the Armor,” which drew crowds from all over the city to watch. These artifacts are now also housed in the Inner Mongolia Museum.

One Mongolian-Tibetan bilingual stele remains at Xilituzhao Temple in Hohhot, while one Manchu-Chinese bilingual stele is kept at the Inner Mongolia Museum. Both are inscribed in four languages and share largely the same content. The Chinese text is transcribed below: I note that Guihua City is situated in the ancient area of Fengzhou, surrounded by mountains and crisscrossed by rivers, long renowned as a scenic paradise. To the south of the city stood a Buddhist temple, which Tuoyin renovated and expanded, then petitioned for an official name, whereupon I bestowed upon it the name Chongfu Temple. In the winter of the Bingzi year, as I led troops to campaign against Galdan of the Oirats, our army made camp at Guihua City. I stayed temporarily in front of the temple and observed its grand halls and majestic Buddha statues. I ordered the hanging of precious banners and left behind my personal armor, bows, arrows, and quivers in the temple. The reason I personally engaged in military affairs beyond the frontier was not without cause. Previously, the Oirats and the Khalkha Mongols were hostile to each other and engaged in mutual attacks. Moved by the suffering of the people, I sent envoys to mediate peace. However, Galdan chased the Khalkhas and even raided our territory of Ujimqin. Thereupon, I ordered Prince Yu of the First Rank, Hešeri, to lead a punitive expedition, and we decisively defeated the enemy at Ulan Butung. At that time, Galdan swore a solemn oath before the Buddha that he would never again invade, so we withdrew our troops and returned. Later, Galdan reneged on his oath and again attacked Namujiaertu Tuoyin in the area of Kerulen. In the spring of the Bingzi year, I personally commanded the imperial armies and advanced through the central route to suppress him. Upon reaching the Kerulen River, the rebel forces, seeing the might of our troops, fled under cover of night—as I had anticipated. Meanwhile, our western route forces encountered the enemy at Chahar Modo and inflicted a crushing defeat, taking countless captives and killing many. Danba and Hasha, among others, led their followers in surrender, while Galdan escaped. That winter, I again stationed our troops in Ordos, employing both military suppression and amnesty. Oirat people came in droves to submit, but Galdan still refused to surrender. In the year Dingchou, I led our forces and camped at the foot of Langjuxu Mountain, with troops advancing along multiple routes. Cornered and desperate, Galdan died by his own hand; his children were captured, and the remaining rebels were pacified. Now, peace prevails both inside and outside the empire, and the borderland people live in tranquil security. Tuoyin requested the erection of a stele to preserve this memory for posterity. Thus, I have inscribed these words on stone, so that future generations who read them will know of my willingness to brave harsh winters and scorching summers, and to make three arduous journeys to the remotest frontiers, all for the sake of eliminating tyranny and bringing peace to the people.

Originally known as the Imperial Stele of Chongfu Temple Commissioned by the Sacred Ancestor, the Monument Commemorating Emperor Kangxi’s Victory over Galdan was erected to commemorate Emperor Kangxi’s military campaigns in the 35th and 36th years of his reign, during which he led troops beyond the border to defeat Galdan and bring stability to the northern steppes. It is well worth a visit for travelers.