Tomb of Tian Yi

　　The Tomb of Tian Yi, also known as Cixiang An or Shixianglu An, is situated at the foot of Cuiwei Mountain in Shijingshan District, Beijing, at No. 80 Mokou Street, with Panlong Mountain to its north and about one li 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, it covers an area of approximately 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 relics protection unit.

　　The Tomb of Tian Yi was constructed in the 33rd year of the Wanli reign of the Ming Dynasty (1605) and houses the tomb of Tian Yi, the most favored and prominent eunuch of Emperor Wanli, along with the graves of 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 grew deeply fond of the tomb complex and, fearing it might be damaged by opportunists, petitioned Emperor Kangxi for permission to build “Cixiang An” (Temple of Compassion) adjacent to the east, referred to as the “East Curve,” incorporating Tian Yi’s tomb as the “West Curve.” Due to the presence of a large stone incense burner in front of the temple, it came to be known as “Shixianglu An” (Temple of the Stone Incense Burner). Cixiang An consists of two courtyards with three-bay halls, housing a statue of Guanyin, flanked by meditation rooms, and connected to the Tomb of Tian Yi via a small gate. The halls are now used as exhibition rooms for the “Beijing Eunuch Culture Exhibition Hall.”

　　Tian Yi, also known as Wei Chuan, was from Huayin, Shaanxi Province. Born in the 13th year of the Jiajing reign (1534), he entered the imperial palace at the age of nine and served through the reigns of the Jiajing, Longqing, and Wanli emperors. 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 accorded special honors such as dragon robes and jade belts, enjoying immense wealth and prestige throughout his life. Tian Yi passed away in the 11th year of the Wanli reign (1583). The emperor specially granted him a burial site at Mokou as his final resting place. Emperor Shenzong personally composed his obituary 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 cemetery, forming a modest yet richly significant cluster of eunuch tombs.

　　The structure of the Tomb of Tian Yi remains relatively intact, featuring 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 chamber has been opened, yielding one epitaph tablet and two nanmu coffin boards. However, due to multiple thefts, the valuable funerary objects originally buried with the tomb have been looted.

　　The Tomb of Tian Yi can be regarded as a treasure trove of stone carving art. This is reflected not only in the grand, solemn, and unified style of the overall tomb complex but also in the large-scale, intricate stonework and ingenious design. The memorial archways, sacrificial halls, tombs, and ritual vessels are predominantly carved from white marble, showcasing exceptional artistic and aesthetic value. They represent the pinnacle of late Ming Dynasty stone carving craftsmanship—exquisite and refined. The stone carvings feature a rich variety of themes, including the Eight Tones, Eight Treasures, Seven Rarities, the Four Treasures of the Study, auspicious patterns based on homophonic symbolism, the legendary Eight Immortals, as well as historical tales and folklore such as Su Wu Herding Sheep and Yang Xu Hanging Fish. The attire of the civil and military officials along the spirit way, the design of the steles, and the numerous dragon carvings are all exquisitely crafted. All stone sculptures within the tomb area depict animals, plants, figures, musical instruments, and mountain streams, exhibiting diverse forms and dignified postures.