Sias University began in 1998. In 2007-08 it had over 16,000 students, 13 classroom buildings, a dozen dormitories, a large indoor pool, and has been acclaimed one of the 10 most beautiful campuses in China. The pagoda sits atop the “tomb of the fisherman,” dating back to the Warring States period over 2000 years ago. For more information see http://www.sias.edu.cn. Photos by Gary L. Todd, Ph.D., Professor of History, Sias International University, Xinzheng, Henan, China. http://picasaweb.google.com/leefoxx1949/SiasInternationalUniversity#
Xinzheng is the birthplace (c. 2700 BC) of semi-legendary Yellow Emperor Huangdi, sometimes called the First Ancestor. In the Chunqui & Zhanguo eras it was the capital of the states of Zheng and Han (770-230 BC), and features probably the largest rammed-earth city wall remaining in the world. A 1923 discovery of a tomb of a King of Zheng (Zhengwang) from c. 575 BC led to the birth of modern Chinese archaeology. In addition to a chariot burial, the tomb contained the famous bronze “crane & lotus” urn, arguably the most exquisite bronze vessel ever made. Two ancient towers dominate the riverside area downtown. Zheng-feng Park lies on the river next to the campus of Sias International University. Photos by Gary L. Todd, Ph.D., Professor of History, Sias International University, Xinzheng, Henan, China. http://picasaweb.google.com/leefoxx1949/XinzhengBirthplaceOfChineseCivilization#
Xi’an was the capital (or near the capital) of the W Zhou, Qin, W Han, Sui & Tang dynasties. The Dayan (Big Wild Goose) Buddhist Pagoda & the Great Mosque date from the Tang, while the city walls & bell & drum towers were built during the Ming. Nearby is the tomb of First Emperor Qin Shihuang, guarded by the army of terracotta warriors. Photos by Gary L. Todd, Ph.D., Professor of History, Sias International University, Xinzheng, Henan, China. http://picasaweb.google.com/leefoxx1949/XiAnDayanPagodaGreatMosqueBellDrumTowersMingCityWalls#
Longmen Grottoes consists of over 100,000 Buddhist images carved in caves during the Northern Dynasties, Sui Dynasty, & Tang Dynasty, c. 500-900 AD. Highlight is the Grand Buddha Niche, of which the central figure represents Maitreya, the Buddha of the Future. It was commissioned by China’s only female emperor, Wu Zetian, and supposedly is based on her physical features. Photos by Gary L. Todd, Ph.D., Professor of History, Sias International University, Xinzheng, Henan, China. http://picasaweb.google.com/GaryLeeTodd/LuoyangLongmenGrottoes#
Kaifeng was the capital of the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127 AD) as well as the Wei kingdom, 4 of the Five Dynasties, and the later part of the Jin. The current palace was rebuilt in 1743 on the ruins of the ancient one. The Iron Pagoda (named because brick tiles look like rusted iron) was built in 1049. Xiangguo Monastery features a Buddha of 1048 arms carved from a single ginkgo trunk in the 1700s. Baogong temple honors the N Song official Bao Zheng, noted for his strict & impartial enforcement of the law. Millennium City recreates the grandeur of the N Song. Photos by Gary L. Todd, Ph.D., Professor of History, Sias International University, Xinzheng, Henan, China. http://picasaweb.google.com/leefoxx1949/KaifengPalacePagodaTempleMillenniumCity#
Founded in 495 AD, Shaolin is where the Chan (Zen) school of Buddhism was born, along with the martial art of gongfu (kung fu). It was destroyed by a warlord in 1928, and rebuilt in the 1980s, inspired by the success of a Bruce Lee movie. The Forest of Pagodas consists of 246 pagodas housing the ashes of monks interred there from 791 to 1803 AD, plus one modern one awaiting a currently-living monk. I think I’ve photographed them all. Photos by Gary L. Todd, Ph.D., Professor of History, Sias International University, Xinzheng, Henan, China. http://picasaweb.google.com/leefoxx1949/ShaolinTemplePagodaForest#
Zhengzhou was the penultimate capital of the Shang Dynasty, c. 1400 BC, with a portion of the original walls still standing. The capital was supposedly transferred to Yin (Anyang) after a devastating flood of the Huanghe (Yellow River). Today Zhengzhou is a major railway center. It was the site of a massacre by the warlord Wu Peifu of striking railway workers on February 7 (Erqi), 1923. The Erqi Incident contributed to the radicalization of Chinese workers. Recently a huge monument to First Ancestor Huangdi (the “Yellow Emperor”) & his rival/relative Yandi was built on the banks of the Yellow River. Photos by Gary L. Todd, Ph.D., Professor of History, Sias International University, Xinzheng, Henan, China. http://picasaweb.google.com/leefoxx1949/ZhengzhouTheYellowRiver#
Chengdu was the ancient capital of Shu Han under Liu Bei (221-223 AD), made famous by the Sanguo Yanyi (Romance of the Three Kingdoms). The giant statue of Chairman Mao sits in the center of town on the site of the ancient palace. Some photos date from 1991, while the rest were taken during Spring Festival, 2008. Photos by Gary L. Todd, Ph.D., Professor of History, Sias International University, Xinzheng, Henan, China. http://picasaweb.google.com/leefoxx1949/Chengdu#
The Forbidden City was started by Emperor Yongle (1403-1424) of the Ming Dynasty. Emperors ruled from there until the Revolution of 1911. Drum & Bell Towers lie directly north of the palace. Behai Park is northwest & features a Tibetan-style White Pagoda. Jingshan Park (Coal Hill), directly north of the palace, was made from dirt removed to form the moat. The emperor performed the yearly sacrifice to insure a good harvest at the Temple of Heaven to the south. The city wall dates to the early Ming. Only the southeast corner remains. Most photos from summer 2007 or 2006 while many of the subjects were under repair in preparation for the 2008 Olympics. Some photos date from 1991 and are digital copies of the original slides. Photos by Gary L. Todd, Ph.D., Professor of History, Sias International University, Xinzheng, Henan, China. http://picasaweb.google.com/leefoxx1949/BeijingForbiddenCityDrumBellTowersBehaiParkTempleOfHeavenCityWall#
This is my Forbidden City photo album of 2008 taken after most of the pre-Olympics renovation was finished. I’ve also included two special exhibits of the Palace Museum: artifacts of the Imperial concubines, and artifacts from the Last Emperor Aisin Gioro Puyi. Earlier photos from 1991, 2006, and 2007 can be seen in another album at my website. Photos by Gary L. Todd, Ph.D., Professor of History, Sias International University, Xinzheng, Henan, China. http://picasaweb.google.com/GaryLeeTodd/ForbiddenCityPalaceMuseum#