The Summer Palace was designed by Jesuits to look like the great European palaces. It was built by Emperor Qianlong (1736-1795) and destroyed by the British & French in 1860 during the Second Opium War. The ruins were left in place as a reminder of western imperialism. During the regency of Empress Dowager Cixi in the late 19th century, portions around Lake Kunming were repaired and used by members of the court. The infamous Marble Pavilion was repaired with funds which had been set aside to build a modern navy, and contributed to defeat in 1894-95 at the hands of Japan. Contrary to popular belief, Cixi was more a figurehead than the evil power behind the throne. Highlights of the Summer Palace include the Marble Pavilion, Temple of the Fragrance of Buddha and the Long Corridor. Photos by Gary L. Todd, Ph.D., Professor of History, Sias International University, Xinzheng, Henan, China. http://picasaweb.google.com/GaryLeeTodd/BeijingOldNewSummerPalace#
The Temple of Heaven is where the Ming and Qing emperors performed the annual sacrifice to insure an abundant harvest. Except for a few taken in 2006, these photos were all taken during the National Week holiday celebration, on October 2, 2008. Photos by Gary L. Todd, Ph.D., Professor of History, Sias International University, Xinzheng, Henan, China. http://picasaweb.google.com/GaryLeeTodd/TempleOfHeaven#
The first photos are of the Sacred Way leading to the Valley of the Thirteen Tombs of the Ming emperors. The remaining photos are of Dingling, the tomb of Emperor Wanli, the only one which has been excavated and opened to the public. The Thirteen Tombs, about 45 km NW of Beijing, contains tombs of most Ming emperors. They are the earliest tombs with still-standing top structures, and have not been completely looted. Dingling, the tomb of Wanli (1573-1620), a long-reigning but disastrous emperor, was scientifically excavated in the 1950s and is open to the public. Artifacts are from the museum at the Ding tomb. All photos were taken on National Day, October 1, 2008, except the final ones which were taken in 1991. Photos by Gary L. Todd, Ph.D., Professor of History, Sias International University, Xinzheng, Henan, China. http://picasaweb.google.com/GaryLeeTodd/MingTombs#
Tiananmen Square is a huge open area just south of the Forbidden City. On the north end of the square is a large portrait of Mao Zedong, who stood on that spot on October 1, 1949, and announced the birth of the People’s Republic of China. On the west side is the Great Hall of the People, China’s main government building. Opposite that is the National Museum. On the south end of the square is Qianmen gate. In the square itself is the Monument to the Revolutionary Martyrs and the Mausoleum where the body of Chairman Mao lies on public display. Near the “Maosoleum” is a collection of heroic statues depicting workers, peasants, & soldiers building the socialist revolution. Photos taken in 2007, 2006, and 1991. Recent photos may reflect renovation in preparation for 2008 Olympic Games. Photos by Gary L. Todd, Ph.D., Professor of History, Sias International University, Xinzheng, Henan, China. http://picasaweb.google.com/leefoxx1949/BeijingTiananmenSquare#
The terracotta army protected the tomb of First Emperor of China Qin Shihuang (221-210 BC). Photos are from Pits 1, 2, & 3, and from the on-site museums. Some 8000 soldiers have been excavated to date, with only one found intact. Color faded within weeks of excavation, so further work is waiting until the problem of color stabilization has been solved. The army was damaged in the wave of destruction at the end of the Qin Dynasty. The high-resolution photos were taken in 2009; the others in 2005, 2006 and 2007. Photos by Gary L. Todd, Ph.D., Professor of History, Sias International University, Xinzheng, Henan, China. http://picasaweb.google.com/GaryLeeTodd/XiAnTerracottaArmyOfQinShihuang#
After 1929 peasants near Chengdu began finding jade artifacts. In 1986 two burial pits full of bronze vessels, heads, masks, and trees were unearthed nearby. The culture which produced them was contemporary with Yin (Shang Dynasty) culture of Anyang, c. 1200 BC. Little else is known about these people, or the purpose for the strange artifacts. No parallel has yet been found, nor do any known historical texts mention these people. Most likely the Ba, Shu, & Dian cultures derived from Sanxindgui. The museum features artifacts from all these cultures. Photos by Gary L. Todd, Ph.D., Professor of History, Sias International University, Xinzheng, Henan, China. http://picasaweb.google.com/leefoxx1949/Sanxingdui#
The nucleus of this collection was originally housed in the Confucian Temple, now moved to this ultra-modern facility. Photos by Gary L. Todd, Ph.D., Professor of History, Sias International University, Xinzheng, Henan, China. http://picasaweb.google.com/GaryLeeTodd/BeijingCapitalMuseum#
This museum in Zhengzhou was built around the artifacts from the tomb of a king of Zheng discovered in 1923 in Xinzheng. The tomb, dated to c. 575 BC, contained the famous crane and lotus urn, probably the most exquisite bronze found anywhere in the world. Superb bronzes from the state of Chu are also featured here. Artifacts in this post are from Henan Province from the beginnings of civilization through the Han Dynasty. Photos by Gary L. Todd, Ph.D., Professor of History, Sias International University, Xinzheng, Henan, China. http://picasaweb.google.com/GaryLeeTodd/HenanProvincialMuseum1ZhengzhouPrehistoryThroughHanDynasty#
This museum in Zhengzhou was built around the artifacts from the tomb of a king of Zheng discovered in 1923 in Xinzheng. The tomb, dated to c. 575 BC, contained the famous crane and lotus urn, probably the most exquisite bronze found anywhere in the world (see Henan Provincial Museum: Beginnings to Han Dynasty). This post concerns artifacts from the Han Dynasty to the present. Photos by Gary L. Todd, Ph.D., Professor of History, Sias International University, Xinzheng, Henan, China. http://picasaweb.google.com/GaryLeeTodd/HenanProvincialMuseum2ZhengzhouPostHanDynastyC200ADToPresent#
Anyang was the site of the last Shang (Yin) capital, for some 255 years. In 1899 the famous oracle bones were discovered there, confirming the historicity of the last 9 of the Shang kings. Fu Hao, the consort of King Wu Ding, was buried there c. 1200 BC. She is considered China’s first female general, and her tomb is the only intact Shang royal tomb discovered so far. Objects in the tomb are reproductions, but the artifacts shown in the on-site museum are all genuine. Other artifacts from Fu Hao are found in my albums from the Henan Provincial Museum in Zhengzhou or the National Museum in Beijing. The chariot burials are the earliest discovered in China. One can see the evidence for human sacrifice in many of these pictures. I have posted another album featuring the 10th century pagoda in downtown Anyang. Photos by Gary L. Todd, Ph.D., Professor of History, Sias International University, Xinzheng, Henan, China. http://picasaweb.google.com/GaryLeeTodd/AnyangFinalShangCapitalYinRuinsMuseum#