3 Palace: Eastern Palace
The Eastern Palace (Dong Palace)
To the east of and in juxtaposition with the Palace City was the Eastern Palace, the residence for the crown prince. The Liang jing xin ji records nine halls for the Eastern Palace.98 Xu Song identifies them as follows: from south to north, Jiade, C hongjiao", Lizheng, Chongwen (to the west), Chongren (to the east), Guangtian (or Guangda), Cheng’en, Bafeng, and She (Archery).100
Like the Taiji Palace, the remains of the Eastern Palace are overlaid with modem structures, making excavation very difficult. But unlike the Taiji Palace, the Eastern Palace has attracted less attention in literary sources. We are left with little detailed information about the nine halls and other structures, often collectively referred to as the Eastern Palace. Archaeological investigation did take place in the Eastern Palace area, but the result is highly hypothetical. It was first reported to be 1492.1 (north-south) by 150 m (east-west) by the excavator Ma Dezhi, who later rejected the east-west figure as being too narrow, and reajusted it to 832.8 m. This is all based on the assumption that the central axis of the Taiji Palace was equidistant to two side walls in the east and west.101
According to Ma Dezhi who did exhaustive textual research in the five relevant primary sources (Lü Dafang102: Chang'an cheng tu, Cheng Dachang Yong lu, Li Haowen Chang’an zhi tu, Xu Song Tang liang jing cheng fang kao, Shaanxi tong zhi and Guanzhong sheng ji tu z h i103), the structures inside the Eastern Palace were arranged in three north-south vertical rows ,104
The Jiade Hall (Xiande, MingdeJ105
The major hall of the Eastern Palace was the Jiade Hall, which was also known as Xiande Hall. It was changed to Mingde Hall during Zhongzong's reign to avoid Zhongzong's given name xian. After the Xuanwu Gate incident of 626, Li Shimin (Taizong) became crown prince and inhabited the Eastern Palace. His coronation took place in the Xiande Hall in the same year. He also led the palace
. Liang jing xin ji (Ji)/3.
Originally the Hongjiao Hall, changed in 702 to avoid crown prince Li Hong's name. Tang hui yao 67/1169.
10°. Tang liang jing 1/8. Ü ß g , $ Jfc, iJ tJ O .
ini
101. See " Ji lue" Kao gu 63:11/597; Ma Dezhi "Dong gong" Kao gu 78:1/61 -4. 102
103 104 105
See, "Jie lue" Kao gu 1963:11.
3 Palace: Eastern Palace
cavalrymen each day for shooting exercise in the courtyard of the Hall.106 Taizong's attachment to the Eastern Palace continued in spite of his imperial status. In fact his ninth son was bom in the Eastern Palace long after he became emperor.107
The Left and Right Spring Offices (zuo you chunfang)
The Eastern Palace was like a Taiji Palace on a smaller scale. The main hall of the Taiji Palace was flanked by the zhong shu sheng (Grand Secretariat) and men xia sheng (Chancellery), two top-level government organs. In the same fashion, the main hall of the Eastern Palace was flanked on each side by a Spring Office. They were in charge of crown prince's affairs and were originally called in the Sui dynasty the men xia Office (east) and dian shu Office108 (west). In 662, the men xia Office was changed to Left Spring Office, and the dian shu Office to Right Spring Office.109 It is obvious the Spring Office was named after Spring Palace, which had been an alternative for Eastern Palace.110 The officers in charge were known as Left and Right shu zz.111 Left shu zi ranked 4a and was responsible for the most important routine affairs such as retinue, etiquette, rituals, revision of decrees etc. Right shu zi ranked the same and was charged with entourage, tribute and announcement of decrees.112
The Chongwen (Chongxian) Academy
The Left Spring Office (east) was also the location for the Chongwen Academy113 which had been originally known the Chongxian Academy. It was renamed to avoid a taboo character in Prince Zhanghui's given name xian.n4 First established in 639, it was charged with textual research and library collections.
The Mingfu Compound
East of the Guangtian Hall was the Mingfu Compound. In the Darning Palace there was also one compound of the same name, which was replaced later by the Jixian Hall.115 The mingfu tradition is datable to at least the late pre-Qin period. In
106 iO ?' 1(k’ 109* H O in' in m 114 ns;
Jiu Tang shu 2/30-1.
Li Zhi (posthumously G aozong) was bom in the Lizheng Hall. Jiu Tang shu 4a/65.
a t #
Tong dian 30/171. These names were changed back in 670 before they were settled for the present
names in 710 (the Left) and 712 (the Right). See Tang hui yao 67/1168-71.
See Chu xue j i 24:3/568. Tang liu dian 26/14-5, 21-2.
The Tang Liang jing cheng fang kao has it that the location o f this academy was in the Right Spring
House, but both in the Jiu Tang shu and Xin Tang shu it was placed in the Left one. Jiu Tang shu
4/1908; Xin Tang shu 49a/1294.
£
Jiu Tang shu 43/1850.
3 Palace: Eastern Palace
interpreting the Zhou li, Zheng Xuan comments that the nei (inner ) ming f u J ^ means the nine royal consorts while the wai (outer) ming fu the wives of qing dafu (lords and ministers). The king (of Zhou) appointed the husband before the wife. Shi (knights or scholar-officials)'s wives were also called ming f u f ^ In the Tang period, the ming fu continued to be an honorary ranking system. Titles and ranks were bestowed upon female royal relatives (emperor's sisters, fraternal aunts, daughters and granddaughters) as well as on the mothers and wives of high-ranking officers. On occasions, women were honoured for their own merits instead of for their husband's and son's position.118
The Yichun Compound(Pleasant Spring)
On western side of the Cheng'en Hall was one group of structures called Pleasant Autumn Compound (Yiqui yuan), while the on the east was the Compound of Pleasant Spring (Yichun yuan). The Yichun Compound of Tang was best known during Xuanzong's period. But it survived well into the latter half of the Tang dynasty .119 Although sometimes referred to as the Yichun Palace, it was enclosed in the greater Eastern Palace.
The Jiao fang ji by Cui Lingxin documents the Yichun Palace's connection with the sing-song girls at court They were professional entertainers trained and kept in the Jiao fang (Entertainment Department). Once settled in the Yichun Compound, they were called unofficially as nei ren (insiders) or qian tou ren (front persons) because of their frequent presence in front of the emperor. They were supplied with free rice all the year round. Among them there were ten who received special favours including mansions from the emperor. Collectively known as "the ten" (shi jia), this privileged group would expand into several dozen women, nevertheless, they were consistently referred to as "the ten".120 These Yichun girls were excellent singers and dancers and generally enjoyed higher status among fellow entertainers. It was relatively easy to tell them from other classes of entertainers. Not only did they look prettier, but they also wore metal fish decorations, which was an honour often bestowed upon officers of the 5th rank and above.121
116 m ‘ 118’ 119. 120. 121. op $1
Zhou li 7/15, text and commentary. JiuTang shu 43/1821.
It was still standing, when the Zhu Ci rebellion broke out. The starters of the rebellion sent their troops to the Yichun and other palaces for booty. See Fengtian lu 1/4.
Jiao fang j i /19.
Jiao fang j i /28. On fish decorations, see Jiu Tang shu 45/1954. They were silver and gold insignias in
the shape of fish usually worn at the waist. 78
3 Palace: Eastern Palace
The Geo-political Importance o f the Eastern Palace
The Eastern Palace of the Palace City had two major significances. First of all, its vicinity to the Taiji Palace made it essential for the safeguarding of the emperor himself. Secondly, its occupant, the heir apparent, enjoyed the greatest power next to the emperor himself. The Eastern Palace could serve as a base for the heir apparent to conspire against the emperor.
When the first crown prince of the Tang dynasty, Li Jiancheng, who was Gaozu's eldest son, inhabited the Eastern Palace, he built up his own army 2000 strong, which consisted of Chang'an's gangsters and stout warriors from elsewhere. There were stationed at the Right and Left Changlin Gates.122 These troops were known as the Changlin Army.122 Li Jiancheng also recruited 300 Turkish troops from Youzhou into the Eastern Palace. His intention was to counteract the increasing threat to his succession from Li Shimin, his brother. Relying on these troops, Li Jiancheng staged a coup to eliminate Li Shimin and his followers. But the effort backfired and Li Jiancheng lost his life in the Xuanwu Gate Incident itself.124
Taizong's eldest son Li Chengqian became crown prince through primogeniture. But his behaviour at the Eastern Palace was usually inappropriate and at times downright outrageous. He was involved in an affair with a handsome male entertainer called Chenxin.125 After Taizong ordered the latter's death, Li Chengqian had a tumulus erected for him in the Eastern Palace. He called upon his underlings to imitate the Turks in speech, dress and other customs. He hired professional killers to get rid of his brother Li Tai. In 643, Prince of Qi, Li You126 started a rebellion. On this Li Chengqian made a light-hearted remark which w'ould seal his fate:"I am dwelling (in the Eastern Palace) only 20 or so steps away from the Danei (the Taiji Palace), am I not in the same position as Prince of Qi (to conquer the Palace City)?" Taizong, when told this, deposed him.127
Realizing the menacing power of the Eastern Palace, later emperors would regard any major build-up of arms and armed forces there as dangerous. Prince Zhanghuai (Li Xian) was implicated by the discovery of hundreds of sets of armour in the Eastern Palace. His deposition and later death followed. This incident was doubtless organized by Wu Zetian, but it clearly illustrates the weight attached to the Eastern Palace.128 122 l23! 124 125* 126 I2l[ 128*
mn
The exact location of these gates were unknown. See Tang Liang jing 1/8, for relevant information
Xin Tang shu 79/3542-4; Jiu Tang shu 64/2416-9.
m
Xin Tang shu 80/3563-5; Jiu Tang shu 76/2674-9. Xin Tang shu 81/3590-1.
3 P alace: Yeting P alace
Yeting P alace129
The character y e130 was interchangeable w ithye131 which means "armpit”. Ye ting is literally "Armpit Palace", that is the palace on the side of the imperial palace like the armpit is to the body. In the Western Han dynasty, the Yeting Palace was part of the Rear Palace (hou gong132, or harem).133
In Tang times the Yeting was located in Chang'an and Luoyang.134 The expression "Rear Palace" was also in use at that time. In 756, when An Lushan laid siege to Chang'an, he is said to have sacked the Yeting and the Rear Palace.135 A Yeting bureau under the nei shi sheng was established to manage the Yeting court ladies.136
Archaeological research on the Yeting Palace is as disappointing as the Eastern Palace. The only piece of reliable information available is published in the 1963 archaeological report on Tang Chang'an.137 The Yeting Palace was found to be west of the Taiji Palace with a measurement of 1492.1 (north-south) by 702.5m (East- West). Few of its structures get mentioned in extant documentary sources. All Xu Song records are the zhong yi tai (Stage Arts platform) in the north, and the nei shi sheng138 (Palace Affair Department) in the southwest.139 The Chang'an zhi records no structures at all except for the Yeting itself.140
The Court Ladies
The court ladies associated with the Yeting seem to have had the lowest position in the Palace City although when the Yeting was used as a geographical term, it simply means the palace complex west of the Taiji Palace. More often than not, when their immediate relatives were executed, girls of good family background were taken and installed at the Yeting as palace maids.
129. 130 131 132 133 134 135' 136’ 137 1 3 i f 139 140
For an overview of the harem politics of Tang, see Tsukiyama Jisaburö "Kökyü/197-218.
«
R
See Honshu 97b/3974.
For Luoyang Yeting, see, Tang hui yao 3/26.
An Lushan shi j i part 3/36. Tang liu dian 12/20.
"Jilue" K aogu 63:11/597.
Tang liang jing 1/9. Chang'an zhi 6/5.
3 Palace: Yeting Palace
During Wu Zetian's reign, Shangguan Yi141 was beheaded for a crime against the empress. Now only was his son killed, his daughter-in-law and granddaughter Shangguan Wan'er, a newborn baby in her swaddling clothes were enslaved at the Yeting Palace. 142 In Daizong's reign, when Chief Minister Yuan Zai was stripped of his office his daughter, a nun at the Zijing Monastery143, was forced into service at the Yeting.144
Sometimes the Yeting girls were called into the imperial residence to entertain the emperor and his close relatives. During Suzong's reign, a group of musicians put on a show for the emperor and his daughter Princess Zhenghe. 145 Among the actresses there was one whose husband had been an alien general who had been executed in Xuanzong's reign. The show was about officialdom and it happened that the general's wife played the chief officer. The Princess was upset and said: "If Abusi (the general) was really a rebel, his wife should not be allowed to come close to the emperor. If he has been put to death wrongly, his wife should not be mixed up with these entertainers."146
Release o f Court Ladies
The above examples show the general humble position of the court ladies in the Yeting Palace. Court ladies else where may have been better treated, but life for most of them as for their Yeting sisters was one of melancholy. It was clearly reflected in a poem written by one of them during Xuanzong's reign, when she was making an army uniform:
The soldiers at the battlefield Are little aware of the bitter cold. Making the uniform by hand, I don't know to whom it will go. Feelingly I sew it several times more, With love I needle away with cotton thread. Now that I am finished for this world, I only hope to be loved in the next life.
The poem written on a piece of cloth was sewn into the uniform which was later turned in for identification. Xuanzong was moved by the story and asked the
JiuTang shu 51/2175
Tang guo shi bu part 1/25.
Yin hua lu 1/68. 141. 142 143’ 144
145i
146 813 Palace: Yeting Palace
poet to come forward and be freed. 14^ The anecdote came to a happy ending with the girl getting m arried when she was released from palace service. But most of court ladies spent their life in misery as is testified by a poem written by one Feng'er: *48
Once inside this abyssal palace, One will never see the spring. W riting this poem on a flower leaf, I am sending it my love downstream.
To show their benevolence, the emperors would release the court ladies from time to tim e.149 It was often m otivated by the desire to boost the im perial prestige am ong the people, after natural disasters and other unfavorable astrological phenomena. Typical popular reaction to it was that of grateful jo y as in the case of the 805 release when 600 R ear Palace court ladies and jia o fa n g (Departm ent o f Stage Performances) were freed.150
Primarily, the Yeting Palace was the residence o f court ladies o f low status, who usually served as either court attendants or workw om en.151 After a high official had been executed, his property was often confiscated, while his wives and daughters were forced to w ork in the Yeting Palace as a punishment. G enerally speaking, the Yeting ladies had no freedom of movement.
Taiping guang j i 274/2159; Quart Tang shi 797/8966. Quan Tang shi 797/8967. J |
It is well documented in primary sources. See Quan Tang wen (Beijing)52b, (Taipei)4/4 (Taizong); (Beijing)145a, (Taipei)12/1 (Gaozong); (Beijing)467a, (Taipei) 42/19 (Suzong); Tang wen shi yi i0435a (Muzong), 10437a (Jingzong); Tang hui yao 3/35-7.
Tang hui yao 3/36. Xin Tang shu 47/1222.
3 Palace: Doming Palace
The Darning Palace
The Darning Palace is relatively more fortunate than other structural complexes in terms of preservation. It has been least disturbed by later structures. Although by and large, surface remains of the Darning Palace are no longer visible, the underground ruins are covered by what is now open country. It has thus been possible to subject them to more intensive archaeological study than other parts of the city. The archaeological report titled Tang Chang'an Darning gong is indeed the only book-length archaeological study on Tang Chang'an.
Tang Taizong was the first emperor to start building this palace complex. From the early 630s, with confidence in his administration increasing, Taizong began to drift away from the policies of economy and frugality of his early years, and went on a construction spree. A series of palatial complexes were built or refurbished.152 The Darning Palace project started in 634. It was first named Yong’an then changed to Darning. It was to serve as a summer resort for his father, Gaozu. But construction came to a stop when Gaozu died in the same year.153 Gaozong started building the palace in 662, and renamed it Penglai Palace.154 In 663, he moved there. In 670, it underwent another name change and became Hanyuan Palace after the name of the main hall,155 but in 702, it resumed its old name Darning Palace.156
The naming of the palace was by no means casual. Its symbolism was associated with the amenities the palace in question was expected to provide. The initial name of Yong’an (eternal peace) for this palace might imply the wish Taizong had for his father's good health. The expression Darning (great brightness), for which the palace has been widely known, evoked the rising sun from the east and was perfectly in tune with the easterly location of the complex. The name Penglai was remindful of the Taoist Mountains of the same name which were home for immortals. Its significance lies in the simile that imperial longevity should be comparable to that of the Penglai Mountains.157
The palace was roughly trapezoid in shape with a top (north) side of 1135m and a base side (south) of 1674 m. The height (north-south) was 2256m. Situated in the northeastern suburb of Chang'an, it was referred to as Dongnei or Eastern
CHC 3(1)/192.
XinTang shu 2/35; Tong jian 6106-7.
L Tong jian 201/6363.
'. Tong jian 201/6363.
|. Tong jian 207/6557.
'. For evidence to the interpretation, see "Hanyuan dian fu" by Li Hua in Quan Tang wen (Beijing) 3187,