Empress Dowager Cixi, the power giant of the late Qing Dynasty, was not only politically skilled, but also had a very high pursuit of quality of life. She was extremely luxurious during her lifetime, and after her death, she brought many treasures to the mausoleum. Today, let's walk into the world of Cixi's treasures and explore the mystery of her ten peerless treasures.
1. Night Pearl: Contained in the mouth, it will not rot for thousands of years
The night pearl in the tomb of the Empress Dowager Cixi can be called a peerless treasure. This night pearl is composed of two pieces, and when combined, a green cold light shoots out, and the human head is clearly visible within a hundred steps at night. Cixi held it in her mouth, and it is said to have the miraculous effect of not dissolving the corpse. Its value was as high as 10 million taels of silver at the time, and it is incalculable today.
2. Emerald watermelon: Emerald is raw and valuable
The jade watermelon has an emerald green peel, and the red and black seeds in the melon are clearly visible. Cixi did not hesitate to spend 5 million taels of silver to buy this treasure, which shows its preciousness. However, the pair of jade watermelons was stolen by the warlord Sun Dianying after Cixi's death, and their whereabouts are still unknown.
3. Jade cabbage: exquisite craftsmanship and vividness
The jade cabbage has a realistic shape, green leaves and white hearts, and there is a green grasshopper and two wasps lying on it. This artifact is intricate and difficult to replicate even today. It is now in the National Palace Museum in Taipei, and is the treasure of the town museum, and its value is immeasurable.
Fourth, Dongpo meat stone: naturally formed, the best in the world
Dongpo meat stone, the shape and color are very much like a piece of Dongpo meat that has not been out of the pot for a long time, which is breathtaking. However, it has not been carved in any way and is entirely a natural piece of jade. Its color and texture are naturally formed, the fat and thin layers are distinct, and the texture is clear, which can be called the best in the world.
Fifth, nine exquisite white jade pagoda: mutton fat white jade, carved beautiful
Nine exquisite white jade pagoda is the most valuable of Cixi's funeral treasures. This pagoda is carved with mutton fat white jade, with thirteen layers of octagonal and beautiful carving. However, the whereabouts of this priceless white jade pagoda are still unknown, which is regrettable.
6. Red Coral Tree: Delicate and magnificent, incomparably bright
The red coral tree has lush branches and leaves, and the cherry trees are arranged in bunches, and the green stems and green leaves and red fruits are delicate and gorgeous. There is also a spotted kingfisher inlaid with pearls and jade on the tree, which adds to the vividness. Unfortunately, the whereabouts of this red coral tree are also unknown after Cixi's death.
7. Dharani Sutra Quilt: Buddhist Tantric treasures, extremely precious
The Dharani Sutra was a Buddhist tantric treasure specially prepared by Cixi during her lifetime, which was used to cover the corpse after death to transcend the souls of the dead. Crafted using twisted gold thread and a special technique, this sutra is adorned with 820 pearls and is three meters square, covered with sutras, statues, stupas and patterns, making it a priceless treasure.
八、玉石莲花：枕边宝物，寓意吉祥
The jade lotus flower weighs about 5,092 grams and has a market value of up to 750,000 taels of silver. In her later years, Cixi placed it next to her pillow, implying good fortune. This treasure was also buried with Cixi after her death and became part of her treasure.
Nine, Nine Crowns
Empress Dowager Cixi's crown of nine phoenixes was so extravagant that she was buried after her death, adorned with nine golden phoenixes, each containing a night pearl in its mouth. One of them is the largest, the other eight are a little smaller, and each one is priceless. In the dark, it can emit blue light, and it returns to its original state when placed in the light. The Night Pearl is rare in the world, and it was worth 10 million taels of silver at that time, and the military expenditure of the Beiyang Fleet at that time was only 1.8 million taels a year, which is worth hundreds of millions of yuan today.
10. Jade lotus
The jade lotus root was one of the Empress Dowager Cixi's favorite objects. According to relevant historical documents, Cixi often had insomnia and couldn't sleep in her later years, so Li Lianying, a personal eunuch, gave her this "jade lotus". The jade lotus root feels lubricated, and Cixi can't put it down after getting it, and she must take it with her every night to touch it to fall asleep. Although most of the things in Cixi's mausoleum were almost obtained by Sun Dianying in 1928, he was reluctant to give away this jade lotus. But this jade root has disappeared since then.
In addition to the above 10 treasures, there are many rare items in Cixi's treasures, such as tourmalines, gold ingots, pearls, etc. These treasures not only witness the luxurious life of Cixi during her lifetime, but also show us the social style and cultural heritage of the late Qing Dynasty. Today, although these treasures have been scattered all over the world, the historical and cultural values they carry will forever be recorded in the annals of history, and have become valuable treasures for future generations to explore and inherit.