Emperor Guangxu, a controversial emperor in Chinese history, had a life full of drama and tragedy. In 1908, Emperor Guangxu died with hatred, leaving behind countless questions and regrets. However, what is more curious is the story of his mausoleum, Chongling. This imperial mausoleum located in Yi County, Hebei Province, not only continued the royal feng shui controversy, but also exposed the complexity of social politics in the late Qing Dynasty and early Republic of China.
Emperor Guangxu, the emperor of the late Qing Dynasty, his life was almost controlled by the Empress Dowager Cixi, and the helplessness and struggle during his reign also seemed to foreshadow the ups and downs of the mausoleum after his death. In November 1908, Emperor Guangxu died, and the Empress Dowager Cixi almost followed. After that, Pu Yi's father, the regent Zaifeng, began to deal with the aftermath of Emperor Guangxu. The site selection and construction of Emperor Guangxu's mausoleum was hastily decided in just 50 days.
Feng Shui masters have described Jinlongyu as a treasure of feng shui, but in reality the soil here is full of problems. Feng Shui masters claim that the mountains here are solemn, like a treasure hall, and the dragon veins are clear, but they deliberately ignore the actual nature of the soil. According to the ideal feng shui requirements, a good cemetery should not only depend on the mountains and rivers, but also have excellent soil quality. However, the soil quality of Jinlongyu is damp and sandy, which is not suitable for the construction of imperial tombs at all.
Just when everything seemed to be going well, the Xinhai Revolution of 1911 broke out, the Qing Dynasty fell, and the unfinished mausoleum came to a standstill. Despite this, according to the "Preferential Conditions for Clearing Rooms", the government of the Republic of China eventually continued to complete the project. At this time, Chongling was already a product of the Republic of China, not a legacy of the Qing Dynasty.
The work continued, but problems followed. Due to frequent foundation problems, the engineering team had to change the original design, which increased the complexity and cost of the project. It is reported that the construction of the entire Chongling Tomb cost more than 5.51 million taels of silver, and the construction personnel were as high as 6,000 people. Such a grand investment is undoubtedly an irony for a dynasty that no longer exists.
In 1980, an unexpected archaeological discovery brought Chongling back into the public eye. The archaeological team found many precious artifacts in the underground palace, but what was even more shocking was that a military doctor suddenly vomited after removing the artifacts, what was the reason for this? Was it because of the curse of the ancient tomb, or was it simply due to a lack of oxygen or other environmental factors?
The incident sparked widespread discussion. Some speculate that this may be related to the special microbial environment in the tomb, while others believe that it is a supernatural force for the tomb to protect itself. However, it is more about sympathy and reflection on Emperor Guangxu's life. His life and the cemetery after his death seem to be shrouded in misfortune and gloom.
Emperor Guangxu's life was full of tragedy, and so was his burial place. Although the completion of Chongling marks the last respect for an emperor, its course and encounters also seem to reflect the ups and downs and helplessness of Emperor Guangxu's life. From the mistakes in the selection of feng shui sites, to the difficulties in the construction process, to the modern archaeological discoveries, every step is full of twists and turns.