The Qing Dynasty died for 111 years, but the royal mausoleum is still located somewhere in the capital, silent, but it makes people think about it. Everyone in the world knows about the existence of the imperial mausoleum, but few people know that there is still a group of people silently guarding this place. Where do they come from? Why are you obsessed with guarding the site of this palace that has become a vestige of supreme honor? And who is secretly paying them? All the secrets seem to be hidden in the deep years of the imperial tomb. Let's go back in history to explore this untold mystery.
The rise and fall of the imperial tombs of the Qing Dynasty
When it comes to the Imperial Tomb, one is reminded of the magnificent palace architecture and its splendid inner treasures. After hundreds of years of vicissitudes, the imperial mausoleum left by the Qing Dynasty is no longer as rich and glorious as it once was, but from some remaining details, we can still get a glimpse of its former grandeur.
In order to show their prestige, the emperors of the Qing Dynasty made great efforts to build the imperial tomb. Emperor Shunzhi took the lead in building the Qing Dongling Tomb in Fangshan District, present-day Beijing, pursuing a luxurious and atmospheric style. Although the layout of the Tanglin is no longer well known, we can still appreciate the hobby of the emperors at that time in pursuit of luxury from some of the precious funerary objects excavated from the excavations. The gold and silver vessels, the wood carving art of silk weaving, and the fine jade carvings all show the superb level of court craftsmanship in those days.
Donglin is still like this, not to mention the later Qingxi Mausoleum. During the reign of Yongzheng, he was worried that Tanglin would be damaged by theft and excavation, so he decided to build another royal mausoleum. The location of the Western Tomb is more hidden than that of the Eastern Tomb, and the tombs are more fortified and defended. From the ground, Xiling is composed of tall masonry arches and ancillary buildings, giving people a solemn atmosphere as a whole. In the depths of these exterior buildings, there is an unimaginably amazing landscape of the cemetery - an artificial mountain made of waste stone remains from the Great Wall of the Ming Dynasty, with three layers of vaulted stone chambers, the innermost layer being the resting place of the emperor.
Traditionally, in addition to preventing theft, the imperial tomb also needs to ensure that the geographical environment of the area where the mausoleum is located is suitable. The ancients paid attention to feng shui, believing that only by choosing a place with a good dragon vein and a moderate climate as a cemetery could the royal family be blessed with prosperity. Therefore, when choosing the site of the imperial mausoleum, the final decision is often made by experts after examining the geographical environment. For example, the site of Xiling once had the idea of migrating, and finally insisted on choosing it on a good feng shui treasure land halfway up the mountain.
Just as the imperial tombs were being built one after another in the smoke of gunpowder, the dark tide was already surging within the royal family. In the Shunzhi and Kangxi dynasties, the Manchu aristocracy still dominated the court, but in the later years of Qianlong, the influence of the Han bureaucracy in the government gradually increased. In the Jiaqing and Daoguang dynasties that followed, the power of Han culture reached its peak. For the emperor of a foreign race, it is important to consolidate the imperial power, but in order to really rule this vast land, it has to develop in the direction of sinicization.
Since ancient times, emperors have loved the people like sons, but in these magnificent and luxurious works of Xiling, it is difficult for us to see traces of true sympathy for the suffering of the people. During the prevalence of Buddhism, a huge temple was built in the southeast corner of Xiling, which was even mixed with some folk beliefs, which is quite surprising. The civilian nature of the imperial mausoleum has been exposed, which shows that the attitude of the emperors towards the mausoleum has changed. In the late Qing Dynasty, the opening of Dagukou led to the increasing concentration of merchants in the capital in the prosperous area near the North Third Ring Road, and the area around the Imperial Tomb gradually became inaccessible, in stark contrast to the prosperous scene of the past.
Just as the last glory of the royal family was coming to an end, the fate of the country was also approaching a new turning point. From Tongzhi to Guangxu, the contradictions between the DPRK and China escalated day by day, and power struggles rose one after another. The emperors gradually lost their control over the country, and watched the Manchu dynasty go to the abyss of decline. Eventually, after the outbreak of the Xinhai Revolution in 1911, the imperial system that had lasted for more than 2,000 years came to an end. The gates of the palace were completely closed in this year, and the imperial tombs of the Qing Dynasty were eclipsed and collapsed.
The continuation of the tradition of the mausoleum keepers
The Manchu Dynasty fell, but the footsteps of protecting the imperial tomb never stopped. This mysterious guardian team has remained at their posts after the smoke of war and has been passed down from generation to generation. How could they be so obsessed with guarding the mausoleum of a dynasty that no longer exists?
Tracing back to the roots, the ancestors of the mausoleum guards originally came from the banner army in charge of garrisoning during the Qing Dynasty. Before the Manchu Qing entered the customs, Nurhachi had organized the Manchu population into eight banners to ensure their dominance and military power. After the establishment of the Qing Dynasty, the Eight Banners system was inherited and became the trump card army of the imperial court garrisoning the Beijing Division. Among them, the three flags of the yellow flag, the inlaid yellow flag and the white flag are the important forces responsible for the garrison of the imperial tomb.
A group of young soldiers in the elite soldiers of the Three Banners are often selected to serve as guards guarding the tomb. This task may seem mundane, but it is actually significant. As the guardians of the Imperial Tomb, they are not only on guard against thieves from excavating the Imperial Tomb, but also responsible for maintaining the safety of the Tomb's internal buildings and treasures. Once there is a major sacrificial ceremony, they also need to do their best to ensure that the event runs smoothly. It can be said that the duties of the mausoleum keeper are never easy.
In addition to the strong men from the Three Banners Army, there are also some children of old aristocratic families in the lineup of the mausoleum guards. In that hierarchical era, even if you have a prominent status, you may not be able to get a better career. Compared with going to a distant place to be an official, many people would rather choose to stay in Beijing and be a mausoleum keeper. This seemingly ordinary job is actually a fairly decent and secure career.
The hardship of the mausoleum keeper is not too high, and he only needs to take care of the imperial tomb with due diligence. Although the income is not very good, it is definitely enough to live a fairly good life. What's more, the job is very hereditary, and once it is recognized for joining the ranks, children and grandchildren can enjoy it. In that era when social status was crucial, the mausoleum keeper was undoubtedly another good way out besides the eunuchs.
Time flies, and generations of mausoleum keepers have inherited this profession in this way. They had grown up in the shadow of the Imperial Tomb since birth, chasing and frolicking in the quiet ruins of the palace as if it were their whole world. Throughout their lives, it was difficult for them to really get rid of that attachment to the imperial tomb. Although the mausoleum keepers have no power or power, they have gained glory and pride that are difficult for others to achieve because of their obsession with the royal atmosphere and their loyalty to their duties.
With the changes of the times, the external environment has undergone earth-shaking changes, but the people who guard the mausoleum have never wavered in their adherence to the imperial mausoleum. Even in the most difficult times, they did not choose to escape or give up, but interpreted their dedication to this profession with their actions. When all the privileges and benefits of the old society were gone, the mausoleum keepers still guarded the territory for hundreds of years, as if the mantle of the royal family had not yet left. Although their livelihood is in dire straits, they help each other with the friendship of their comrades, and support each other through difficult years with tenacious will.
The spirit of the mausoleum keepers who do not care about personal gains and losses is destined to win the respect of outsiders. With the founding of the People's Republic of China and the change of the social system, the government began to attach importance to this special contingent with a long history. People of insight have admired their tenacity, believing that the spirit of loyalty and perseverance embodied by the mausoleum keepers is the precious cultural heritage of the Chinese nation. In order to pass on the torch, the government has specially allocated salaries to the mausoleum keepers after peace has been restored, so that they can continue this traditional profession with peace of mind.
In this way, a new generation of mausoleum guards joined this team and fought side by side with those old guards who had survived the old society. They encouraged each other and continued to take care of the imperial tomb as always. In today's modernization, the mausoleum guards are still adhering to their beliefs passed down from generation to generation, defending their respect for their ancestors and adherence to tradition with practical actions, and interpreting an indelible history.
The plight after the fall of the Qing Dynasty
The guardian behind the imperial mausoleum, after the fall of the Qing Dynasty, life fell into an extremely difficult period. Everyone in this team, whether they are veterans or newcomers, has to face a lot of problems with their livelihoods and futures.
At that time, with the end of the Qing Dynasty, the original allowances and salaries of the mausoleum guards were naturally interrupted. These special beings, who once served as royal guards, were orphaned overnight outside the new social system. As remnants of the old system, they have lost all legitimate sources of income, and who will be in charge of their future livelihood? This is undoubtedly a serious problem in front of everyone.
For a time, the mausoleum guards fell into an extreme predicament. Those who used to be in high positions in the government and the opposition can now only live a poor life. Some had to move out of their old dormitories and became poor people foraging for food near the imperial tombs. Others were forced to leave the capital with their families and families to make a living.
Despite the dizzying changes taking place in society at the time, the mausoleum keepers were unable to fully adapt to the new environment. They still have to live on their special status in the royal family, and many have begun a long life of begging. Some young people have lost their way and have begun to become bandits and idle scoundrels.
However, there are also quite a few people in this group who have not given up hope. They uphold a firm belief in the profession of guarding the tomb and are unwilling to stop there. It is with this perseverance that they have been able to survive the difficulties. There is an old guard surnamed Lu who once made a living by picking up rags in the area of the imperial mausoleum, relying on the sponsorship of others to spend the day. There is also an old guard surnamed Wang, who barely survives on the commission of guarding the house on behalf of others. No matter what they did, they never forgot their original purpose as mausoleum keepers.
Faced with the disintegration of the Qing Dynasty and the establishment of a new regime, these people felt helpless and even panicked. Now it seems that perhaps the panic was unnecessary. But at the time, no one could say how the new regime would treat the old ones. The mausoleum guards had to wait anxiously for the verdict of the new regime, for fear that they would be severely punished as "thieves". Fortunately, they were later recognized as a symbol of patriotic guardianship, and they were able to get rid of this panic.
However, even so, the road ahead is still difficult. It will not be easy to re-establish one's legal position in a new environment. The mausoleum guards had to help each other and get through the difficult days together with the friendship of their comrades. Some people use the financial support left by their old employers to get by, while others rely on family and friends to help each other. In short, during that most difficult period, the mausoleum guards relied on each other's strength to survive and did not break up.
It is precisely with the obsession with tradition and the persistence of faith that the mausoleum keepers have not lost themselves. Despite the dire situation, they still firmly guarded the royal mausoleum. And just like that, after wave after wave of heavy losses, the team miraculously survived. When the smoke clouds of the times finally gradually dissipated and everything returned to calm, the mausoleum keepers were still there to fulfill their duties passed down from generation to generation, defending their respect for their ancestors and their adherence to traditional culture with their actions.
The rebirth of the mausoleum keepers
Eventually, the suffering will pass, and the dawn of rebirth will come. After twenty or thirty years of hardship, the mausoleum guards finally ushered in a new turnaround.
In the thirties of the last century, with the re-establishment of national unity and social order, the government began to attach importance to this special contingent with a long history. A group of people of insight admired the tenacity of the mausoleum guards, and they believed that the spirit of loyalty and perseverance embodied by the mausoleum guards was the precious cultural heritage of the Chinese nation. In order to pass on this torch, the authorities decided to allocate salaries to the mausoleum keepers so that they could continue this traditional profession with peace of mind.
In this way, groups of new generations of mausoleum keepers joined the team. Some people are born poor and join them just to covet this wealth; But there are also some people who are involved with a passion for traditional culture. Whatever the reason, they all went hand in hand with the veterans who had survived the rough years of the old society, and shouldered the heavy responsibility of protecting the imperial tomb.
The old and the new alternated, and the team became more and more active. Soon, the mausoleum keepers got rid of the haze and regained their vitality. The payment of wages allowed them to settle down again, and the discipline and establishment of the old days were restored in the ranks. The scene of people coming and going can be seen everywhere in the imperial mausoleum, and the figures of the mausoleum guards can also be seen everywhere. The whole team seemed to be rekindled in an instant.
With the death of experienced veterans one after another, a group of new forces have emerged within the team. These newcomers have grown up near the Imperial Tomb since childhood, and they know every brick and tile here. From an early age, they naturally embody an obsession with ancestral causes. Some joined the team at a young age, while others returned to this familiar place after years of hard work in other industries. In any case, they all have a fiery heart and contribute their strength to the cause of guarding the mausoleum.
Driven by this new force, the lives of the mausoleum guards have also undergone earth-shaking changes. Thanks to the payment of wages, they said goodbye to the years of poverty and lived a relatively decent life. Everyone has their own shelter and source of livelihood, and no longer needs to rely on family and friends for support. At the same time, the mausoleum keepers also began to engage in some side jobs in their spare time, such as selling souvenirs near the imperial tomb or acting as tour guides for tourists. The increase in income has made their lives richer and richer, and it can be said that it has reversed the poverty plight of the past few decades.
Once upon a time, the mausoleum guards were just a group of "thieves" who were marginalized by society. And now, they are being re-accepted by this society. Many people have begun to realize that the mausoleum guards represent the Chinese nation's adherence to and cherishing traditional culture. Their devotion and respect for their ancestors embodies a unique spirit of the Chinese. In the context of the new era, the importance and status of the mausoleum keepers have become more and more prominent.
In view of this, in order to give full play to the role of the mausoleum guards, the government also specially arranged for some scholars to come to guide them. Most of these scholars are experts in history and cultural relics, and they have explained a great deal of knowledge about history and culture to the mausoleum keepers. Under their training, the people of the tomb have a more thorough understanding of their profession. Soon, the mausoleum guards became a new force to introduce the culture of the imperial tomb. They either give tourists a guided tour of the mausoleum relics, or teach students relevant knowledge in surrounding schools, so that this precious culture can be better inherited and promoted.
In this way, under the spring breeze of the new era, this long-standing team finally regained its former glory. The mausoleum keepers have once again stood at the forefront of society and taken on the important task of disseminating culture and promoting traditions. In their own unique way, they interpret their unwavering love for Chinese civilization and write a moving new chapter.
Guarding the culture of the imperial tomb has been passed down from generation to generation
Time flies, and generations of mausoleum keepers have relayed to pass on this respect for royal culture from generation to generation. In today's era, they are no longer just guards guarding the mausoleum, but also have become a vanguard force in promoting history and culture.
It all starts with that group of tireless scholars. In the twenties and thirties of the last century, some enthusiastic experts in literature and history went to the imperial mausoleum to conduct systematic training for the mausoleum guards. These scholars patiently and meticulously explained a lot of knowledge about history and culture to the mausoleum keepers, so that they had a deeper understanding of the profession they were engaged in. Since then, the mausoleum guards are no longer just a simple guard team, but truly aware of the heavy responsibility of cultural inheritance on their shoulders.
After the training, the mausoleum keepers immediately put into action what they had learned to put into practice. They either served as tour guides for tourists in the mausoleum area, or taught teachers and students about the culture of the imperial mausoleum in nearby primary and secondary schools. Over the years, countless tourists and students have listened to the vivid explanations of the mausoleum keepers, from which they have appreciated the long civilization contained in the royal mausoleum.
Among them, the mausoleum guards who are active on campus are the most outstanding. They carried out the cultural science popularization activities of the Imperial Tomb vividly, so that the students had a strong interest in this culture imperceptibly. For example, there is a mausoleum keeper surnamed Zhao, whenever he talks about the mystery of the layout of the imperial mausoleum, he will explain to the students the specific location of each mausoleum and the meaning it represents. Another example is the one surnamed Zhang, whenever he talks about the brick carvings and stone carvings of the mausoleum, he will carefully analyze the exquisite craftsmanship for everyone, and tell the philosophy contained in it.
These vivid explanations of the mausoleum keepers often leave a deep impression on the students. Some of the children were deeply impressed by the "skilled craftsmen" mentioned in the explanation, and thus developed a strong interest in intangible cultural heritage. Some children were attracted by the exquisite carvings of the imperial mausoleum garden, so they began to have a further understanding of the ancient art of gardening. It is precisely under the words and deeds of the mausoleum guards that generations of young people have developed a heartfelt yearning and love for Chinese culture.
In addition to the activities on campus, the mausoleum guards are also diligent in guiding and explaining to tourists in the mausoleum area. Their affectionate explanations often leave a deep impression on foreign tourists. There are many foreign tourists who come to the imperial mausoleum to see the true face of this mausoleum that carries the essence of Chinese civilization. After seeing the fascinating explanations of the mausoleum guards, they all have a sincere admiration for the breadth and profundity of Chinese culture.
To this day, this long-standing team is still unswervingly adhering to the inheritance of the imperial tomb culture. In their own unique way, they have cast the essence of royal culture into their own blood and passed it on from generation to generation. Whether it is on campus or in the mausoleum area, whether it is facing students or tourists, the mausoleum guards are using vivid and interesting explanations to present this ancient culture to everyone vibrantly. It is with their perseverance that the flame of royal culture can be passed down from generation to generation.
It is often said that culture is the root of a nation. And the mausoleum guards interpreted the profound connotation of this sentence with practical actions. Since ancient times, they have regarded the royal culture as their pride and glory, and the inheritance of it as a supreme mission. In this way, generation after generation of mausoleum keepers have written chapters about perseverance with perseverance and dedication, so that the light of Chinese civilization will never dim.