Daming Palace

{{Infobox museum

| name = Daming Palace National Heritage Park

| native_name = 大明宫国家遗址公园

| image = Daming Palace National Heritage Park - Danfeng Gate 01.jpg

| imagesize = 300

| caption = The reconstructed Danfeng Gate, housing and conserving the on-site ruins of the original gate of the Daming Palace

| alt =

| coordinates = {{coord|34|17|45|N|108|57|30|E|type:landmark|display=inline}}

| established = 1 October 2010

| location = Xi'an, Shaanxi, China

| type = Archaeological site and history museum

| embedded = {{Infobox Chinese

|pic =

|piccap = The Daming Palace northeast of the capital city Chang'an

|picsize = 300px

|child = yes

|name1 = Daming Palace

|t = 大明宮

|s = 大明宫

|l = Palace of Great Brilliance Chung, Saehyang. "[https://www.jstor.org/stable/3250086 A Study of the Daming Palace: Documentary Sources and Recent Excavations]". Artibus Asiae, Vol. 50, No. 1/2 (1990), pp. 23–72. Accessed 15 November 2013.

|p = Dàmíng Gōng

|altname = Daming Palace National Heritage Park

|t2 = 大明宮國家遺址公園

|s2 = 大明宫国家遗址公园

|p2 = dàmíng gōng guójiā yízhǐ gōngyuán

|order = st

}}

The Daming Palace was the imperial palace complex of the Tang dynasty, located in its capital Chang'an.{{cite web | title=Stories of Daming Palace | url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/m/daminggong/2010-05/12/content_9838451_2.htm | publisher=China Daily | access-date=7 January 2012 | page=2}} It served as the imperial residence of the Tang emperors for more than 220 years.{{cite book|last=Yu|first=Weichao|title=A Journey into China's antiquity|year=1997|publisher=Morning Glory Publishers|location=Beijing|isbn=978-7-5054-0507-3|page=56}} Today, it is designated as a national heritage site of China,{{cite book|title=Towards a liveable and sustainable urban environment: Eco-cities in East Asia|year=2010|publisher=World Scientific|location=Singapore|isbn=978-981-4287-76-0|author1=Wang, Tao |author2=Shao, Lei |chapter=Eco-city: China's realities and challenges in urban planning and design|editor1=Lye, Liang Fook |editor2=Chen, Gang |page=149}} and part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Silk Roads: the Routes Network of Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor".{{cite web |title=Silk Roads: the Routes Network of Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor |url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1442/maps/ |website=UNESCO World Heritage Centre |access-date=24 August 2023 |language=en}} The area is located northeast of present-day Xi'an, Shaanxi Province.{{cite book|last=Du|first=Xiaofan|title=Conservation of ancient sites on the Silk Road|year=2010|publisher=Getty Conservation Institute|location=Los Angeles|isbn=978-1-60606-013-1|page=37|others=Hellman, Naomi (trans.)|editor=Agnew, Neville}}

Name

The palace was originally known as Yong'an Palace but was renamed to Daming Palace in 635. In 662, after renovations to the palace, it was renamed Penglai Palace. In 670, it was renamed Hanyuan Palace or Yuan Palace. Eventually, in 701, the name was changed to Daming Palace again.

History

The former royal residence was the Taiji Palace ({{lang|zh-Hans|太極宮}}), built in the previous Sui dynasty.{{Cite episode |title=Birth of fantasy |series=Daming Palace |url=http://english.cntv.cn/program/documentary/20111118/100113.shtml |network=China Central Television |station=CCTV-9 |number=1 |minutes=7 |language=en |access-date=7 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120124023826/http://english.cntv.cn/program/documentary/20111118/100113.shtml |archive-date=24 January 2012 |url-status=dead }}

In 632, chancellor Ma Zhou charged that the retired Emperor Gaozu was living in Da'an Palace ({{lang|zh-Hant|大安宮}}) to the west, which he considered an inhospitable place as it was built on low-lying lands of Chang'an that was plagued by dampness and heat during the summer.{{cite book| last=Wenchsler| first=Howard J.| title=The Cambridge history of China, Volume 3: Sui and T'ang China, 589–906, Part 1| year=1979| publisher=Cambridge University Press| location=Cambridge| isbn=0-521-21446-7| chapter=The founding of the T'ang dynasty: Kao-tsu (reign 618–26)| page=186}} According to him, ever since Emperor Taizong moved to the countryside during the summers, his retired father was left behind in Chang'an to suffer in the summer heat. However, his father would always decline any invitation from Emperor Taizong to spend the summer together. Ever since the bloody palace coup of the Xuanwu Gate Incident in 626, it seemed that father and son had drifted apart to an extent that their relationship never healed.

In 634, Emperor Taizong launched the construction of the Daming Palace at Longshou Plateau.{{cite book|last=Chen|first=Jack W.|title=The poetics of sovereignty: On Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty|year=2010|publisher=Harvard University Asia Center|location=Cambridge|isbn=978-0-674-05608-4|page=275}}{{cite book|last=Kiang|first=Heng Chye|title=Cities of aristocrats and bureaucrats: The development of medieval Chinese cityscapes|year=1999|publisher=Singapore University Press|location=Singapore|isbn=978-9971-69-223-0|page=7}} He ordered the construction of the summer palace for his retired father, Emperor Gaozu, as an act of filial piety. However, Emperor Gaozu grew ill and never witnessed the palace's completion before his death in 635, and construction halted thereafter.

Empress Wu commissioned the court architect Yan Liben to design the palace in 660 and construction commenced once again in 662.{{cite web|title=The missing ancient architectures Part 3- Eternal regrets of the Daming Palace|url=http://english.cntv.cn/program/documentary/20110601/100303.shtml|publisher=China Central Television|access-date=21 December 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120122161226/http://english.cntv.cn/program/documentary/20110601/100303.shtml|archive-date=22 January 2012|url-status=dead}} In 663, the construction of the palace was completed under the reign of Emperor Gaozong.{{cite book|last=Fuller|first=Michael A.|title=The road to East Slope: The development of Su Shi's poetic voice|year=1990|publisher=Stanford University Press|location=Stanford|isbn=978-0-8047-1587-4|page=30}} Emperor Gaozong had launched the extension of the palace with the construction of the Hanyuan Hall in 662, which was finished in 663. On 5 June 663, the imperial family began to relocate from the Taiji Palace into the yet to be completed Daming Palace,{{Cite episode |title=Birth of fantasy |series=Daming Palace |url=http://english.cntv.cn/program/documentary/20111118/100113.shtml |network=China Central Television |station=CCTV-9 |number=1 |minutes=24–26 |language=en |access-date=7 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120124023826/http://english.cntv.cn/program/documentary/20111118/100113.shtml |archive-date=24 January 2012 |url-status=dead }} which became the new seat of the imperial court and political center of the empire.{{cite web|title=Daming Palace Site|url=http://www.cultural-china.com/chinaWH/html/en/35History2127.html|publisher=Cultural China|access-date=18 December 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150612003827/http://www.cultural-china.com/chinaWH/html/en/35History2127.html | archive-date=12 June 2015}}{{cite web|title=Conference 'Daming Palace and the Tang Dynasty'|url=http://thehumanjourney.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=539&Itemid=129|publisher=Oxford Archaeology|access-date=18 December 2011|archive-date=19 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111019130146/http://thehumanjourney.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=539&Itemid=129|url-status=dead}}

Layout and function

File:Ruins of Daming Palace (en) 2018-12-13.png

Beginning from the south and ending in the north, on the central axis, stand the Hanyuan Hall, the Xuanzheng Hall, and the Zichen Hall. These halls were historically known as the "Three Great Halls" and were respectively part of the outer, middle, and inner court. The central southern entrance of the Daming Palace is the Danfeng Gate.{{cite web| title=Site of Danfeng Gate| url=http://www.iicc.org.cn/Column.aspx?ColId=81| publisher=ICOMOS International Conservation Center| access-date=7 January 2012| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150423205525/http://www.iicc.org.cn/Column.aspx?ColId=81| archive-date=23 April 2015| url-status=dead}} The gate consisted of five doorways.{{cite news| title=Archaeologists find ancient palace gate| url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2005-12-04/archaeologists-find-ancient-palace-gate/754528| work=ABC News| date=4 December 2005| access-date=7 January 2012}}

The present site covers more than 4,800 mu, making it 3.5 times more expansive than the Forbidden City, 3 times more than Versailles, and 13 times more than the Louvre.{{Cite web|title=The Palace of Palaces|url=https://english.china.com/special/xian/english/theme04.html|access-date=2021-06-21|website=english.china.com}}

=Outer court=

After passing through the Danfeng Gate, there is a square of {{Convert|630|m}} long with at the end the Hanyuan Hall.{{Cite episode |title=Birth of fantasy |series=Daming Palace |url=http://english.cntv.cn/program/documentary/20111118/100113.shtml |network=China Central Television |station=CCTV-9 |number=1 |minutes=26 |language=en |access-date=7 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120124023826/http://english.cntv.cn/program/documentary/20111118/100113.shtml |archive-date=24 January 2012 |url-status=dead }} The Hanyuan Hall was connected to pavilions by corridors, namely the Xiangluan Pavilion in the east and the Qifeng Pavilion in the west.{{cite web|title=Daming Palace|url=http://www.chinaculture.org/gb/en_travel/2003-09/24/content_34024.htm|work=ChinaCulture.org|publisher=Ministry of Culture of the People's Republic of China|access-date=18 December 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151201160624/http://www.chinaculture.org/gb/en_travel/2003-09/24/content_34024.htm | archive-date=1 December 2015}} The pavilions were composed of three outward-extending sections of the same shape but different size that were connected by corridors. The elevated platform of the Hanyuan Hall is approximately {{Convert|15|m}} high, {{Convert|200|m}} wide, and {{Convert|100|m}} long. The Hanyuan Hall, where many state ceremonies were conducted, would serve as the main hall for hosting foreign ambassadors during diplomatic exchanges.

File:Daming_Palace_National_Heritage_Park_-_Palace_Model_01.jpg|Model of the Daming palace grounds

File:Daming Palace National Heritage Park - Palace Model 02.jpg|Model of the Daming palace grounds

File:Reconstruction Model of Hanyuan Hall of Daming Palace.jpg|Reconstruction model of Hanyuan Hall

File:Daming Palace National Heritage Park - Hanyuan Hall 01.jpg|Hanyuan Hall's platform

File:Daming Palace Hanyuan Hall Site.jpg|Hanyuan Hall's platform

=Middle court=

The Xuanzheng Hall is located at a distance of about {{Convert|300|m}} north of the Hanyuan Hall. State affairs were usually conducted in this hall.{{Cite episode |title=Birth of fantasy |series=Daming Palace |url=http://english.cntv.cn/program/documentary/20111118/100113.shtml |network=China Central Television |station=CCTV-9 |number=1 |minutes=37 |language=en |access-date=7 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120124023826/http://english.cntv.cn/program/documentary/20111118/100113.shtml |archive-date=24 January 2012 |url-status=dead }} The office of the secretariat was located to the west of the Xuanzheng Hall and the office of the chancellery was located to the east.{{Cite episode |title=Birth of fantasy |series=Daming Palace |url=http://english.cntv.cn/program/documentary/20111118/100113.shtml |network=China Central Television |station=CCTV-9 |number=1 |minutes=39–41 |language=en |access-date=7 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120124023826/http://english.cntv.cn/program/documentary/20111118/100113.shtml |archive-date=24 January 2012 |url-status=dead }} From this area, structured in a Three Departments and Six Ministries system, the Department of State Affairs, the Chancellery, and the Secretariat handled the central management of the Tang empire.

=Inner court=

The Zichen Hall, located in the inner court, is approximately {{Convert|95|m}} north of the Xuanzheng Hall. It housed the central government offices. For officials, it was considered a great honor to be summoned to the Zichen Hall. The Taiye Pool, also known as the Penglai Pool, is north of the Zichen Hall. The former gardens that surround the pond and island have been recreated, based on the historical record, with peony, chrysanthemum, plum, rose, bamboo, almond, peach, and persimmon gardens.China Daily. "[http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/m/daminggong/2010-05/14/content_9851057_2.htm Brief Introduction of Daming Palace National Heritage Park]". 2010. Accessed 15 November 2013.

The Linde Hall is located to the west of the lake. It served as a place for banquets, performances, and religious rites.{{cite web|title=Linde Hall|url=http://www.cultural-china.com/chinaWH/html/en/History2127bye5658.html|publisher=Cultural China|access-date=18 December 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100503183634/http://www.cultural-china.com/chinaWH/html/en/History2127bye5658.html|archive-date=3 May 2010|url-status=dead}} It consisted of three halls—a front, middle, and rear hall—adjacent to each other. An imperial park could be found north of the palace complex. The Sanqing Hall was located in the northeast corner the Daming Palace and served as a Taoist temple for the imperial family.{{cite web|title=Daming Palace|url=http://www.ancientsites.com/aw/Places/District/810665|publisher=AncientWorlds LLC|access-date=18 December 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081204190808/http://www.ancientsites.com/aw/Places/District/810665|archive-date=4 December 2008|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|title=Original site of Daming Palace|url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/m/daminggong/2010-05/17/content_9855774.htm|publisher=China Daily|access-date=7 January 2012}}

File:Model of Linde Hall 2.jpg|Model of the Linde Hall

File:Site of Linde Hall.jpg|Linde Hall's platform

=Border=

The area around the palace complex grounds is currently planted with locust trees, willows, flowers, and bushes on all sides.

Heritage

File:Tang dynasty polo field dedication.jpg

The site of the Daming Palace was discovered in 1957.{{Cite episode |title=Empress of the dynasty |series=Daming Palace |url=http://english.cntv.cn/program/documentary/20111119/107830.shtml |network=China Central Television |station=CCTV-9 |number=3 |minutes=49–51 |language=en |access-date=19 December 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120126202658/http://english.cntv.cn/program/documentary/20111119/107830.shtml |archive-date=26 January 2012 |url-status=dead }} Between 1959 and 1960, the earliest surveys and excavations of the Hanyuan Hall site were carried out by the Institute of Archaeology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.{{citation |title=Hanyuan Hall of Daming Palace|url=http://unesdoc.unesco.org/ulis/cgi-bin/ulis.pl?catno=115966|location=Beijing|publisher=UNESCO Beijing Office|year=1998}}

Preventive conservation measures of the Hanyuan Hall site began in 1993. From 1994 to 1996, for the restoration and preservation of the site, numerous surveys and excavations were conducted. The State Administration of Cultural Heritage (SACH) and UNESCO drew up and adopted a two-phased plan by 24 July 1995 to safeguard the Hanyuan Hall site. Work on the project started in 1995 by the joint effort of the Chinese government, Chinese and Japanese institutes, UNESCO, and various specialists.{{cite web|title=Hanyuan Hall of the Daming Palace of the Tang Dynasty, China|url=http://www.unesco.emb-japan.go.jp/htm/hanyuan.htm|publisher=Permanent Delegation of Japan to UNESCO|access-date=18 December 2011}} Most of the conservation work concluded in 2003.

On 1 October 2010, the Daming Palace National Heritage Park was opened to the public.{{cite web|title=Daming Palace preservation project|url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/m/daminggong/2011-08/18/content_13144436.htm|publisher=China Daily|access-date=7 January 2012}} There are many exhibition halls located throughout the site of the palace complex to showcase the excavated cultural relics of the site.