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| The Xuanyuan Temple commemorating Yellow Emperor. | The Chinese traditional understanding is that the ancestor of the Chinese people is called the Yellow Emperor, and that this Yellow Emperor is buried in the heartland of early China, in what is now the province of Shaanxi. One particular county in Shaanxi lays claim to the burial place of this august being: in 1944, the county changed its name from former Zhongbu County to Yellow-tomb County, in honor of the Emperor.
The Yellow Emperor is believed to have been the leader of the alliance of all tribes in Chinese early society. According to legend, he invented many of China's notable accomplishments such as knowledge of the raising of silkworms, the construction of boats and carts, a system of writing, and the medical arts. For this reason he has long received the love and commemoration of the people.
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| Ancient cypresses in the Yellow Emperor Tomb. |
His tomb is on the northern part of the county seat, on a hill called Qiao Mountain. It i
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| The tablet of the Yellow Emperor Tomb in Qiaoshan. | s 3.6 meters high, and it has a circumference of around 48 meters. Ancient trees grace the top of the hill and the scenery is lovely. Behind the tomb stands a stele with four large characters that was erected during the Qing dynasty and that commemorates the emperor. To the south of the tomb is a broad terrace, on which to make offerings to the great ancestor.
On the ridge of Qiao Mountain is also a Yellow Emperor Temple, which is also used for offerings and homage. Inside the grounds are ancient bo-trees, some of which may be upwards of one thousand years old. Among them is one tree that stands 19 meters high and whose branches are some ten meters long. Legends say that it was planted by the hand of the emperor himself. Before the great hall of the Temple are around 70 stelae recording the offerings made by dynasty after dynasty of emperors and kings who came to make offerings. In the center of the Great Hall entryway hangs a plaque extolling the Yellow Emperor as the creator of writing and therefore the earliest ancestor to lead Chinese into a civilized age.
People who come to pay respects at this temple can perhaps begin to understand the significance of this ancient person to the Chinese. He brought blessings upon the people through his outstanding achievements. |
