The Qing Dynasty has been gone for over a century, why Eastern Qing Tombs still have tomb keepers?

Hello everyone, welcome to History and Culture. The eastern tombs of the Qing dynasty, as the imperial burial site for Qing emperors, hold immense historical and cultural value. Not only is it vast and magnificent in scale, but it also boasts a complete overall structure, making it one of the prime examples of ancient Chinese tomb architecture. The tomb area stretches 125 km from north to south and 20 km from east to west. It contains 217 palace gates and archways, forming 15 tomb complexes of varying sizes – 5 imperial tombs, 4 empress tombs, 5 concubine tombs, and 1 princess tomb. The Qing eastern tombs are the final resting place of 5 emperors, 15 empresses, 136 concubines, 3 princes, and 2 princesses, totaling 161 individuals. After the fall of the Qing dynasty and the abdication of the last emperor, the significance of the eastern tombs seemed to fade. After all, it had been built for the emperors of the Qing dynasty. And with the change in dynasties, the place seemed to lose its practical significance. However, in reality, since its construction, the eastern tombs have never been abandoned. Even though the Qing dynasty ended 114 years ago, the eastern tombs are still guarded by a group of special people, known as the tomb guardians. Some may wonder why, after more than a century since the fall of the Qing dynasty, these tomb guardians continue to faithfully fulfill their duties. What is their livelihood, and how are they compensated? Let's explore this topic together. According to relevant historians, the Qing dynasty was founded by the Manchu people. And as a regime ruled by a minority ethnic group, the Manchu people placed great emphasis on rituals and funerary practices. They paid particular attention to tomb construction and burial. Believing that this not only showed respect for the deceased emperors but also had a direct Therefore, the construction of the eastern tombs was a reflection of this mindset. To ensure that the emperors and royal family members could rest in peace, the site selection and construction of the eastern tombs began in the 18th year of Emperor Xuanzhi's reign and was completed in the 34th year of Emperor Guangxu's reign, taking a full 247 years. During this time, emperors such as Xuanzhi, Kangxi, Qianlong, Xianfeng, and Tongzhi, along with many empresses, concubines, and even Empress Dowager Cixi, were buried here, demonstrating the great importance they placed on the idea of resting in peace. Initially, there was no official position of tomb guardian. During the reign of Emperor Xuanzhi, when emperors and other royal family members passed In addition to the usual burial items such as gold, silver, and jewels, living servants, including concubines, eunuchs, and palace maids, were also buried with them. This practice of sacrificial burial was quite common at the time. However, when Emperor Kangxi ascended the throne, this cruel tradition was abolished, and instead, concubines, palace maids, and eunuchs were tasked with guarding the tombs. Thus, the position of tomb guardian was created. The tomb guardians were responsible for protecting the tombs and ensuring that the valuable burial items were not looted by thieves. The eastern tombs housed a large number of precious items such as gold, silver, porcelain, and paintings, making them a target for tomb robbers. Therefore, the role of the tomb guardians was especially crucial. They not only had to safeguard the security of the tombs but also had to regularly perform rituals, maintaining the solemnity and cleanliness of the tomb area and ensuring everything was orderly. The selection of tomb guardians was also highly strict. Since they were tasked with guarding the imperial tombs, there were clear requirements for their background. They had to be from one of the three banners, of the eight banners, the plain yellow banner, the bordered yellow banner, or the plain blue banner. This ensured that the tomb guardians had a noble and pure bloodline, preventing any personal motives that might harm the tombs. Furthermore, the tomb guardians not only had to possess strong faith but also needed to have a sturdy physique and certain martial skills. This allowed them to resist robbers, serving as a deterrent and ensuring the safety of the tombs. Those who met these strict criteria were usually royal relatives, high-ranking officials, or highly skilled guards. According to historical records, although Emperor Kangxi was busy with state affairs, he personally selected the tomb guardians, highlighting the importance that the Qing ruling class placed on this position. In addition, because the Qing dynasty placed great emphasis on ancestral worship and the tomb guardians came from the highest ranks of the eight banners, their treatment was, at first, highly enviable. According to some historical records, the tomb guardians had a strict management system, with clear divisions of labor from the leader to the ordinary guards. The leader held a military rank of the third grade, while ordinary guards could reach the seventh grade. To put this into perspective, in the Qing dynasty, the position of county magistrate in a county near the capital was also only at the seventh grade, indicating that the position of tomb guardian was not low in rank. Moreover, although guarding the imperial tombs might seem like a heavy responsibility, the job was not particularly strenuous. Thanks to the strong deterrence of the Qing imperial family and the formidable martial skills of the guardians, along with their large numbers, ordinary thieves dared not approach. Thus, the daily duties of the tomb guardians mainly consisted of basic patrols, cleaning the tomb grounds, and conducting rituals. Their salaries were managed by a special institution. Those from the Manchu eight banners could receive an annual salary of 1,000 tales of which is equivalent to a current salary of 1,000,000 renminbi, about 137,000 U.S. dollars. This was just the base salary. And there were additional allowances, making the compensation extremely generous. More importantly, the position of tomb guardian was hereditary. Once someone was appointed, their descendants could inherit the position, ensuring they would never go hungry and providing them with a stable and honorable job. To ensure the safety of the imperial tombs, the Qing government also built a large number of barracks near the tombs and established specialized management institutions, making life more convenient for the tomb guardians. However, with the Qing dynasty's policy of isolation and the decline of national power, the benefits of the tomb guardians also began to decrease. As they were entirely dependent on government support. The decline of the Qing dynasty meant that their salaries were increasingly cut, and their living conditions worsened. By the late Qing period, with the government corrupt and incompetent, the national treasury empty and large amounts of funds spent on reparations and luxury for the elites, the government could no longer afford to fully pay the tomb guardians. Salaries were slashed again and again, eventually reaching only half or less of their original amount. After the fall of the Qing dynasty and the establishment of the Republic of China, the last imperial family members continued to negotiate with the new government, seeking an annual payment of 4 million tales of silver for the Manchu nobility, which included the salaries of the tomb guardians. In other words, the Qing court had entrusted them to the Republic of China. As a result, the Republic of China government built schools near the tombs to improve their living conditions and allocated land outside the tomb area for farming, gradually allowing the tomb guardians to live like ordinary citizens. During this time, the identity of the tomb guardians also changed, they were no longer the exclusive guards of the royal family but began to integrate into society. However, this situation did not last long. With frequent wars, national instability, and the Republic of China government struggling to maintain control. The management of the tomb guardians gradually loosened, and they could no longer receive their wages on time, eventually leading to the cessation of payments altogether. Lacking financial support, most of the tomb guardians had to leave the eastern Qing tombs in search of a livelihood. However, some chose to stay, seeing the protection of their ancestors' tombs as their lifelong responsibility. For them, guarding the tombs was not just a job, but a belief. The camp was their home, and guarding the eastern Qing tombs was their life's mission. Some ministers loyal to the Qing court even fantasized about a potential restoration of the Qing dynasty and remained in the tomb area, waiting for the moment of revival. They served as a bridge between the Qing dynasty and the present world, carrying a distant and beautiful hope. It wasn't until 1952, when Chinese archaeological experts conducted an inspection of the eastern Qing tombs and established a cultural relics protection agency, that the tomb guardians were formally taken over. They were once again provided with stable income, ending decades of hardship. According to relevant historians, it was the loyal guardianship of the tomb guardians that allowed the eastern Qing tombs to remain relatively intact over the centuries. This is the History and Culture channel. Liking and subscribing are the greatest help and support to us. Thank you everyone and see you in the next time.