May 10, 2025｜Traveling in Shenyang-Rowing Captain: How did Huang Taiji take power into his own hands?

Two Qing emperors were buried in Shenyang, outside the Great Wall, namely Nurhaci, the first emperor of the Qing Dynasty, and Huang Taiji, the first emperor of the Qing Dynasty. They were buried in the Qing Fuling Mausoleum and the Qing Zhaoling Mausoleum respectively. In addition to Huang Taiji, the Qing Zhaoling Mausoleum also buried his empress, Empress Borjigit, also known as Empress Zhezhe.

Nurhaci

Huang Taiji was the eighth son of Emperor Taizu Nurhaci. He reigned for 17 years, perfected the Eight Banners system, and finally unified the entire Northeast, creating the last feudal dynasty in Chinese history. The Qing Zhaoling Mausoleum was built in 1643 and was later rebuilt several times. The Zhaoling Mausoleum was mainly built during the reigns of Shunzhi and Kangxi, and was rebuilt several times during the reigns of Qianlong and Jiaqing. It was completed in the sixth year of Jiaqing ( 1801 ).

As the only Qing emperor who ascended the throne in the Shenyang Imperial Palace, how did Huang Taiji take power into his own hands? How did the military democracy in the early Qing Dynasty achieve the supremacy of imperial power?

Huang Taiji

Empress Zhezhe, who was buried with Huang Taiji in Zhaoling, came from the Khorchin tribe in Inner Mongolia. In order to strengthen their own strength, the emperors of the Qing Dynasty made many friends and weakened their enemies. They did not hesitate to sell their bodies and marry Mongolian nobles. This tradition of marriage between Manchu and Mongolian nobles was not abandoned even after the Manchus entered the Central Plains, and it has been passed down. Huang Taiji's five concubines ( 1 state wife, 2 big wives, and two side wives) were all from Mongolia. Among them, Empress Xiaoduanwen Zhezhe, Empress Xiaozhuangwen Bumbutai, and Concubine Chen Hailanzhu all came from the same family. The three of them served Huang Taiji together as aunts and nephews. In the end, Huang Taiji also died of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases in Zhezhe's bedroom , the East Warm Pavilion of Qingning Palace.

Dorgon

After Huang Taiji's death, the Qing Dynasty experienced a serious ruling crisis. Finally, with the compromise of all parties, Huang Taiji's ninth son Fulin succeeded to the throne, namely Emperor Shunzhi. Huang Taiji's younger brother Dorgon controlled the country as the regent, and inevitably had dealings with Emperor Shunzhi's biological mother, Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang. Driven by the marketing TV series, the story of the two people has evolved into a version that many TV stations are not allowed to broadcast. So how was this gossip fabricated? Everything will be answered in the event.

 

Team leader 

Special contributor and speaker of Xunji Lecture Hall

The first generation of military fans, second-hand poets, third-generation crosstalk amateurs, four major modern navy enthusiasts, five Ling young men, six pieces of bath scrubbers. The main lecture columns are "The Spear That Never Sets - British Royal Navy" and "Xunji Xiaojiang".

Event Highlights

Zhaoling Mausoleum of Qing Dynasty

 

The Zhaoling Mausoleum of the Qing Dynasty, commonly known as the Northern Mausoleum, is the joint burial site of Emperor Taizong of the Qing Dynasty, Huang Taiji, and Empress Xiaoduanwen, Borjigit. It is 1,033 square meters and was built in the eighth year of Chongde ( 1643 ) and completed in the eighth year of Shunzhi ( 1651 ). After being expanded and rebuilt by Emperors Kangxi and Qianlong, it eventually formed a unique ancient building complex. It is the largest and best-preserved imperial mausoleum among the three mausoleums in Shengjing.

The Zhaoling Mausoleum of the Qing Dynasty is a three-courtyard architectural pattern of " front court and rear bedroom " , which is generally divided into two parts: the leading part and the mausoleum. The leading part is from Zhenghong Gate to Longen Gate. There are decorative buildings such as dismounting monument, stone lions, Shenqiao, and stone archway outside Zhenghong Gate. The square city, Longen Gate, and Longen Hall are the second courtyards of the sacrificial building area. The Baocheng Minglou, Baoding, and underground palace are the third courtyards of the mausoleum area. The overall layout, single buildings, and decoration of the Zhaoling Mausoleum of the Qing Dynasty are complete and unique. It has absorbed a lot of the mausoleum culture of the Central Plains emperors, while also maintaining its own national characteristics. It integrates the architectural culture of Han, Tibetan, Mongolian, and Manchu architecture, forming a unique style different from the imperial mausoleums of the Ming and Qing dynasties in Guannei. It reflects the architectural form and pattern of the imperial mausoleums when the early funeral concept was gradually sinicized, and reveals the social background of cultural exchanges in a specific historical stage.

Registration Information

Event Time

● May 10, 2025 (Saturday) 

Precautions

● Customer service will contact you 3 days in advance after registration, please keep your WeChat and phone open;

● Children under 6 years old are not recommended to participate. Minors aged 6-14 and seniors over 70 years old must be accompanied by family members to register together;

Event Location

●Shenyang, Qing Zhaoling Mausoleum

* After successful registration, you must go to the gathering place and participate in the event together. After the event, you will be dismissed at the same place. 

Zhaoling Mausoleum of Qing Dynasty: Beiling Park, No. 12 , Taishan Road, Xinle Street, Huanggu District, Shenyang City, Liaoning Province

 

Number of participants

●No more than 30 people

●Children under 6 years old are not recommended to participate. Minors aged 6-12 years old must be accompanied by a guardian

●Refuse to temporarily parachute

 

Activity Fees

The fee includes: explanation by expert lecturer; tour leader service throughout the trip; audio guide.

The fee does not include: round trip travel before and after the meeting; other personal expenses.

Hassle-free refund policy

● If the event is unable to take place due to the organizer’s reasons or force majeure, all fees can be refunded to you (the place can be reserved if it is postponed);

●In addition to the above, no fees will be refunded once the registration is successful (transferable places);

● Children under 6 years old are not allowed to participate in this event, and children between 6 and 14 years old are not allowed to participate in the event alone.

* Note: In order to ensure the sustainability of offline activities, recording and videotaping are prohibited throughout the event. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding

* Note: After successful registration, the fee is non-refundable and non-exchangeable. Please do not bid if you mind.