Han Palaces

Four years later, when he returned there, the entire complex had been razed to the ground. An orgy of looting continued for months under General Xiang Yu (232-202 B. C.E.), and there was nothing left. Only the Xingle Palace remained habitable, and this was restored for the new ruler. The restoration and extensions took 18 months to complete, and when it was fit again for use, it was renamed the Changle Palace. The compound measured 2.6 by 2.6 kilometers, covering 676 hectares (1,690 acres), and contained 14 halls, two lakes, and the massive bronze statues that the Qin emperor had cast from the melted-down weapons of his adversaries. The Li Ji (Book of Rites) provides a compelling view of the first major ceremony of the new dynasty that was held in the Changle Palace: “Before dawn, the master of guests, who was in charge of the ritual, led the participants in order of rank through the gate leading to the hall. Within the courtyard, chariots and cavalry were drawn up. . . . At this point the emperor, borne on a litter, appeared from the inner rooms, the hundred officials holding banners and announcing his arrival.” Every official or noble present then came forward to swear allegiance, trembling according to the Li Ji, with awe and reverence. The emperor concluded: “Today, for the first time, I realize how exalted a thing it is to be an emperor.”

Gaozu rarely used this palace but had a new compound built just to the southwest, called the Weiyang Palace. The choice of site was highly symbolic, for here rose a hill in gradual stages, the summit of which commanded a view over chang’an and the surrounding landscape. Moreover, it was visible for miles in every direction. The hill also had a mythological and auspicious aspect, for it was reputed that a black dragon had gone to the Wei River to drink and that the top of the hill represented the dragon’s head. Black was also the preferred color of the new dynasty The Changle Palace represented continuity with the previous and hated Qin dynasty, but it was designed to symbolize the new grandeur of Han. The hill was converted into a series of ascending terraces with the main hall on the peak. The distance from the entrance to the summit, which involved passing through three successive courts, was more than 350 meters (1,155 ft.). Indeed, such was the scale of the complex, which is now quite destroyed, that the emperor remonstrated with the head architect and in words recorded by Sima Qian, the grand historian, complained: “The empire is still in turmoil. . . . We cannot tell whether we will have final success. What do you mean by constructing palaces like this on such an extravagant scale?” The answer from Xiao He reveals the ultimate purpose: “If the Son of Heaven does not dwell in magnificence and beauty, he will have no way to manifest his authority, nor will he leave any foundation for his heirs to build upon.”

The Weiyang Palace was embellished and expanded over the course of the ensuing reigns, but during the rule of Gaozu, according to the surviving texts, it included the central hall and two pillar-gates. Much new building at Chang’an also took place during the 54-year reign of Emperor Han WUDI (157-87 b. c.e.) After a period of peace and prosperity, this ruler set in train an expansionary policy of imperial conquest and at home authorized a huge building program. Within the city walls of Chang’an, three new palaces emerged: the Mingguang Palace (palace of brilliant light), the Bei, or Northern, Palace, and the Gui, or Cassia, Palace. Beyond the walls and to the southwest, he ordered the construction of Shanglin Park, which incorporated palatial buildings around Kunming Lake.

Shanglin Park

Contemporary records provide an image of this remarkable complex. It housed animals from every point of the compass, including a rhinoceros from Thailand, white elephants, and albino deer, each accompanied by a viewing pavilion. It was studded with more than 70 pleasure palaces large enough to house thousands. The extensive Kunming Lake was embellished with three large stone statutes, one of a whale to indicate that it represented the sea. All three have been recovered through archaeological research.

Ganquan Palace

The most extraordinary construction of all, however, was the Ganquan Palace, located 60 kilometers to the northwest of the capital. Han Wudi was an enthusiastic follower of soothsayers and astrologers, one of whom, Shao Weng, found that the emperor had suffered the bereavement of one his favorite consorts. Shao Weng promised that the ruler would see her again and ensured that he did through the medium of a shadow play Delighted, Wudi favored him and responded when Shao Weng recommended the construction of a palace “patterned after the shapes of the spirits.” There, he declared, the emperor would be able to communicate with the spirit world. Thus was constructed the Ganquan Palace, the palace of sweet springs. Huge towers were built and a terrace that was said to pierce the clouds. Another soothsayer, Gong-sun Qin, recommended that the emperor lay out jujubes and dried meat to attract the immortals, who liked to live in such high pavilions.