Shaanxi History Museum

4. Painting of Watchtowers Age：Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907)

This painting was unearthed in the tomb of Prince Yide which is located on southeast of the Qian Mausoleum. Prince Yide was the eldest of Emperor Tang Zhongtong and grandson of the third Tang emperor, Gaozong and Emperess Wuzetian. He was sentenced to death at the age of 19 for opposing his grandmother’s autocracy.

Located on the east and west walls of the tomb’s main passage are paintings of watchtowers, displaying the structure of Prince Yide’s graveyard. According to traditional Chinese architectural principles, a large watchtower and two small watchtowers were arranged in the form of "Three Watchtowers," with trees and mountains behind them. On the right is a low building that resembles a watchtower and acts as the gate tower of the city.