Lingyan Pavilion
Lingyan Pavilion (simplified Chinese: 凌烟阁; traditional Chinese: 凌煙閣; pinyin: Língyān Gé) was a small tower beside Sanqing Hall (三清殿) in the southwest of Taiji Palace (太極宮), Chang'an, the capital of the Chinese Tang Dynasty. Its location in modern China is roughly in the north of Xi'an, Shaanxi.
On March 23, 643,[1] during the Zhenguan era of the reign of Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty, the emperor commissioned artist Yan Liben to paint life-sized portraits of 24 government officials to commemorate them for their meritorious service and contributions to the founding of the dynasty. The paintings were displayed in Lingyan Pavilion and all of them faced north. The pavilion was divided into three layers: the innermost held the portraits of chancellors; the middle displayed paintings of princes and dukes; the outermost for the remaining ones. Emperor Taizong often visited the pavilion to view the portraits and indulge in reminiscence.
The 24 officials are listed as such:
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References
- Old Book of Tang, vol. 77 .
- Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 196.
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