The Daiwangfu of the Ming Dynasty princes
Zhu Gui, the first prince of the Ming Dynasty, has lived in Datong for more than 50 years. He has experienced six generations of emperors: Hongwu, Jianwen, Yongle, Hongxi, Xuande and Zhengtong. He is the same as Emperor Yongle who consolidated the foundation of the Ming Dynasty. They were equal brothers. In addition, Emperor Yongle married the eldest daughter of Xu Da, the founding general, and Zhu Gui married Xu Da's second daughter, who was also his brother-in-law (called Tiaodan in Datong), so they were close relatives. Dear, Zhu Gui is very bossy in Datong City, and local officials are also afraid of him. Even the later Emperor Yingzong did not dare to do anything to his elder prince. Some officials who had been beaten and wronged by Zhu Gui complained to Emperor Yingzong. The emperor could only issue an edict: "My great-uncle is already old. It is appropriate to enjoy wealth and honor in the palace, be kind and logical, and set an example for other kings." However, In terms of action, he didn't even lift a finger. He even competed with his brother Emperor Yongle to build the Nine Dragon Wall, but Emperor Yongle asked him to carve the dragon claws into four. The luxury of the palace built by this generation of kings is obviously extraordinary. Compared with other palaces, it can be called "the best palace in the world". Zhu Gui's descendants multiplied vigorously. Before his death, there were thousands of direct descendants of the Zhu family in Datong City, and most of them were princes, princes, generals of the country, generals of the auxiliary country, lieutenants of the town, lieutenants of the auxiliary country, princesses, etc. Mrs. Haoming and so on. Although some people were named King Guangling, King Huairen, King Lucheng, etc., they still lived in Datong City for a long time. In the middle of the Ming Dynasty, there were many large and small palaces in Datong City, and they were everywhere. For example, the current Shifu Street, Sanwangfu Lane, Shaozhu Lane, Cuihua Palace, etc. were all the residences of the emperor's relatives and concubines at that time. At that time, the number of Zhu family nobles living in Datong City was second only to the imperial city in Beijing. The imperial city atmosphere of the Ming Dynasty was particularly prominent in Datong.
The Palace of the Princes of Dai was built on the basis of the Imperial Academy of Liao and Jin Dynasties and the imperial palace of Yuan Dynasty. The Imperial College was the Imperial Academy in ancient times. It was the highest institution of learning for the Xijing royal family at that time, and it was also the country's academic research institution. Sometimes the emperor would visit the site in person to give lectures or invigilate exams. This shows that this is not an ordinary place. Its Feng Shui is that it sits firmly in the east of the city, even though it is not within the city. On the central axis, it is at the origin of the sun, and it is also a place that occupies a favorable position in the Bagua (Gen Fang), and the prince cannot be in the same position as the emperor. Therefore, it is very appropriate to build the palace with the Guozijian as the orientation.
In the twenty-fifth year of Hongwu (1392), when Zhu Gui was 18 years old, he came to Datong to join the feudal vassal, and began to build the Daiwangfu, and set up Datong avant-garde and rearguard in the east of the palace. There were 8,500 soldiers. At that time, there were 17,000 soldiers in the old city. Just because Emperor Jianwen and Emperor Yongle cut down the vassal several times later, he only had less than one company of escorts left. However, the grandeur around the palace was also very large. Officials had to dismount, but ordinary people did not dare to go too far. Take a direct look.
The architectural complex of Dai Wangfu is divided into three main lines. It is said that when Emperor Yongle built the Forbidden City, he sent people to inspect it twice. The red walls surrounding it are exactly the same as those of the Forbidden City. From south to north, there are Yumen, Duanlimen, Chengyunmen, Chengyun Hall, Chongxinmen, Cunxin Hall, Changchun Palace and Guangzhimen built along the central axis of the internal building. , and later an alley was left here, now called Guangshengdian Alley. From south to north, there are Guanggancang, Changchun Palace, Wangqin Tower, Qingshu Palace, Ancestral Temple, Yanju Palace and the East Back Palace built on the east axis. From south to north, there are Jimen, Sheji Altar, Fengyun Leiyu Altar, Dacheng Hall, Jinde Hall (there are also three auxiliary halls in the East, West and South in this hall), West Back Hall, etc. built on the west axis. In addition, the Tiren Gate is built in the east and the Xihua Gate is built in the west. Such luxurious buildings are comparable to the Forbidden City in Nanjing and the Forbidden City in Beijing.