Intriguingly inscribed in three languages this plaque whispers tales of emperors and dynasties. The Xi Shan Chang Lian Plaque stands before you a silent witness to centuries of imperial history. Located within the Forbidden City this unassuming plaque holds a fascinating story. Its existence reflects the unique multilingual landscape of the early Qing Dynasty.
Before the Qing Dynasty’s rise the Forbidden City’s plaques were inscribed solely in Chinese. This reflected the unified language of the Ming Dynasty. However when the Manchu conquered China in 1644 things changed. Manchu became the official language of the new rulers. Mongolian was also included. This was because the Manchu people used Mongolian script before developing their own. The inclusion of Chinese was to cater to the majority of the population.
The plaque before you exemplifies this linguistic transition. Its three languages Manchu Mongolian and Chinese reflect the complex power dynamics of early Qing rule. The choice of seal script for the Chinese characters may seem odd. However it reflects the royal family’s limited understanding of Chinese calligraphy at that time. They considered seal script the best fit for the neatness of Manchu and Mongolian writing.
The middle section of the plaque proudly displays Manchu. The left displays Mongolian. The right presents Chinese characters. Imagine the scribes carefully crafting these characters. Picture the discussions over the style and the language. Think of the significance of this seemingly simple act. It embodies the cultural blending or perhaps the imposition of the Qing Dynasty.
However this multilingual arrangement was short-lived. In 1657 Emperor Shunzhi decreed the removal of Mongolian from the plaques. Only Manchu and Chinese remained. The Xi Shan Chang Lian Plaque stands as one of the few remaining remnants of this earlier multilingual period. It’s a testament to a bygone era in the Forbidden City’s history. It’s a silent reminder of the complex cultural and political forces that shaped early Qing China.