Abakh
Khoja Tomb
 The
Tomb of Xiangfei is the most magnificent
tomb in Kashgar, filled with history and
symbolism. The tomb is commonly known among
Chinese as the Tomb of Xiangfei, a Qing
Dynasty Uigur woman who was seized by the
Qing and forced to marry the Qianlong Emperor.
However, the tomb is actually the tomb of
her grandfather Bakh Hoja and his family
(including Xiangfei).
Xiangfei, whose name means "Fragrant
Concubine" is a great symbol to both
the Uigur and Han peoples for different
reasons. The Uigur see her as a Uigur herione
and the Han people see her as heroine of
anti-Qing and anti-feudal sentiment. Nevertheless,
after Xiangfei died, which according to
reports was a forced suicide ordered by
the jealous Empress Dowager, her body was
carried back to Abakh Hoja Tomb in Kashgar
over a tedious three-year journey.
The buildings of the Hoja Tomb
are large and mosque-like with most of the
buildings colored with blue and white and
topped with a green dome and small minarets.
On the dome, there is a small minaret with
a crescent symbol on the top. The tomb of
Xiangfei herself lies on the northeast corner
of the main tomb, with her name written
in Chinese and Uigur. The tomb is covered
with blue glazed bricks with beautiful patterns
of blue flowers on a white background.
|
