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 Tang dynasty.

On 23 March 643,[1] during the Zhenguan era of the reign of Emperor Taizong in the Tang dynasty, the emperor commissioned the artist Yan Liben to paint life-sized portraits of 24 officials to commemorate them for their meritorious service and contributions aiding him in his establishment of the Tang Empire.

However, many among the 24 men were also instrumental in helping Taizong seize power during the Xuanwu Gate Incident.

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.

Such officials include enunchs like Yu Chaoen and Cheng Yuanzhen, and generals like Tian Chengsi who helped usher in the era of fanzhen which became largely autonomous and defied control by the imperial court.