Highlights:
At a distance of 50 km northwest of Beijing stands an arc-shaped cluster of hills fronted by a small plain. Here is where 13 emperors of the Ming dynasty (1368-1644) were buried, and the area is known as the Ming Tombs.
Brief Introduction
The first tomb was built in 1409, and the last one in 1644.
The thirteen Ming Dynasty imperial tombs are Changling of Emperor Cheng Zu (Zhu Di), Xianling of Emperor Ren Zong (Zhu Gaozhi), Jingling of Emperor Xuan Zong (Zhu Zhanji), Yuling of Emperor Ying Zong (Zhu Qizhen), Maoling of Emperor Xian Zong (Zhu Jianshen), Tailing of Emperor Xiao Zong (Zhu Youtang), Kangling of Emperor Wu Zong (Zhu Houzhao), Yongling of Emperor Shi Zong (Zhu Houzong), Zhaoling of Emperor Mu Zong (Zhu Zaihou), Dingling of Emperor Shen Zong (Zhu Yijun), Qingling of Emperor Guang Zong (Zhu Changluo), Deling of Emperor Xi Zong (Zhu Youjiao) and Siling of Emperor Si Zong (Zhu Youjian). Each tomb is located at the foot of a separate hill and is linked with the other tombs by a road called the Sacred Way. The stone archway at the southern end of the Sacred Way, built in 1540, is 14 metres high and 19 metres wide, and is decorated with designs of clouds, waves and divine animals.
Layout of the Thirteen Ming Tombs
The Thirteen Ming Tombs in Beijing and Xiaoling Mausoleum in Nanjing have similar layouts and construction. The spirit path stretches seven kilometers from south to north across the center of the site to symbolize the dignity of the emperors.
In front of the mausoleum gate is huge marble archway, built in the 19th year of the Jia Jing reign (1540). The marble archway, though built some 450 years ago, is still in excellent condition. It is twenty-nine meters wide, supported by six marble pillars and has five arches. The massive pedestals are decorated with relief carvings of dragons and clouds, and on top of each pedestal squats a stone animal. The archway was built with massive white marble, and the vivid and exquisite archway carving was rarely seen during the Ming and Qing dynasties.
One kilometer from the archway is the main Great Palace Gate, which faces south and has three passage ways, vermilion walls and a yellow glazed-tile roof. There are tablets on each side of the gate to enjoin "officials and others dismount here." Prohibitions relating to the protection of Ming imperial tombs were many and varied, including a whipping for anyone found collecting wood or breaking off twigs in the tombs area, execution for anyone found removing stones or soil, and a hundred lashes with a stick for anyone entering without official permission. Anyone entering the area, whether official or citizen, outsider or guard, was required to dismount a hundred paces before the gate on pain of punishment for disrespect.
Great Palace Gate stands between two hills, Mangshan (Python Hill) on the east and Huyudan (Tiger Gorge Hill) to the west. All the emperors were superstitious and were especially keen on practicing geomancy when they chose burial grounds. Python meant dragon and Tiger Gorge referred to white tigers. There is an old saying, "A dragon on the left and a white tiger on the right." The two hills (a dragon and a tiger) were like two guards beside the mausoleum gate, making it dear that the location of the Great Palace Gate was carefully determined. A wall built along the mountains surrounding the tombs was forty kilometers long. Along it were ten gateways (Zhongshan, Dongshan, Laojuntang, Xianzhuang, Hulling, Zhuishi, Yanzi, Desheng, Xishan and Zhazi), each with a fortress guarded by imperial troops. Most of the wall and buildings have collapsed but remains can still be seen here and there, giving some idea of the splendid architecture.
Some distance inside the gate is the tablet pavilion with a double eave roof and white stone ornamental pillars at each of the four corners. The four stone ornamental pillars, decorated with relief carvings, are similar in size and design to those in front of Tian'anmen Gate tower in Beijing.
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