Ming Tombs, Beijing
Proposed World Heritage
Classification: Cultural Site (Extension
Project of the Imperial Tombs of the Ming and Qing Dynasties)
Location: Chang Ping County, Beijing
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Stone Archway |
The Ming Tombs are on a majestic scale and they
represent the peak of imperial tomb construction skills
during the Ming dynasty (1368~1644). The sites for
the tombs were carefully selected and designed in
accordance with rigorous procedures using only materials
of the finest quality. The layout was functional, taking
into account the ceremonial aspects of imperial burials,
and made maximum use of the hills, rivers and lakes
surrounding the sites. Features of the Ming Tombs include
the stone arch at the entrance, the Avenue of the Stone
Animals, Ling En Gate at Changling Tomb, Ling En
Hall and the underground palace at Dingling Tomb.
The construction of the Ming Tombs involved famous
engineers of the Ming dynasty including Peng Xiang
and Lu Xiang. Located at Changping County to the
north of Beijing, the Ming Tombs extend over fifty square
kilometres. Thirteen of the sixteen Ming emperors are
buried here.
Construction of Changling Tomb, the first of the
Ming Tombs, started in 1409 and its layout features the
Stone Archway, Great Red Gate, Stone Pavilion, Sacred
Way and Ling Xing Gate. Each tomb has a rectangular
hall at the front and a circular one to the rear. Other
structures such as the Precious Hall, Soul Tower, marble
altar, a two column stone archway, the Three-Arched
Gate, Ling En Hall and Ling En Gate are located on
either side of the central axis. On the stone stele at the
Changling Tomb there is an inscription written by Zhu
Gaozhi (Emperor Renzong), and a famous calligrapher
of the Ming dynasty reading “Da Ming Changling
Shen Gong Sheng De Bei” (Eulogy of the Great
Achievements of Emperor Yongle). There are also two
poems added by Emperor Qianlong and Emperor Jiaqing
of the Qing dynasty.
The thirteen Ming tombs include Changling,
dating back six centuries, Xianling, Jingling, Yuling,
Maoling, Tailing, Kangling, Yongling, Zhaoling,
Dingling, Qingling, Deling and finally Siling dating
back 350 years.
Outstanding Feature: Imperial Tombs for the Ming Dynasty
The Main Scenic Spots:
Stone Archway
Built in 1540, the well-proportioned stone
archway at the southern end of the Sacred Way is 14
metres high and 28 metres wide. It is decorated with
fine carvings of clouds, waves and divine animals and is
one of the best-preserved specimens of its kind dating
back to the Ming dynasty. It is one of the largest ancient
stone archways in China.
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Soul Tower - Changling Tomb
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Stele Inscriptions - Changling
Tomb
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Great Red Gate
The Great Red Gate is the principal entrance to
the tomb area, and has three arched doors. Stretching
out from either side of the gate are walls extending over
40 kilometres, enclosing the entire area. In front of the
gate, there is a stele where protocol required all officials
to dismount from their horses and enter the tomb area by
foot in order to show their respect to the former emperors.
Sacred Way
The path that stretches seven kilometres from the
Stone Archway to Changling Tomb is called the Sacred
Way. However, only certain sections of the path, including
Stele Pavilion, the Stone Animals and Figures and Ling
Xing Gate, are open to the public.
Stele Pavilion:
Constructed in 1435, the Stele
Pavilion is a rectangular area with a double-eaved roof.
It has entrances on four sides and inside a stone stele
with an inscription of over 3,500 characters.
Stone Animals and Figures: Located to the rear
of the Stele Pavilion, there are two hexagonal stone
columns and eighteen pairs of stone human and animal
figures. These include three types of officials: civilian,
military and honorary officials, symbolizing those who assisted the emperor in
the administration of the state,
plus six animals: the lion, griffin, camel, elephant,
unicorn and the horse.
Ling Xing Gate: This gate, whose name means
“dragon phoenix gate”, has three entrances decorated
with fire symbols and pearls carved in stone.
Changling Tomb
Changling, located at the foot of Central Tian
Shou Mountain, was the first of the Ming Tombs. It is
the resting place of Emperor Yongle (personal name Zhu
Di), the third Ming emperor whose reign lasted for 22
years. His achievements include such great events in
Chinese history as transferring China’s capital city from
Nanjing to Beijing in 1421, compiling the Yongle
Dadian (the “Great Dictionary of Yongle”), and sending
Zheng He, the famous navigator who opened up the
maritime silk trade route, on six voyages to the West.
Changling Tomb consists of a major gate, Ling
En Gate, Ling En Hall, a two column stone archway,
a marble altar, Precious Hall, Soul Tower, and the Gate
of Three Arches. All features are located vertically on
either side of a central axis enclosing the entire tomb
area. The Ling En Hall (Hall of Eminent Favours) is
the greatest and grandest example of imperial architecture
at the Ming Tombs. The imposing pillars in the hall are
fashioned from nan trees transported from the South.
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Stele Pavilion - Changling Tomb
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Stone Animals and Figures
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Zhaoling Tomb
Zhaoling Tomb is the tomb of the 12th Ming
Emperor Longqing (personal name Zhu Daicheng) whose
reign lasted for six years. It is the only Ming Tomb to
have been rebuilt according to the original design.
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Ling En Hall - Zhaoling Tomb |
