In 2000 November, Royal Mausoleum of Ming and Qing dynasty was honored "World Cultural Heritage" by the UN Organization of Science, Education and Culture.
Locating in Northern China, the Royal Mausoleum of Ming and Qing dynasty is the biggest and most completed among the mausoleums that still exist today in China for emperor and empress built in ancient time.
Ming Mausoleum is built in a small basin on the foot of Tianshou Mountain in Changping district, the northwest area of Beijing, and 44km away from the downtown. The mausoleum is 40km2 large, consists of 13 tombs of Ming dynasty, such as Chang Ling, Xianling, Jingling, Yuling, Maoling, Tailing, Kangling, Yongling, Zhaoling, Dingling, Qingling, Deling, Siling, etc, they are generally known as "Ming Thirteen Mausoleum".
Inside the big cemetery, there were ever 7 tombs for imperial concubines, one for court eunuch, one temporary imperial palace, and some other auxiliary construction such as enclosed breeding ground. Here is where 13 emperors and 23 empress of Ming dynasty were buried, together with many imperial concubines, princes, princesses, and many maids. There were big walls on all the four sides of the mausoleum, with the main gate opened towards south; on the two sides of the place, are two high mountains, Boa Mountain and Tiger Mountain, just like one tiger and one dragon guarding the gate. It had been appointed as forbidden area ever since Yongge 7th, Ming dynasty (1409), and was guarded by many soldiers.
Dong Ling and Xi Ling make up the royal mausoleum of Qing dynasty.
Dong Ling of Qing dynasty was built in Malanyu, Zunhua county, Hebei province; it was originally constructed from Shunzhi 18th year, Qing dynasty; there are 14 cemeteries for emperor, empress, and imperial concubine, and Shunzhi, Kangxi, Qianlong, Xianfeng, Tongzhi, five emperors of Qing, and 15 empresses, Xiao Zhuangwen, Rongfei, Cian, Cixi, etc, 136 imperial concubines, one young prince, and five princesses.
Xi Ling of Qing dynasty is situated on the foot of Yongle Mountain, 14 km away from the Yixian county, Hebei province, and is over 120 km to Beijing. It is the rest place for four emperors of Qing, Yongzheng, Jiaqing, Daoguang, Guangxu, and 9 empresses, 56 imperial cuncumbines, and 76 princesses and dukes.
Chang Ling is the center of all the cemeteries, and there is a holy path started from the south gate up to Chang Ling. On the two sides of the 7000-meter long holy path, constructed stone tablets, shrines, stele pavilions, ornamental columns, stone figures, dragon wind gate, etc, these are not only the symbol of high authority, but also a essential atmosphere necessary for the mausoleum.
Chang Ling, is the cemetery of Zhu Kang, a emperor in Ming dynasty, with En Palace, also known as Xian Palace and Xiang Palace as its main architecture, they are the important place for ancestor worship. Beien Palace in Chang Ling was constructed in 1427, it is built on the 3-floor stone platform, indeed grand and elegant, 9 houses in width and 5 houses in depth, occupying 1956 m2; there are 32 pillars inside the palace, among which the biggest one has a 1.17-meter diameter, and 14.3 meters high. All the supporting material, such the ridge, pillar, rafter, etc, are made of precious wood, although having experienced more than 500 years, they are still as strong and fragrant as before. This is the biggest Bing wood palace in our country.
Ding Ling, is the cemetery for Zhu Xiejun, an emperor of Ming dynasty, he assumed the throne at the age of 10, Wanli is the title of his reign, he is the emperor who governed the country for a longest period in Ming dynasty (49 years).
The designer of Ling Yuan imitated the layout of Chang Ling. Scientists found the base palace of Ding Ling from 1956 to 1958, now it has been changed into a underground museum.
The underground palace is made up of five tall palaces linking with each other in front, middle, behind, left and right five positions, all of which are stone structure architecture with a unique style. These palaces have 7 stone gates, they are all scientifically designed, with the center of gravity in the axle, they can be easily moved despite their 4-ton weight.
The plane layout of the underground palace basically adopts the system of "court front house behind". There is virtually no arrangements in the front palace, equal to the square before the palace; the middle palace is equal to the main palace of moon palace of front court, with 3 "thrones" of white marble set inside, sitting in a triangle shape, in front each of the thrones, there is one "five arch" made of yellow colored glaze, that is incense, candle and flower, and one porcelain pot with blue flower pattern, full of sesame oil serving the votary lamp. There is no item buried with the dead in the right and left side halls. The back palace is equal to rest room, called as "Xuan Hall", it is the place for coffins, and therefore it is the major part of the underground palace. In the coffin bed, rest three coffins for emperor Wanli, and empress Xiaoduan and Xiaojing, surround the coffin bed, lay 26 red wood box full of plum bottle, jade and treasures, and the same in all of the coffins.
Among all the items buried with the dead, the crowns and phoenix coronets are really dazzling. Emperor Wanli's golden crown Tongti is made of gold thread, inlayed with two dragons playing with pearl. Among the sparkling jewelries, emperor Wanli's golden crown could be considered as rare treasure, it is mounted with many dazzling thumb-sized cat eyes. |
