What are the Ming Tombs? Why is it called 13 Tombs?
The Ming Tombs
The Ming Tombs are located in a small basin with an area of 40 square kilometers under Tianshou Mountain in Changping County, Beijing. The entire mausoleum area originally had mausoleum walls, with the main entrance opening at the south end. Mangshan Mountain and Huyu Valley towered on both sides, as if a dragon and a tiger were guarding the gate. The Ming Tombs are most famous for the Changling Tomb, a magnificent above-ground building, and the Dingling Tomb, an underground palace that has been excavated. Currently, the Ming Tombs are applying to the United Nations for world cultural heritage.
The thirteen Ming Dynasty emperors’ tombs include Chengzu (Changling), Renzong (Xianling), Xuanzong (Jingling), Yingzong (Yuling), Xianzong (Maoling), Xiaozong (Taiwan) Mausoleum), Wuzong (Kangling), Sejong (Yongling), Muzong (Zhaoling), Shenzong (Dingling), Guangzong (Qingling), Xizong (Deling), Yizong (Sizong) (Siling), etc.
Except for the size and complexity of the buildings, the mausoleums of these Ming Dynasty emperors are basically the same in terms of architectural layout and regulations. The plan shape is rectangular, with a circular (or oval) treasure city behind it. Starting from the stone bridge, the buildings are divided into mausoleum gate, stele pavilion, Leng'en gate, Leng'en hall, Minglou, Baocheng, etc.
Among the Thirteen Tombs, Changling is the most magnificent building. Together with Dingling, it is the main tourist target.
Changling: It is the mausoleum building of Zhu Kang, the founder of Ming Dynasty. Heng'en Hall, also known as Xiandian and Xiangdian, is the main building of Changling and an important place for ancestor worship. Changling was built in 1427. It is very majestic and magnificent. It stands on a three-story white marble platform. It is nine rooms wide and five rooms deep. The total area is 1956 square meters. There are 32 golden wooden handles in the hall. The column has a maximum diameter of 1·17 meters and a height of 14·30 meters. Beams, columns, beams, rafters, brackets and other components are all made of oval wood. Although it lasted more than 500 years, it is still as strong as ever and has a fragrant aroma. It is the largest wooden palace in my country.
Dingling: It is the mausoleum of Zhu Xiejun, Emperor Shenzong of the Ming Dynasty. He ascended the throne at the age of 10 and was named Wanli. He was the longest emperor in the Ming Dynasty (48 years). The cemetery regulations are modeled after Changling. The Dingling Underground Palace was scientifically excavated from 1956 to 1958 and has been built into the Dingling Underground Museum. The underground palace is connected by five tall and wide halls in the front, middle, back, left and right, all of which are arch-type stone structures. There are seven stone gates among these halls. The design of the stone door is very scientific. Because its center of gravity is concentrated on the axis, although it weighs 4 tons, it is very flexible and light to open.
The floor plan of the underground palace basically adopts the system of "facing the front and sleeping in the back". The front hall has no furnishings and is equivalent to the square in front of the palace. The middle hall is equivalent to the main hall of the former Moon Palace. There are three "thrones" carved from white marble, arranged in the shape of a Chinese character. In front of each seat there is a yellow glazed "Five Offerings" ", that is, incense, candles, flowers, and a large porcelain vat with blue and white cloud patterns. The vat is filled with sesame oil and is specially used for the ever-burning lamp. There are no funerary objects in the left and right side halls. The back hall is equivalent to the sleeping hall and is called "Xuantang". It is the main part of the underground palace and is the place where coffins are placed. In the center of the coffin bed are placed the coffins of Emperor Wanli and the two empresses Xiaoduan and Xiaojing. The three coffins are surrounded by plum vases, jade materials and 26 red lacquered wooden boxes filled with gold, silver and jade articles for burial. Each coffin also contains a large number of funerary items.
Among the funerary objects unearthed from Dingling, the crown and phoenix crown are the most eye-catching. Emperor Wanli's golden crown was made entirely of fine gold wire and inlaid with two dragons playing with beads. Among the exquisite jewelry, Emperor Wanli's golden crown is a rare treasure. The index finger-sized cat's eye stone inlaid on the top of the crown shines brightly.