Most of the emperors’ tombs are magnificent, but why does Liu Xiu’s tomb feel like it is in a small mudflat?
In ancient China, which believed deeply in the Feng Shui theory, everyone from the powerful to the common people longed to own a good "yin house" to shelter their children and grandchildren. For emperors, they can use the whole country's efforts to build their own tombs, so they are more particular about the situation behind them. Regarding the location of imperial mausoleums, they are usually located between mountains and rivers, with open and majestic terrain to reflect their supreme majesty.
▲The Mausoleum of the First Emperor of Qin with its huge mound
If you meet another emperor who values ostentation, the mausoleum will not only be tall and majestic, it will at least cover an area of thousands of acres. . Take the Mausoleum of the First Emperor of Qin as an example. It took 39 years to build. It is backed by Mount Li and faces the Wei River. There are also two layers of rammed earth walls protecting the mausoleum, covering an area of more than 75,000 acres.
▲Still photo of Emperor Guangwu of Han Dynasty Liu Xiu
However, there was a perfect and outstanding emperor. His mausoleum only covered an area of 25 acres, less than 3000 times that of Qin Mausoleum. First, he is Emperor Guangwu of Han Dynasty. In the twenty-sixth year of Jianwu (AD 50), Liu Xiu ordered the construction of a mausoleum and personally designated the site between Beimang Mountain and the Yellow River. In addition, he cited the example of Emperor Hanwen's overbearing mausoleum to Dou Rong, who was in charge of the construction work, and asked that the area of his mausoleum should not be more than 2 hectares, let alone fill the mausoleum with earth or collect water to form a pond, as long as the mausoleum can be drained smoothly.
▲Stele of the Mausoleum of Emperor Guangwu of the Han Dynasty
To be honest, this Beimang Mountain is really a geomantic treasure. As the old saying goes: "Born in Suzhou and Hangzhou, buried in Beimang." Almost all the emperors who established their capitals in the Central Plains immediately considered Beimang Mountain as their resting place. Naturally, Liu Xiu, who was in power in Luoyang, would not miss this great opportunity.
The problem is that all the emperors and celebrities are vying to be buried on the top of Beimang, overlooking the rolling Yellow River. Only Liu Xiu went against the rules and designed his mausoleum to face the mountains and the river. , and it was built on the beach beside the Yellow River. What was the reason that made Liu Xiu go against the norm?
▲Beimang Mountain on the side of the river
According to the analysis of some experts, this may be the result of Liu Xiu's superstitious feng shui. Although "backing mountains and facing water" is usually a geomantic treasure, the location of Liu Xiu's original mausoleum has a great origin. According to local people, this was the place where dragons and horses carrying the "He Tu" and divine turtles carrying the "Luo Shu" appeared. It is the place with the best Feng Shui in the Mengjin area.
▲ Schematic diagram of Hetu and Luoshu
The legendary "Hetu and Luoshu" is the beginning of the Yi study and the true root of Chinese civilization. Emperor Guangwu of the Han Dynasty chose the site of the mausoleum here, perhaps because he wanted to benefit from the auspiciousness of the dragon, horse and turtle. Regardless of whether the expert's statement is reliable or not, there is one very interesting fact - the Yellow River has changed its course several times in more than two thousand years, but Liu Xiu's original tomb has remained safe and sound.
▲The surging Yellow River
Natural disasters can be avoided, but can man-made disasters be avoided? In fact, in these 2000 years, Liu Xiu's original tomb has never been robbed. Local people believe that the main reason is that the tomb is buried under the Yellow River beach, and there is water below 4 meters underground, making it impossible for tomb robbers to attack. In the author's opinion, perhaps this is God's will.