Beijing China: AN EMPEROR'S TOMB

Day 2 in Beijing: Chang Tomb
(1 of 4 destinations)

Another UNESCO World Heritage Site (Imperial Tombs of the Ming and Qing Dynasties)

From City Walls courtyard house in Dongcheng, we traveled an hour to the tombs.  We started at 7:30 in the morning.

On the way, we learned that the Ming Tombs is famous because thirteen emperors of the Ming Dynasty are buried there.  The burial site was chosen by, and (his own) mausoleum was designed by Emperor Zhu Di, more popularly known as Emperor Yongle (because he named his era as Yongle, meaning eternal joy).  The site was chosen because of the mountains (earth) surrounding the place, abundant water, wind, and silence, all factors important to Feng Shui principles. One interesting fact was that Emperor Yongle was also believed to design and build the Forbidden City during his rule.  If he had been born in modern times, he would have been an architect!

The whole burial site of 13 emperors in the Ming Dynasty among Tianshou Mountains

The whole Ming Tombs is shown in this picture above:  the burial site starts with a stone memorial arch, a gate, a pavilion, a path with stone animal statuettes lined on the side, a three-arch gate, bridge (over natural water, i suppose, and not excavated) and the final path going to Chang Tomb. The length from the archway to the three-arch gate is called the "Spirit Way" and stretches 7 kilometers.  We didn't go through the Spirit Way anymore but went directly to the Chang Tomb. 
 
Chang Tomb

Here in Chang Tomb, the layout looks the same as the Spirit Way and the Forbidden City: tomb gate, Gate of Eminent Favor, Hall of Eminent Favor, archway, pathway and finally the soul tower "guarding" the mountain where the Emperor is believed to be buried.  "Believed" because the actual bodies have not been excavated; they are buried way deep down the mountain. (Note that only one tomb in the Ming Tombs has been approved for excavation, and that is the Ding Tomb, but that would be another visit to Beijing since we didn't go there.)

Layout of Chang Tomb; partially cut in this pic at upper right is the mound where the emperor is buried

The caption in the entrance of Chang Tomb reads: "The Changling" (ling means tomb) "is the burial mausoleum of ChengZu (1360-1424), Zhu Di, the third emperor of the Ming Dynasty, and Empress Xushi. The construction of the main structure of the mausoleum - the underground palace - began in 1409" and "completed in 1427. It is composed of the underground structure (burial chamber) and surface palace. The Changling is the biggest in scope among the mausoleums in the Tianshou Mountain. The Hall of Eminent Favor and and the Gate of Eminent Favor is built of nanmu, the only hall and gate of such structures still remaining among the Ming mausoleums that look magnificent. Built with materials of excellent quality, they deserve to be treasures of ancient Chinese architecture".

Archway going to the burial site

Buried within the tomb are the treasures or things the Emperor believed he can still use in the next life. They believed that one who dies will still live the same life after death, and so they bury with them things they use everyday in their lifetime, plus some treasures.  That is also the reason why their people bury paper money as offering for them to use in the next life.  The Emperor even buries with them their favorite concubine!  Our guide told us that the favorite concubine, chosen by the emperor to be with him in his death, had to kill herself in order to be buried with the emperor.  Talk about supreme sacrifice!  (I read in Wikipedia that there are really concubines buried within the tomb.)  These are some excavated artifacts shown in the exhibition hall.

Gold & silver inggots; gold flatware

Empress's crowns: bejeweled, gold, jade

The visit to the tomb itself is not as fascinating if one does not listen to the stories behind what one sees.  A tourist just sees structures that look quite the same as every ancient tourist spot but if one cares to listen to the guide, things will not look the same way again. 

Next stop is Jade Factory...