Ming tombs

The “path of the souls” towards the imperial tombs

The Ming Tombs ( Chinese 明朝十三陵 , Pinyin Míngcháo Shísān Líng - "Thirteen Tombs of the Ming Dynasty") are a burial place of emperors of the Chinese Ming Dynasty , located about 50 km from the Chinese capital Beijing at the foot of the Mount Tianshou are located. 13 of the 16 Ming emperors are buried here.

History and layout

The complex was laid out in 1409 by Emperor Yongle , who also had the Forbidden City built in Beijing. After his wife's death two years earlier, he selected this area as the location for his Changling Mausoleum. The Changling is the largest burial complex of the Ming tombs and is one of the most impressive imperial tombs in Chinese history. The first complex was completed in 1427. Up to the collapse of the Ming dynasty in 1644, 13 Ming emperors were buried here. There are also seven burial chambers of imperial concubines and that of a eunuch .

The entire complex has an area of 80 km², which is not to be understood as a single complex, but rather as individual graves at the foot of Mount Tianshou.

meaning

In 2003, the Ming Tombs, along with the Qing Tombs, were added to the UNESCO list of World Cultural and Natural Heritage of Humanity . The UNESCO justifies this with five criteria: the Ming tombs are a masterful example of the integration of architecture and natural surroundings; they represented the advancement of earlier art forms in the Ming period; they are excellent evidence of a cultural and architectural tradition that has shaped this region of the world for over 500 years; the connection between architecture and nature forms a unique cultural landscape; the tombs illustrated the worldview, beliefs and geomantic principles of feudal China.

Today the graves are a popular destination for tourists. The so-called soul path, the Zhaoling grave and the Changling grave (both can only be visited above ground) as well as the Dingling grave (visit of the underground burial chamber possible) are to be visited. The graves can be reached by underground.

Ding Ling

The most frequented burial site of the Ming tombs today is Ding Ling , the tomb of Emperor Wanli ( Lage ). He was the 13th emperor of the Ming Dynasty and ruled from 1572 to 1620. His tomb is east of Mount Dayu. His two wives are buried there with him. Construction of Ding Ling began in November 1584 and the mausoleum was completed in June 1590. The entire grave complex is 180,000 m² in size and consists of a large forecourt and the underground burial chamber, which consists of five halls. Ding Ling was the first Ming Tombs to be excavated and made available to the public. 40.294722 116.216944

Forecourt

The forecourt of the grave complex begins with the grave gate and from there (like most systems of this type) is laid out in an axis straight to the entrance of the grave chamber. A straight path begins at this gate and leads from here to the burial chamber. The entire complex was enclosed by a wall. Behind the grave gate there is first a place, limited by the outer walls. A horizontal wall also describes the end of this square, while the Ling'En gate served as a passage to the other facility, of which only the foundation can be seen. The same applies to the Ling'En hall, where only the beginnings of the pillars that supported them are recognizable. Another gate follows, the Gate of Star Worship ( Xing Ling Men ). From here it goes towards the Tower of Souls, which stands a little higher on a terrace. A circular wall begins from this terrace and frames the entire hill in which the burial chamber is located. The entrance to the underground chamber is at the rear.

Burial chamber

Parts of the Dingling burial chamber.

The burial chamber consists of five halls, the front, middle, rear, left and right hall, which are arranged in a cross shape. The three coffins of Wanli and his wives were found in the back hall. Today, however, only their replicas are exhibited there. In the other halls, precious grave goods were found in innumerable chests and the rulers' thrones.