Maintaining an imperial tradition that originated from the Zhou Dynasty (c. 1066-221 BC), the Ming emperors selected the location and design of their tombs while they were still alive. The selection of sites, based on the prevailing winds and the water level, ensured that only benevolent spirits were inhabiting the area. Of the 16 Ming emperors, 13 chose to be buried in this serene valley (Shisanling) just north of Beijing.
{{B}}The Sacred Way.{{/B}} The road to the tombs, which branches off the route to the Great Wall, was once a 6.4km. (4mi.) long sacred way, forbidden to all but the emperor's funeral cottege. The road begins at a five-arched marble gate, built in 1540. A mile further down stands a three-arched gateway, the Dahongmen (Great Red Gate).
The emperor's body was carried through the central archway. Only on this one occasion was the center door opened. Just beyond the gate sits a huge stone tortoise (symbol of longevity) with a 9.1m. (30ft.) stele mounted on its back. The stele, the largest such tablet in China, was inscribed by the fourth Ming emperor at the time of the death of his predecessor, Yong Le, in 1424. This tortoise marks the beginning of the famous Avenue of the Animals. Lions, camels, elephants, horses, and two sets of mythical (or at least unrecognizable) beasts, 12 statues in all, line either side of the road, alternately standing and kneeling and most, these days, supporting tourists on their backs while being photographed.
Beyond the animal figures stretches a series of 12 stone human statues, dating from the 15th century: four military men, four civilian officials, and four obedient retainers, all with stately postures and fixed stares—an honor guard for the dead emperor. A legend says that an emperor of the later Qing Dynasty wanted to transport the statues to line the road to his own tomb. One of the emperor's ministers was told, in a dream, that the statues were eternally loyal to the Ming emperors and therefore should not be moved. The Qing emperor took this as a warning that if the statues were disturbed, a deadly wind would blow down from the Ming Tombs upon the capital and he abandoned the project.
{{B}}Chang Ling.{{/B}} Of the 13 tombs, only two have been excavated, those of Chang (the burial name for Yong Le, 1403-24), and Ding (Emperor Wan Li, 1562-1620). The Chang Ling tomb is the largest and best preserved of the tombs; it served as a model for the remaining 12.
Visitors enter through a red gate which opens toward a courtyard. From here they pass under the Gate of Eminent Favors (Lingenmen) into a second courtyard, in which stands the marble Hall of Eminent Favors (Lingendian), surrounded by pine trees (another ancient symbol of longevity ). The roof of the hall is supported by 32 giant tree columns. Beyond this hall is a third courtyard, where the visitor will see a simple stele with the inscription Da Ming—Great Ming. This marks the passage to the sepulcher.
{{B}}Ding Ling.{{/B}} Also known as the Underground Palace, this is the first imperial tomb to have been excavated in China. The work was completed over a period of three years (1956-59). Ding (Emperor Wan Li) was buried here in 1620 with two of his wives in a deep marble vault located four stories underground (on the hottest of summer days the vault remains mercifully cool). The entrance to the grounds is marked by a large red gate with a magnificent bronze lion. Gigantic marble doors stand at the entrance to the first of the three burial chambers. (After burial, a "locking stone", similar to the modem "police" lock, was rolled in front of the tomb itself.) Inside are three coffins. Twenty six chests of jewelry and other artifacts were discovered at the foot of the coffins, and many of these finds can be viewed in the two exhibition halls constructed above ground.
The broad, tree shaded grounds surrounding the tomb are dotted with stone picnic tables and seats. Tour groups are usually provided with box lunches which may be eaten outdoors or in a "picnic room" at the foot of the Great Wall.
{{B}}Emperor Qian Long's Tomb.{{/B}} In 1978, the tomb of the Qing emperor Qian Long (1736-96), located about 100km. (62.5mi) east of Beijing, was opened to the public.
Known as Yu Ling, the tomb is on a grander scale and of higher artistic quality than most imperial tombs. Construction began in 1743 and cost 90 tons of silver. The wood used was the durable, fragrant, close-grained nanmu. Some logs weighed up to 20 tons.
The tomb is, in fact, an underground palace, similar to the tomb of Ding Ling. Nevertheless, YuLing has distinctive architectural features. Flanking the roadway leading to the tomb are eight pairs of stone sculptures depicting civil officials, military officers, homes, qilin (a mythical animal of good omen), elephants, camels, suanni (mythical monsters), and lions. Each figure was carved from a single stone block. The largest weighs about 43 tons.
The underground palace contains three stone halls and four pairs of stone gates, all arched. The overhanging eaves, tile gutters, ridges, and animal-shaped ornaments on the gate corners are in white marble. Each gate weighs about two tons and contains a Bod-hisattva, each with a different mien. The inner walls and arched ceilings of the gateways and halls are decorated with four celestial guardians (also called Deva kings), seated statues of gods and Buddhas, carvings of potted flowers, and small three-legged tables to hold incense burners and Buddhist scriptures.
The coffin of Qian Long lies in the innermost recess of the underground palace. It was placed over a well that never runs dry.
· was opened to the public as early as 1978? 71. ______
· served as a model for the remaining 12 for its good preservation? 72. ______
· is of higher artistic quality than most imperial tombs? 73. ______
· is the largest tomb? 74. ______
· is the first imperial tomb to have been excavated in China? 75. ______
· has the inner walls and arched ceiling of its gateway and halls decorated
with four celestial guardians? 76. ______
· owns three coffins within it? 77. ______
· holds the coffin of an emperor which was placed over a well? 78. ______
· has a large red gate with a significant bronze lion which marks the entrance
to the ground? 79. ______
· was a huge and costly construction project which began in 1743? 80. ______