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The Ming
Tombs
 50
kilometers northwest from Beijing City lies
the Ming Tombs - the general name given
to the mausoleums of 13 emperors of the
Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644). The mausoleums
have been perfectly preserved, as has the
necropolis of each of the many emperors.
Because of its long history, palatial and
integrated architecture, the site has a
high cultural and historic value. The layout
and arrangement of all thirteen mausoleums
are very similar but vary in size as well
as in the complexity of their structures.
It was originally built only
as Changling, the tomb of Emperor Zhuli
and his empresses. This is the most magnificent
of the tombs. The succeeding twelve emperors
had their tombs built around Changling.
 Only
the Changling and Dingling tombs are open
to the public. Changling, the chief of the
Ming Tombs, is the largest in scale and
is completely preserved. The total internal
area of the main building is 1956 square
meters. There are 32 huge posts, and the
largest measures about 14 meters in height.
It represents Emperor Zhuyuanzhang, the
founder of Ming Dynasty. Travel China Guide
recommends the Lingsi Palace in its second
yard as really deserving a visit. This is
unique as it is the only huge palace made
of camphor wood. It covers about 1956 square
meters. The ceiling is colorfully painted
and supported by sixteen solid camphor posts.
The floor was decorated with gold bricks.
 Unlike
Changling, Dingling is under ground and
about 27 meters deep. It is the mausoleum
of Emperor Zhu Yijun, the thirteenth emperor
who occupied the throne the longest during
the Ming Dynasty, and his two empresses.
The main features are the Stone Bridge,
Soul Tower, Baocheng and the Underground
Place, which was unearthed between 1956
and 1958. The entire palace is made of stone.
The Soul Tower is symbolic of the whole
of Dingling and it forms the entrance to
the underground chambers. The yellow glazed
tiles; eaves, archway, rafters and columns
are all sculptured from stone, and colorfully
painted. The entire construction is stable
and beautiful!
Served by three stone doors, it is divided
into three Halls consisting of five high
palaces - the front, the middle, the rear,
the left and the right palaces. The Gate
of the Tomb, the Gate of Eminent Favor and
the Lingxing Gate all have the same structural
form.
 The
front hall, considered the square of the
Palace, has no building within it. No special
artifacts remain in either the left and
right palaces that are about 7 meters high,
six meters wide, and 26 meters long. However,
each has a centrally placed white marble
coffin bed, the surface of which is covered
with gold bricks. On each bed there is a
square hole filled with loess. This is the
so-called "Gold Well". A paved
path leads to the central hall where there
are three white marble thrones. Incense,
candles and flowers were set in front of
the thrones. Before each of them, there
are glazed 'Five Offerings' and a blue china
jar that would have been filled with sesame
oil to be used for lamps. The rear hall
is the main and biggest part of the Palace.
The coffins of Emperor Zhu Yijun and his
two empresses are in this palace. There
are also some precious items displayed with
these coffins; among them is the gold imperial
crown, one of the world's most rare treasures.
We feel that it is necessary
to remind visitors with heart problems to
consider carefully whether they should enter
the underground chambers. The atmosphere
and dull lighting can be a problem. As always,
do not hesitate to consult your guide, who
will be able to offer advice.
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