The Ming Dynasty Tombs ( Shisan Ling = 13 Tombs ) are located some 50 kilometers due North of- and outside Beijing City at an especially selected site. The site was chosen by third Ming Dynasty Emperor Yongle ( 1403 ad - 1424 ad ) who moved the Capital City of China back from Nanjing in the South to the current location at Beijing in the North ( it was thus Yongle who mainly envisioned the lay-out of the entire ancient city of Beijing as well as a number of landmarks and monuments).
After establishing his Capital City and the newly built Imperial Palace ( Forbidden City ) in 1420 AD , the Emperor set to work on selecting his burial site and create his own mausoleum. Thus, the Shisan Ling ( literally 13 Tombs ) site was selected by Emperor Yongle and his Tomb was the first to be built at the site. Later other Tombs of later Ming Dynasty Emperors was added a Total of 13 in all. The Tombs of the First 2 Ming Emperors are near the Southern City Nanjing where the Capital City of China was located under their Reign. Last Ming Emperor Chong Zhen (or Chun Cheng )was not included in the Mausoleum as the Ming Dynasty was overthrown by the Ching Dynasty during his Reign, ending the reign, the emperor and the Dynasty in 1644 AD. ( Chong Zhen killed his own Family, then ended the Ming Dynasty by hanging himself from a Tree ).
The site of the Ming Dynasty Imperial Tombs was carefully chosen according to then customary ( and important ) Feng Shui ( Geomancy ) principles. According to these bad spirist / evil wind descending from the North must be deflected, thus an arc-shaped area at the foot of the Jundu Mountains north of Beijing was selected. This 40 square kilometer area, enclosed by Mountains in a pristine quite valley full of dark earth, cold water and other Feng Shui necessities would become the Necropolis of The Ming Dynasty.
The entire Tomb Site is surrounded by a wall , a 7 kilometer road named the Spirit Way leads into the complex which is one of the finest preserved pieces of 15Th century chinese art and architecture.
The Ming Tombs have been included in the Unesco World Heritage listing in August 2003.
3 Tombs have been excavated : Chang Ling the Largest , Ding Ling the underground palace tomb, and Shao ling. The Last in 1989, but plans for new archeological research and the opening of Tombs have circulated. The entire park is in process of the restoration at this moment ( february 2004 ).
External Ming Tombs links
Related External links
Feng Shui Related links
