Grave robbers once tried to plunder the Ming Dynasty tombs. Now look at the magnificent Ming Shisanling walls before you. These walls stand as silent guardians of emperors. Thirteen emperors rest in these valleys. The Ming Shisanling is located in the Changping District of Beijing. It is about 50 kilometers from the city center. This imperial necropolis houses tombs of the Ming Dynasty.
Thirteen emperors are buried here. There are also twenty-three empresses. Two crown princes also rest here. Over thirty concubines and one eunuch are entombed here. Construction began in 1409. It concluded after the burial of Emperor Chongzhen. This project spanned over 230 years. Ming Shisanling is one of the most complete imperial tomb complexes in the world.
But why only thirteen emperors? The first Ming Emperor Hongwu is buried in Nanjing. The second emperor Jianwen disappeared. Emperor Daizong was buried elsewhere. He was later reburied with imperial honors.
Emperor Yongle chose this site. He named the mountain Tianshou. His tomb Changling was built from 1409 to 1427. It set the standard for the other tombs. The total length of the architectural complex is over seven kilometers. The thirteen tombs share similar layouts. Each has a front sacrificial area. Each has a rear burial mound area.
Each tomb has a memorial stele. It records the emperor’s achievements. Emperor Renzong wrote a 3500-word inscription for his father Yongle. No subsequent emperor wrote another. This makes most steles blank.
Emperor Wanli’s Dingling is a prime example. Its layout embodies the concept of a “round sky and square earth.” The tomb complex covers 180000 square meters. It includes a three-courtyard palace and a towering treasure city. Over 300 buildings are here.
The walls around Ming Shisanling protected the complex. These walls had two gates and ten passes. The gates were the Big Red Gate and the Small Red Gate. These mountain passes served as floodgates. They also acted as vital transportation routes.
In 1955, Wu Han and Guo Moruo sought permission to excavate Changling. Premier Zhou Enlai approved. In 1956, the excavation shifted to Dingling. The Underground Palace of Dingling opened in 1957. Many artifacts were damaged due to poor preservation techniques.
The Cultural Revolution brought destruction to Ming Shisanling. Red Guards desecrated and burned Emperor Wanli’s remains. They also destroyed countless artifacts.
Today, you can visit Ming Shisanling and appreciate its splendor. Changling, Dingling, Zhaoling and Kangling are open to the public. The Sacred Way provides a path through history. Restoration efforts continue to preserve this cultural treasure. Future plans include relocating residents. They also aim to restore the original landscape. New museums and cultural experience zones are planned. Ming Shisanling will continue to share its rich past with the world.