“Why is Qingling Bridge located in ‘Jingtai Valley’?” That’s a question Ming history buffs love to explore. Before Qingling was built the area was already known as “Jingtai Valley”. This place was originally chosen by Emperor Jingtai, Zhu Qiyu, of the Ming Dynasty. He planned it as his own tomb.
Zhu Qiyu was the seventh emperor of the Ming Dynasty. His older brother was Ming Emperor Yingzong, Zhu Qizhen. During the Tumu Crisis, Zhu Qizhen was captured by the ওয়া剌ত. Zhu Qiyu then took the throne amidst the crisis. He re-employed Yu Qian. They reorganized the defense and gathered troops. They secured internal stability and won the Battle of Beijing.
In 1456, Empress Hang氏 died. Zhu Qiyu ordered officials to find a suitable burial site in Tianshou Mountain. The location had to follow the “left Zhaoyou Mu” system. It meant being on the left side of his grandfather, Ming Renzong’s Xianling Tomb. Officials found a spot 700 meters to the left of Xianling. Zhu Qiyu approved and construction began. A subterranean palace and Ming楼 were built by June. Empress Hang氏 was buried there.
However, in the second year, Zhu Qizhen, who had been under house arrest was reinstated in a coup. Zhu Qiyu was demoted. Soon after, Zhu Qiyu passed away. Yingzong ordered him buried as a prince in the Jinshan area west of Beijing.
Later, Emperor Xianzong restored Zhu Qiyu’s title. He expanded the tomb to imperial standards. This became the Jingtai Tomb.
During his house arrest, Prince Kuang, Zhu Miaoyan, had urged Zhu Qiyu to treat his brother well. After his restoration, Zhu Qizhen summoned Prince Kuang to Beijing. He treated him with respect. Prince Kuang visited the Xian, Xian and Jing Tombs. He told Yingzong that Emperor Xuanzong’s Jingling Tomb lacked a Ming楼. Yet Zhu Qiyu had built a grand Ming楼 for himself. He requested that Yingzong demolish the Ming楼 and underground palace.
Yingzong agreed. He ordered the demolition. The buried Hang氏 was moved. The area became ruins. Overgrown with weeds it was called “Jingtai Valley” because of Zhu Qiyu’s era name.
Centuries later, Emperor Guangzong, Zhu Changluo, was buried here. It became Qingling Tomb.
Guangzong had a short reign. He was the son of Emperor Shenzong. After Shenzong’s death in 1620, Zhu Changluo ascended the throne. He died suddenly after only a month. The burden fell on his son, Zhu Youxiao.
Zhu Youxiao chose a burial site for his father in Tianshou Mountain. They selected “Huangshan Temple Second Ridge South”. Construction began in 1621. The underground palace was completed in four months. It cost 1.5 million taels of silver. Zhu Changluo was buried there.
By 1626, the above-ground structures of Qingling were finished. The tomb complex included a sacred path, palace, and outer buildings. A single-arch stone bridge was built on the sacred path. Near the tomb was a pavilion with a stele.
The overall layout of Qingling is rectangular. It covers 27,600 square meters. The tomb is divided into two sections. The first section has the Ling恩 Gate and Ling恩 Hall. The second section has three glass doors, a gate楼, and a stone altar. Behind this is a circular treasure city with a Ming楼.
Although built quickly, Qingling used materials from nearby abandoned tombs. These included the tombs of Royal Concubine Wang氏 and Empress Guo氏. This made construction faster and cheaper.
Qingling is also unique for its drainage system. It has both underground and surface drainage. The underground system features a “T” shaped tunnel. The tunnel is made of large stone. It is over 200 meters long. Water from the mountains flows through this tunnel. It passes under the dragon sand before draining. This design protects the tomb.
After the Ming Dynasty fell, the Ming tombs fell into disrepair. During the Qing Dynasty, Emperor Qianlong renovated the tombs. Qingling’s Ming楼 and palace were in poor condition. The stele pavilion was removed. The Ling恩 Hall and Ling恩 Gate were rebuilt on a smaller scale.
In 2003, the Ming tombs became a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Qingling underwent restoration. This included repairing the stele, Ling恩 Gate and Ming楼. The site remains closed to the public. It is under protected management.
Thus stands Qingling Bridge. It is a silent witness to imperial ambitions, tragic deaths, and dynastic changes. It’s a story etched in stone and earth.