The Ming Dynasty was founded by Zhu Yuanzhang, that is, Ming Taizu. In order to admire the imperial power, Zhu Yuanzhang resumed the system of pre-building Shouling Mausoleum, and made major reforms to the mausoleum system in the Han, Tang and Song Dynasties. These reforms are manifested in many aspects. First of all, the shape of the tomb was changed from a square in the Tang and Song Dynasties to a circle, so as to adapt to the rainy geographical climate in the south and facilitate the rain to flow down without invading the tomb. Therefore, great attention was paid to the sealing and anti-corrosion measures of coffins during this period, and the bodies in tombs were generally well preserved. Secondly, the cemetery building cancels the lower palace building, and retains and expands the upper palace building of the memorial hall. Accordingly, the system of staying in the mausoleum to serve the deceased was abolished. This is a major reform of the mausoleum system. It shows that with the development of society, the primitive superstition in the mausoleum will inevitably be abolished gradually, thus further highlighting the sacrificial ceremony. The Ming dynasty paid special attention to the sacrifice and ostentation of three knocks and nine worships, which was a means for rulers to praise imperial power and consolidate their rule.

With the development of gardens in southern China, the artistic style of Ming Dynasty cemetery buildings has made a great breakthrough compared with the previous generation, forming a relatively concentrated wooden structure complex arranged orderly from south to north. This is a remarkable feature of the Ming and Qing tombs system. After Chengzu moved to Beijing, most of the Ming emperors' tombs were concentrated in Tianshou Mountain in Beijing, collectively known as the Ming Tombs.

In the early Ming Dynasty, due to the autocratic imperial power, concubines were forbidden to participate in politics from Zhu Yuanzhang, the emperor of the Ming Dynasty, and this political feature was also reflected in the burial system. Before Ming Yingzong, except for the queen who was buried in the mausoleum, most other ladies-in-waiting died of martyrdom. According to historical records, among the concubines of Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty, there was a maid-in-waiting named Ai Guo who was good at poetry. She was forced to die after only 20 days in the palace. Before she died, she wrote a desperate speech: "There are many shortcomings, but they are not enough." Life is like a dream and death is like sleep. Sorry, I left my family first and lost my filial piety. I feel sad and embarrassed. If so, I can mourn. "According to the records of the Li Dynasty, on the day of martyrdom, the martyrs had to go to dinner first, and a banquet was arranged in the palace. At this moment, they cried loudly. They were forced to stand on Xiao Mu's bed and put a rope around their necks. It was terrible. This cruel human sacrifice system in Ming Dynasty was not abolished until after Ming Yingzong.

The protection of tombs in Ming Dynasty was stricter and more institutionalized than before. For example, those who attempt to destroy mountains and hills will be put to death in the middle of the year, regardless of the mastermind's plot. Stealing sacrificial vessels, curtains and other things used by emperor gods will be beheaded; Shanling stole a tree and beheaded it, and was sent to the border guards by his family. In addition, in the Ming Dynasty, there was a special shrine, Lin Jun, who was responsible for guarding the mausoleum. There is also a garrison to defend the exterior of the mausoleum. It can be said that the barriers are strict.

Ming Taizu Xiaoling Mausoleum

Xiaoling Mausoleum is the burial tomb of Zhu Yuanzhang, the great ancestor of Ming Dynasty, and the empress. It is located at the foot of Mount Qomolangma in Dulong Mansion, Zijin Mountain, Nanjing City, Jiangsu Province. Purple Mountain is magnificent and beautiful. Since the Six Dynasties, the poem "middle plate, stone residence" has been circulated, so it is called "tiger living in dragon plate". Play under Mount Everest, the spring valley is deep, the purple air is transpiration, and the clouds and mountains change day and night. Shortly after Zhu Yuanzhang ascended the throne, he chose this place as the mausoleum site.

The scale of Xiaoling Mausoleum is huge, and the building highlights the dedication hall to show respect for imperial power and achieve the purpose of consolidating feudal rule.

On the front of the cemetery is Xiamafang, and the inscription "All the officials dismount" in six Chinese characters symbolizes the majesty of the mausoleum. Twelve pairs of stone statues are arranged on both sides of Shinto in front of the mausoleum, including two pairs of stone lions, two pairs of stone lions, two pairs of stone camels, two pairs of stone unicorns, two pairs of stone dogs and two pairs of stone horses. Among them, stone statues and camel are the highest, which are masterpieces of stone carving art in the early Ming Dynasty. There are four pairs of stone Weng Zhong in front of the tomb, waist high and short. Arranged in a kilometer with the stone beast, it symbolizes the ceremonial and bodyguard that Zhu Yuanzhang had before his death, and has the poem "Stone Wind Weng Zhongli, hesitating to call the class in the middle of the night".

The Shinto of Xiaoling starts from Shiwangzhu, turns to the north, is crescent-shaped, and half holds a hill, which is called "Sunlinggang". It's rare to see a divine turn in the mausoleum of Hadrian. The Shinto of the Ming Tombs spared Sun, because there is a mausoleum of Sun Quan, the Emperor of the Three Kingdoms. According to historical records, it was suggested that Sun Quan's tomb be removed when the mausoleum was repaired, but Zhu Yuanzhang refused, saying, "Sun Quan is also a good man, so stay as the door master." In this way, Shinto had to bypass it.

Ming Tombs

The Ming Tombs, located at the southern foot of Tianshou Mountain, which is 10 km north of Changping County, Beijing, are the largest tombs in the Ming Dynasty. The Ming Tombs include Judy's Changling Mausoleum, Zhu Gaochi's Xianling Mausoleum, Zhu Zhan's Jingling Mausoleum, Zhu Qizhen's Yuling Mausoleum, Zhu Jianshen's Mausoleum, Zhu Youtang's Tailing Mausoleum, Zhu Houzhao's Kangling Mausoleum, Zhu Hougui's Yongling Mausoleum, Zhu Zaiyu's Zhaoling Mausoleum and Zhu Yijun's Mausoleum. The mausoleum covers an area of more than 40 kilometers, and the mountains on the east, west and north sides stand like arches and screens. Mangshan Mountain and Huyu Mountain are in the south, and the majestic Grand Palace Gate is located between the two mountains, which is the gateway to the mausoleum area. The whole mausoleum area is unique and magnificent. From the time Judy, the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty, was selected as a mausoleum site to the end of the Ming Dynasty, after more than 200 years, the cemetery was continuously built and became a large-scale and well-built mausoleum complex.

Changling

Changling is the mausoleum of Rebecca, Judy and Huang Xu.

Changling is large in scale, magnificent in momentum and reasonable in layout. It is a masterpiece in the history of ancient architecture in China. The cemetery runs through the north and south and consists of three courtyards. The first yard is from Shibeifang to Lingenmen. Located at the southernmost tip of Shinto in the Ming Tombs, Shibeifang is carved from white marble and crystal clear. Six pillars stand empty, with blue sky above and white clouds below. From a distance, they are like colorful clouds floating between heaven and earth, just like the mythical worse.

To the north of Shibeifang is Dahongmen, the gate of the cemetery. It sits facing south, with three holes, yellow tiles on the Dan wall and an eaves on the top of the mountain. It is solemn and majestic. The yellow glazed tile roof complements the scarlet door wall, and the colors are harmonious and attractive.

To the north of Dahongmen is the Changling Monument Pavilion. There is a stone tablet with a dragon head and a turtle falling, which describes the life experience of Ming Chengzu. It's all eulogies. Among the Ming Tombs, only the Changling Monument Pavilion has words to practice, and there are no other tombs. There is a Chinese watch at each corner of the pavilion, and the base and the body of the watch are embossed with dragon patterns and moire patterns, which are called "looking up to the sky" and "looking back to the king" It means that I hope the king will not be greedy for the palace, but will go out and understand the people's feelings. I also hope that the king will not linger outside and return to North Korea as soon as possible, so as to avoid national affairs being left unattended.

The second courtyard is the Temple of Ryan. This is the most magnificent building in the Ming Tombs, and it is a place where "clothes and sticks are hidden and artifacts are recommended for a living". The ceremony was all made of precious nanmu. After more than 500 years of wind and rain erosion, there was no inclined deformation, which showed the superb architectural skills of ancient Chinese craftsmen.

The third courtyard consists of an inner red gate and an open building. Neihongmen is the gatehouse between Lingen Temple and Baocheng. Because it is close to the Mausoleum of Zhu Di, the painted color of the inner red door is deep and solemn, which makes the officials in Jiaoling feel a sense of fear as soon as they enter the door.

The architecture of Changling is majestic, solemn and profound, which reflects one aspect of politics, economy and culture in the early Ming Dynasty with its unique architectural art.

Ming Xiaoling Shinto