The Xianling Mausoleum |
Laid out in accordance with geomantic (fēng shuǐ 风水) theories, the Xianling Mausoleum sits toward the east, with mountains at its back and facing water. The coffin chamber rests against the left peak of Songlin Mountain, mountain ranges flank both sides of the mausoleum, and Tianzi Hill (tiān zǐ gǎng 天子岗) lies across at the front. Up to the slope of Songlin Mountain there is the Horse Dismounting Stele (xià mǎ bēi 下马碑), gates, pavilion, carved pillars, stone figures, archways, a rivulet and bridge. At the top are the Xiang Palace (xiǎng diàn 享殿)(for offering sacrifices) and Treasure Cities (yíng chéng 茔城) (site of the tombs). The arrangement of these buildings presents that the sense of order was so important in feudal formality. The Xianling Mausoleum is the only imperial mausoleum with two Treasure Cities. The first was built in 1520 in the format for prince, and the second in 1539 after its occupant had been posthumously been named emperor. They are linked by a path forming a dumb-bell shape layout. Each Treasure City accommodates an underground coffin chamber. The Nine Twists River (jiǔ qǔ hé 九曲河) in the tomb area acts as a drainage facility to prevent the water from flowing from Songlin Mountain to the tomb. All Ming imperial mausoleums have rivers, artificial or natural, for drainage and flood discharge, but the system here is the most outstanding, in terms of completeness and its perfect conformity with fengshui principles. Each of the Treasure Cities has 16 water spouts with protruding dragon-head gargoyles. Xianling Mausoleum is the only Ming imperial mausoleum with a divine path of dragon scale(long xíng shén dào 龙形神道), which comprises a path with flagstones along the midline, forming the " dragon's back." pebbles on both sides, called "dragon's scales," and with serrated stone edging. Another particularity of the Xianling Mausoleum is its inner and outer Mingtang (míng táng 明堂). According to geomantic theories, the inner Mingtang should be of a modest size so that it can conceal wind and collect energy, and the outer one should be large to boost further development. Xianling's Inner Mingtang (nèi míng táng 内明堂) is a square in front of the Ling'en Gate (ling ēn mén 裬恩门), and its Outer Mingtang (wài míng táng 外明堂) sits south of the Old Red Gate (jiù hóng mén 旧红门) on the axis. Such squares are not found in other Ming imperial mausoleums. The glazed screen walls (liú lí yǐng bì 琉璃影壁) on both sides of the Ling'en Gate are also the sole examples in Ming imperial mausoleums. Modeled on timber structures, they are topped with tile eaves, and bear floral designs on the front and two dragons on the back. The mausoleum is surrounded by red walls with a 3.6-kilometer circumference and a 1,300-meter-long passageway paved with flagstones. On both sides of the passageway is a pair of stone pillars, lions, camels, elephants, unicorns, sitting and standing horses and two pairs of statues of generals and arts ministers. Located at the back are two halls. Although the halls were deserted by the end of the Ming Dynasty, glass flowers, walls with two engraved dragons, stone hall bases and stone-carved rails, which are highly esteemed in the fine arts, still exist. The Xianling Mausoleum
|