The Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum, located at the southern foot of Purple Mountain
in Nanjing, serves as the final resting place of the Hongwu Emperor, Zhu
Yuanzhang, the founder of the Ming Dynasty.
Constructed between 1381 and 1405, this architectural masterpiece represents a
significant synthesis of traditional Chinese imperial tomb design and the
natural landscape. The site is renowned for its "Sacred Way," a path lined
with massive stone statues of mythical beasts and officials, which leads
visitors through a tranquil, forest-covered approach that transitions from the
human realm to the spirit world.
In 2003, the mausoleum was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site as part of
the Imperial Tombs of the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Its layout set the
architectural standard for subsequent imperial burials, including the famous
Ming Tombs in Beijing, by incorporating a combination of subterranean burial
chambers and monumental surface structures. Today, the site remains a major
cultural landmark that attracts visitors seeking to understand early Ming
history and the profound influence of geomancy, or feng shui, which
dictated its harmonious integration with the surrounding hills and water
features.
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The Ming Tomb Information
«The Ming Tomb is the joint mausoleum of the founding emperor of the
Ming Dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang, and his empress, Ma. It is located under
Wanzhu Peak of Dulongfu at the southern foot of Zhongshan Mountain. It
was built in 1381 and completed in 1413, a period of 32 years, and is
one of the largest surviving tombs of ancient emperors in China. The
mausoleum system of the Ming Tomb both inherited the past and inspired
the future. With its unique and novel rules, it regulated the general
pattern and style of constructing imperial tombs for over 500 years in
the Ming and Qing dynasties. It enjoys high status and has set up a
milestone in the history of the ancient Chinese imperial mausoleum
system. In 1961, the Ming Tomb was included in the first batch of Major
Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level, and on
July 3, 2003, it was officially listed on the World Heritage List.
From the starting point, Xiamafang, to Baocheng (ramparts), where the
mausoleum is located, the Ming Tomb is nearly 3,000 meters deep, with
more than 30 buildings and stone artworks of different styles and
purposes distributed along the way, such as Great Golden Gate, the
Tablet Tower of Great Merits, stone carvings on Sacred Road, Lingxing
Gate, Sacrificial Hall, and Rectangular Citadel and the Ming Tower. The
scenic area of the Ming Tomb also includes famous attractions such as
Dongling Mausoleum, Plum Blossom Hill, Plum Blossom Valley, the Art
World of the Red Mansions, and Zixia Lake.»
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Tablet Tower of Great Merits
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The Tablet Tower of Great Merits
«The Tablet Tower of Great
Merits was built on a square base in the 11th year under the Yongle
Reign (A.D.1413), which contributes to its general name Square City. Its
roof has been destroyed. It houses "The Tablet of Great Merits of the
Ming Tomb of the Great Ming Dynasty", which was erected for Zhu
Yuanzhang by his fourth son Zhu Di. The inscription has altogether 2,746
characters written by Zhu Di in praise of the merits and achievements of
his father. This is the largest ancient tablet in Nanjing.»
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The Tablet Tower of Great Merits
The Sifangcheng, or "Square
Pavilion," is one of the most prominent structures located along the
Sacred Way of the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum.
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Constructed in 1413 by the Yongle Emperor to honor his father, the
Hongwu Emperor, this pavilion originally featured a roof that has
since deteriorated, leaving only the massive, four-sided brick walls
standing. The interior houses a colossal stone tortoise-based stele
known as the "Stele of Divine Merits and Saintly Virtues," which
stands nearly nine meters tall and bears an inscription praising the
founding emperor’s achievements.
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This monument serves as a critical transition point within the
mausoleum complex, marking the entry into the more sacred, restricted
areas of the imperial burial site. The architectural design of the
Sifangcheng exemplifies the Ming commitment to longevity and grandeur,
utilizing heavy stone masonry meant to endure for centuries. Today, it
remains an iconic visual anchor for visitors, representing both the
political legitimacy of the early Ming Dynasty and the sophisticated
stone craftsmanship that defined the era's mortuary traditions.
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Shixiang Sacred Road
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The Shixiang Sacred Road
«The Shixiang Sacred Road, 615
meters long, is the first section of the Xiaoling Sacred Road. Along the
road, there are six kinds of stone carvings of animals including lions,
Xiezhi (a mythical animal), camels, elephants, unicorns (a fabulous
animal of good omen) and horses. Carved out of whole pieces of stones in
full relief with smooth lines, these stone carvings of animals are
imposing in look and bold in style. They not only indicate the
loftiness, sanctity and glamour of the imperial mausoleum, but also play
a symbolic role in guarding the mausoleum against evil spirits and
showing ritual customs.»
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Stone Lions
«Lion, is generally known as the "King of all
beasts" for its inborn agility and ferocity over other animals. It is
honored in Buddhism as a holy beast protecting Buddhist doctrines. Stone
lions in front of the imperial mausoleum demonstrate the emperor's
unparalleled dignity and power.»
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Stone Xiezhis
«Xiezhi, with bear eyes and a single horn,
also named Renfashou, is a legendary animal standing for justice. It is
said that Xiezhi can identify the evil person in a fight by hitting him
with its horn. It is placed before a tomb to show uprightness.»
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Stone Camels
«The Ming Tomb pioneered in putting stone
camels in front of the mausoleum, indicating strong national power,
peacefulness in the Western Regions (inhabited by the minority
nationalities) and prosperity of the nation.»
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Stone Elephants
«The stone elephants feature simplicity and
vividness. Elephants were placed on the Sacred Road of imperial
mausoleum as early as the Eastern Han Dynasty (A.D. 25-220) and this
practice continued in the Ming Dynasty.»
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Stone Qilins
«Qilin, an auspicious creature of ancient
Chinese fantasy, integrates the features of the tiger, lion, ox, and
dragon. As the legend goes, it appeared only in the reign of a
benevolent and wise emperor. Therefore, only emperors can have it in the
mausoleums.»
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Stone Horses
«Horse, was a part of the emperor's honor guard
during court ceremonies of the Ming Dynasty. Therefore, stone horses
were a must in front of the imperial mausoleum. With spirited eyes and a
proud look, they seem to be flaunting the merits of their imperial owner
before death.»
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Wengzhong Road
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The Wengzhong Road
The second section of the Xiaoling Sacred
Road is known as the Wengzhong Road. This segment follows the Shixiang
Road and is distinguished by its path lined with stone statues of civil
and military officials, or wengzhong, representing the imperial
court officials who served the Hongwu Emperor during his lifetime.
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Stone Generals
The Stone Generals, located along the
Wengzhong Road, consist of four pairs of statues representing military
and civil officials who served the Hongwu Emperor.
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These monumental figures, carved from solid blocks of stone, stand at
approximately three meters in height and are depicted in full
ceremonial attire. Their imposing presence serves as a symbolic
extension of the imperial court, demonstrating the emperor’s authority
and the structured hierarchy of his administration, which remained
firmly in place even in the afterlife to protect and serve the
deceased sovereign.
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Beyond their roles as representatives of earthly bureaucracy, these
statues hold profound spiritual and geomantic significance within the
context of the mausoleum’s design. In accordance with traditional
feng shui principles, they act as symbolic guardians intended
to ward off malevolent spirits and maintain the sanctity of the
imperial burial space. By bridging the divide between the mortal realm
and the spiritual world, these stone figures ensure the emperor’s
eternal status and demonstrate the divine right to rule that the Ming
Dynasty sought to immortalize through such monumental funerary art.
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Stone Ministers
The Ministers—or civil officials—are the
four statues positioned on the Wengzhong Road alongside their military
counterparts.
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Characterized by their elegant, flowing robes, headgear, and hands
clasped respectfully in front, these figures represent the
intellectual and administrative backbone of the Ming court. Their
placement reflects the Confucian ideals of a well-ordered society,
emphasizing that just as a ruler governed through wisdom and
bureaucracy during life, he was to be eternally surrounded by the
loyal advisors who helped forge his dynasty.
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Spiritually, these statues function as eternal stewards of the
emperor’s legacy, ensuring the continuity of the state's virtuous
governance within the afterlife. Symbolically, their serene yet
authoritative posture is designed to maintain harmony within the
mausoleum's landscape, balancing the aggressive protection provided by
the military generals. By enshrining these ministers in stone, the
complex reinforces the concept that imperial power was not merely
based on force, but was anchored in the civil tradition and the wisdom
of those who served the throne, creating a sanctified environment that
protected the emperor’s spirit for eternity.
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Dragon and Phoenix Gate
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Dragon and Phoenix Gate
The Dragon and Phoenix Gate, or
Lingxing Gate, serves as a monumental architectural threshold that marks
the transition from the outer sections of the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum to
the inner, more secluded sanctum.
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This structure consists of three decorative marble arches, intricately
carved with patterns of clouds, dragons, and phoenixes. Positioned
strategically within the tomb’s complex, it acts as a symbolic gate
between the ordinary world and the sacred imperial grounds, physically
manifesting the boundary between the living and the spirit of the
departed emperor.
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Symbolically, the gate represents the harmonious union of the emperor
and the empress, as symbolized by the dragon—the emblem of the
sovereign—and the phoenix—the emblem of the consort. Spiritually, the
structure functions as a gateway to the heavens, reflecting the belief
that the Ming emperors were "Sons of Heaven" whose authority continued
beyond death. By passing through these arches, the spirit of the
deceased emperor was thought to transcend earthly limitations,
entering a divine realm where the order of the cosmos and the
stability of the imperial dynasty were perfectly aligned and eternally
preserved.
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Schematic Diagram of Restoration of the Ming Tomb
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Schematic Diagram of Restoration of the Ming Tomb
«The Ming
Tomb is the tomb of Zhu Yuanzhang, first emperor of the Ming Dynasty. It
was built between 1381 and 1413, and the emperor was buried here in
1398. The tomb palace was composed of Civil and Military Gate, Eastern
Well Pavilion, Western Well Pavilion, Imperial Kitchen, Wardrobe Hall,
Imperial Tablet Hall, Eastern Hall, Western Hall, Sacrificial Hall,
Inner Red Gate, Ascension Bridge, Ming Tower and Treasure Mound. The
construction system of The Ming Tomb initiated a standard followed by
all the imperial tombs built thereafter in the Ming and Qing Dynasties.
For this reason, it is a milestone during the development history of
China's imperial tombs.»
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Golden Water Bridge
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Golden Water Bridge
«The Golden Water Bridge, also called
Five-Dragon Bridge, is located on the same north-south axis with the
tomb palace. There used to be five paralleled single-arch bridges
corresponding to the five-arch palace gate situated 200 meters in its
north. The remaining three bridges were renovated based on the original
abutment and stone banks.»
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Civil and Military Gate
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Civil and Military Gate
«The Civil and Military Gate is the
first gate to the tomb palace. In 1998, the Administration of Dr. Sun
Yat-sen's Mausoleum had its original appearance restored according to
the burial system of the Xiaoling Mausoleum of the Ming Dynasty. At the
foot of the gate there is a "Special Notice" tablet inscribed in
Japanese, German, Italian, English, French and Russian. It was jointly
erected for the preservation of the Ming Tomb in the first year under
the Xuantong Reign of the Qing Dynasty (A.D. 1909) by the Daotai
(Circuit Intendant) of Liangjiang Westernization Bureau and the
magistrate (Prefect) of Jiangning Prefecture.»
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Imperial Tablet Hall
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Imperial Tablet Hall
«The Imperial Tablet Hall was built
under the order of Qing Emperor Kangxi. During his third inspection tour
to southern China in 1699, seeing the buildings mostly in ruins, Kangxi
ordered local officials to renovate them and wrote four characters "zhi
long tang song' (literally meaning "Running the state even better than
Tang Emperor Taizong and Song Emperor Taizu, two successful emperors in
Chinese history") to be inscribed on a tablet by Cao Yin (grandfather of
Cao Xueqin, one of the greatest men of letters in Chinese history).
Another two tablets inscribed with handwriting by Qing Emperor Qianlong
(grandson of Emperor Kangxi) were juxtaposed on both sides.»
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"Special Notice" Stelae
«At the bottom of the red wall on the eastern side of Wenwufang Gate and
the eastern wall of Tablet Hall, stands a stone stele, respectively. The
two stone stelae, 1.50 m high, are carved with four seal characters of
"Te Bie Gao Shi” at their top, meaning special notice, which are
surrounded by cloud and dragon patterns. Below these four characters are
the inscriptions in six languages, namely Japanese, German, Italian,
English, French and Russian, notifying the importance of protecting the
Xiaoling Mausoleum of the Ming Dynasty. The stelae were set up by the
head (Daotai) of Liangjiang Westernization Bureau and the governor of
Jiangning in 1909, the first year of the Xuantong period of the Qing
Dynasty. The inscriptions on the stone stele at the bottom of the
eastern wall of Tablet Hall were re-engraved in modern times. The
special notice translates as the following:
Special Notice: In view of the serious damage to the imperial stelae and
the nearby monuments over the years, Duanfang, the governor-general of
Liangjiang, ordered the erection of fences to protect them. Visitors are
prohibited from crossing the fences or damaging the above-mentioned
imperial stelae and monuments. Wang, head of Liangjiang Westernization
Bureau Yang, governor of Jiangning, June 1909.»
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Sacrificial Censer
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Sacrificial Censer
«In front of the Sacrificial Hall, there
are two Sacrificial Censers, one on the east and the other on the west,
which are actually two small temple-shaped buildings made of yellow and
green glazed materials. The censers are covered with single-eave
gable-and-hip roofs. The gate in the middle of the building's front wall
leads to a small chamber where pieces of paper (on which characters are
inscribed to call back the spirit of the dead) used for sacrificial
ceremonies are burnt.»
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Sacrificial Hall
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Sacrificial Hall
«Sacrificial Hall, also known as Xiaoling
Hall, is one of the main buildings of the Ming Tomb. It was built in the
16th year under the reign of Emperor Hong Wu (A.D. 1383) for placing the
memorial tablets of Zhu Yuanzhang and his empress and concubines. It has
a huge wooden structure with 9 bays in width and 5 in depth based on
three layers of stone Xumizuo, with 56 stone column bases left behind
today. The original building was destroyed during the war in the 3rd
year under the reign of Qing Emperor Xian Feng (A.D. 1853). It was
rebuilt during the reign of Qing Emperor Tongzhi.»
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Zhu Yuanzhang (1328–1398)
«Zhu Yuanzhang (1328–1398),
posthumously known as the Hongwu Emperor, was the founder of the Ming
Dynasty and is interred at the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum.
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Located at the southern foot of Purple Mountain in Nanjing, the
mausoleum is a massive architectural complex that reflects the
grandeur and power of the early Ming period. Construction of the site
began in 1381 during his lifetime and continued until his death,
eventually incorporating the tomb of Empress Ma, whose remains were
moved there after her passing in 1382.
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The mausoleum is renowned for its harmonious integration with the
natural landscape, serving as the prototype for subsequent imperial
tombs throughout the Ming and Qing dynasties. Visitors to the site
traverse the "Sacred Way," which is lined with impressive stone
sculptures of mythical creatures and animals, symbolizing the
solemnity and protection of the imperial burial ground. Today, the
Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum is a designated UNESCO World Heritage site,
recognized both for its profound historical significance in shaping
Chinese imperial funerary traditions and its enduring legacy in
Nanjing.
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Left: «Portrait of Zhu Yuanzhang, the founding emperor of the
Ming Dynasty - Zhu Yuanzhang (1328-1398), courtesy name Guorui,
originally named Zhu Chongba and Zhu Xingzong, was the founding
emperor of the Ming Dynasty. Born in Haozhou (present-day Fengyang,
Anhui), he was poor in his youth and briefly attended Huangjue Temple.
In 1352, he joined the Red Turban Army led by Guo Zixing to rebel
against the Yuan Dynasty. In 1367, he launched a northern expedition
to the Central Plains under the slogan "Expel the barbarians and
restore China." In January 1368, he established the Ming Dynasty, with
its capital at Yingtianfu (present-day Nanjing), and adopted the reign
title "Hongwu." During his reign, Zhu Yuanzhang abolished the position
of prime minister and established the Three Offices; implemented the
garrison system in military affairs; promoted water conservancy and
reduced taxes in economics; greatly promoted the imperial examination
system and established the Imperial Academy; and established the
"Unjust State" in diplomacy. Under his rule, social production
gradually recovered and developed, a period known as the "Hongwu
Reign." In 1398, the thirty-first year of the Hongwu reign, Zhu
Yuanzhang died at the age of 71. His posthumous title was "Emperor
Gao, who opened the way and established the dynasty, was extremely
sagacious and divine, benevolent, righteous, martial and virtuous, and
accomplished," and his temple name was "Taizu." He was buried in the
Xiaoling Mausoleum. He passed the throne to his grandson, Zhu Yunwen.»
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Right: «Portrait of Empress Xiaoci Gao, commonly known as
Empress Ma - Empress Xiaoci Gao, commonly known as Empress Ma
(1332-1382), was a native of Suzhou, Anhui Province, and the first
wife of Zhu Yuanzhang, the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty.
Empress Ma was the adopted daughter of Guo Zixing, the leader of the
Haozhou uprising. In 1352, she married Zhu Yuanzhang, then a general
in the Red Turban Army. In January 1368, she was made empress. In
August 1382, she died at the age of 51 and was first buried in the
Xiaoling Mausoleum, with the posthumous title "Xiaoci". In 1403, she
was further honored with the posthumous title "Xiaoci Zhaoxian Zhiren
Wende Chengtian Shunsheng Gao Empress". In 1538, she was further
honored with the posthumous title "Xiaoci Zhenhua Zheshun Renhui
Chengtian Yusheng Zhide Gao Empress". The History of Ming praises
Empress Ma: "The empress was benevolent and wise, and loved books and
history. She was diligent in managing the inner palace, and in her
spare time studied ancient teachings. She was a model mother to the
world, and her benevolent virtue was evident."»
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Inner Red Gate
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Inner Red Gate
«The Inner Red Gate was a three-arch gate,
with each arch fit with two vermilion door panels and covered with
yellow glazed tiles. It is said that passing this gate means stepping
into the nether world. Therefore, it is also called Yinyang Gate.»
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Ascension Bridge
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Ascension Bridge
«Ascension Bridge, 57.5 meters long and
26.6 meters wide, was a single-arch stone bridge with carved stone
railings. After Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang died, his coffin was carried
across the bridge to be buried, hence resulting in this name. 7.8 meters
away behind it is the wall containing the tumulus.»
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Ming Tower
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Ming Tower
«The Ming Tower displays the architectural system
initiated at the Ming Tomb. Built atop the wall containing tumulus, it
is the peak of all buildings of the Ming Tomb. There are three arched
doors in its southern wall, and one in each of the other three walls.
The inside floor is paved with square bricks. Its yellow glazed
double-eave roof with nine ridges (consisting of one horizontal ridge on
the top, known as the main ridge, which is connected to four vertical
ridges and four diagonal ridges) was destroyed during the reign of Qing
Emperor Xianfeng.»
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Tomb Mound
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Screen walls on the eastern and the western sides
«The wall
containing tumulus is flanked by splay screen walls on the eastern and
the western sides. They were laid with bricks and seated on stone
Xumizuo. The waist of the Xumizuo and the four corners of the walls are
decorated with brick-carved patterns of flowers including pomegranates,
evergreens and peonies. Their standard, meticulous and vivid style are
regarded as representatives of the brick carvings produced in the early
Ming Dynasty.»
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Tomb Mound
«The Tomb Mound, 325m to 400m in diameter at the
bottom, is a large circular mound behind the wall containing tumulus. It
was originally a small hill called Dulongfu (literally meaning
"Single-dragon Mound") at the southern foot of Zhongshan Mountain.
Around the Tomb Mound, a 1,000-meter-long brick wall based on stone
slabs forms the ramparts. Under the Tomb Mound is the underground
chambers of Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang and Empress Ma of the Ming Dynasty.»
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See Also
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