As can be seen from the map of the Ming Tombs, the Ming Tombs are distributed in different areas of one city (Beijing) in three provinces of China (Jiangsu, Anhui and Hubei). This is different from other dynasties.
Distribution map of Ming tombs
Mausoleums are generally concentrated in one place or two different places. During the Chongzhen period of the Ming Dynasty, Jiang Dejing, assistant minister of the Ministry of Rites, once said to Emperor Chongzhen about the geographical location of the Ming Tombs: "There are three dry dragons in China: the middle dry and prosperous gas is in Zhongdu, which is the ancestral grave of Fengsi; Wang Qi in Nanking became the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum. Wang Qi in Beigan is the tomb of Tianshou Mountain. These three major tasks, the DPRK will be independent, and it is really a blessing for the emperor and the primate. " The Ming Tombs are distributed in different places in the north and south of the great river, which actually has historical reasons. Fengsi ancestral grave is the old burial place of Zhu Yuanzhang's ancestors; Xiaoling Mausoleum is located in Nanjing, which is the seat of Tintin of Zhu Ming Dynasty. The formation of Tianshou Mountain tombs originated from the move of Yongle Emperor to Beijing. Therefore, the theory that the so-called three great dry dragons will dominate one family will be complete, but etiquette deifies it with Feng Shui theory and attaches it to it.
The Ming Tombs belong to the same dynasty, but as far as the mausoleum system is concerned, different periods still have different characteristics. The early tombs were represented by Zhu Yuanzhang's father's mausoleum, which inherited the balanced and symmetrical square mausoleum system in Qin, Han, Tang and Song Dynasties. The mound-shaped mausoleum platform was the center, with a memorial hall in front, square walls and doors on all sides. Since then, Zhu Yuanzhang has built the Xiaoling Mausoleum, and carried out drastic reforms on the mausoleum system, thus laying a brand-new mausoleum system that combines a round treasure city with a square courtyard and leads to a tortuous and deep Shinto. Although the Ming Tombs and Mausoleums in Beijing basically followed the system of Xiao Ling, they also had many improvements and were more perfect, which were more suitable for showing their reverence for Ming Di.
Another feature of the Ming Tombs is that its buildings and historical sites are better preserved than those of its predecessors. The tombs of the Song Dynasty and previous generations were magnificent when they were first built, but today, except for the mausoleum platform and some stone carvings, other buildings have basically disappeared, and even some tombs have been stolen and destroyed. There are many reasons for this. For example, every time a dynasty changes, a new dynasty or a new political group often destroys the palaces and mausoleum buildings of the old dynasty to show hostility to the old dynasty and determination to break with the old dynasty completely. For example, Xiang Yu burned Epang Palace and destroyed the mausoleum of Qin Shihuang, which is a typical example. Moreover, the funerary objects in the mausoleum are mostly treasures. In the period of social unrest, people often destroy tombs in order to steal treasures. In addition, the ancient buildings in China, including the imperial tombs, are mostly wooden buildings, which are in disrepair for a long time. Lightning strikes and fires will inevitably lead to the destruction of buildings. There are several reasons why the Ming Tombs are better preserved and have more remains than Song Ling and its previous generations. First, at the end of the Ming Dynasty, the peasant uprising army only burned the imperial tombs and Xian Er Mausoleum in the south, while the Ming Tombs in Beijing only had Dingling Temple and Ming Lou of Kang and Zhao Er Mausoleum. Although Li Zicheng Peasant Uprising Army once occupied Beijing, it did not completely destroy the Ming Tombs. Second, the rulers of the Qing Dynasty entered the Central Plains only after Li Zicheng defeated the peasant rebels. Although there were frequent wars between them and the Ming Dynasty, in order to strengthen and consolidate their rule, they needed the support of Han intellectuals and literati. Therefore, after the Qing Dynasty made Beijing its capital, in order to soften the relationship between Han and Manchu, it raised the banner of revenging the father's revenge for the subjects of the Ming Dynasty, reburied Emperor Chongzhen with ceremony, and implemented the policy of protecting the Ming Tombs. Therefore, the Ming Tombs in the late Qing Dynasty were not greatly damaged. Third, the government of the Republic of China has also adopted a protection policy for the Ming Tombs.
The precious cultural relics and historic sites left by the Ming Tombs have naturally become an excellent content for people to visit and understand the history of the Ming Dynasty under the excellent situation of the vigorous development of the current world tourism situation. For this reason, this book is divided into three parts: the upper part, the middle part and the lower part, which respectively introduce the tomb owner, mausoleum system, historical evolution and anecdotes of 18 Ming Tombs, and strive to be knowledgeable, illustrated and integrated with learning, knowledge and interest, with a view to promoting the culture of the motherland. However, due to the limited level, omissions and deficiencies are inevitable. I sincerely hope that readers will give me advice, criticize and correct me.