In ancient times, when looking at geomantic omen, we mainly considered the natural conditions such as groundwater level, atmosphere and soil quality, whether it was related to the long-term preservation of coffins and corpses, and did not involve the relationship with future generations. After Qin and Han Dynasties, with the popularity of geomantic omen and homesickness, many superstitious elements began to be mixed in. The aggravation of this superstitious color makes many people think that the location of the cemetery has a direct impact on real life. If the cemetery has good feng shui, it will bring good luck to future generations, otherwise it will be unlucky and make the family decline. Later, an intellectual named Guo Pu wrote a classic book Burial Book. According to the book, as a cemetery, it is a superior and precious place to have the conditions of left Qinglong, right White Tiger, former Suzaku and post-Xuanwu. Guo Pu said this condition, in fact, refers to the mountain with water, pillow mountain with water, back mountain, facing the plain. Emperor Yongle, the founder of the Ming Dynasty, decided to move the capital to Beijing. Liao and others who chose "auspicious land" for Queen Xu at the order of Yongle ran in Beijing for two years and finally found several places to choose from. It is said that Tujiaying, outside Nankou, was first discovered. However, because the emperor's surname is Zhu, and Zhu and pig have the same pronunciation, the emperor thought that once the pig entered the butcher's house, there was nothing good but craning its neck to be slaughtered, and he failed to agree. Another place is at the foot of Yangshan Mountain in the southwest of Changping. Sheep and pigs could have lived in peace, but there is a village behind the mountain called "Wolf Valley". It is not normal for wolves to follow the natural danger of pigs. It has not been adopted. Another place is Yanjiatai in the west of Beijing. Emperor Yongle thought that "Yan Jia" and "Yan Jia" were homophonic and unlucky. Later, Liao presented the drawings of Xitanzhe Temple in Shangjing to the emperor. Yongle thought that although the scenery was good, the place deep in the mountains was narrow, leaving no room for future generations to develop, and he was not selected. Until the seventh year of Yongle, Liao and other talents selected the mausoleum at the foot of Huang Tu Mountain in Changping County, north of Beijing, and made a decision through personal inspection. This is the Ming Tombs area that people later saw.
Regarding the specific situation that this area is regarded as a "treasure house of geomantic omen", Jiang Yikui, an intellectual in the late Ming Dynasty, once described it in "Chang 'an Hakka Dialect": "Looking closely, there are Phoenix Mountain in front, such as Suzaku, and huanghua town, such as Xuanwu Mountain and Zuomang Mountain, that is, Qinglong, Youhuyu, namely White Tiger, and East-West Pass, which will flow to Chaoning River, and a jade belt will surround it for more than 30 miles. It is really simple. People choose to build houses where there are mountains and water. The mountain behind blocked the cold wind, and the water in front provided the benefits of drinking and watering. These are actually the reflection of the simplest life experience. Ancient people died in an accident, so the experience of building a house naturally moved to building a tomb, so there was a saying that building a tomb should first find a "land of feng shui". Of course, Emperor Yongle finally agreed to build a mausoleum under Huangtuling, not only because of the theory of geomantic omen, but also because the mountains here are like screens, which are easy to defend but difficult to attack. Once the garrison guards, you can protect the mausoleum and the capital.
In the seventh year of Yongle (A.D. 1409), a huge mausoleum project was officially started at the foot of Huang Tu Mountain, with more than 400,000 soldiers and civilians. On Judy's birthday this year, the emperor came to Huang Tu to inspect the construction of his first achievement, and led his ministers to drink and sing. In order to please Guan Bai on his birthday, he called this mountain Tianshou Mountain. Judy was overjoyed when she heard this. The ninth five-year plan of the emperor announced that the name of Huangtu Mountain should be changed to Tianshou Mountain, which sounds better.