Why were the tombs of Emperor Taizong, Li Shimin and the eldest grandson built on the mountain?

Li Shimin, the second emperor of the Tang Dynasty, personally chose Jiujunshan Zhaoling Cemetery in the early years of Zhenguan, and it took thirteen years to build the cemetery. In the tenth year of Zhenguan (AD 636), Emperor Wende of Emperor Taizong died and was first buried here in winter and November. Thirteen years later, Emperor Taizong died in the twenty-third year of Zhenguan. In August of that year, it was buried with Emperor Wende's shield, and the back tomb was sealed, so the mausoleum project ended.

Zhao Mausoleum of Tang Dynasty is the burial tomb of Li Shimin and his eldest grandson of Emperor Taizong, and it is the largest of the 8 tombs in Guanzhong/KLOC-0. Now, when people stand in front of Zhaoling, they can see the "Zhaoling Six Horses" in the corridor. These six horses are the ones that Li Shimin often rode, symbolizing the great martial arts of Emperor Taizong. Since the Qin and Han Dynasties, emperors' tombs have generally adopted civil tombs, or hollowed out mountains to build tombs in the mountains. However, unlike the Tang Zhaoling, it was built on the mountain, which created the architectural style of the imperial mausoleum in the Tang Dynasty. So why did Li Shimin make such a choice?

According to historical records, Emperor Taizong lived in Zhenguan for ten years, and Emperor Taizong was in critical condition. On her deathbed, she said to Emperor Taizong, "Don't pay too much for this death. And those who are buried, hidden, and want to be invisible. Since ancient times, sages have always respected frugality, but there is no way in the world, and they have worked hard for people of insight to make the world laugh. " But please be buried because of the mountain. There is no need to raise the grave or use the coffin. All you need is shingles, be frugal and thin, and don't forget my concubine. "Emperor Taizong followed his grandson's last words, and after the queen collapsed, he temporarily settled her in a newly carved grotto in jiusan, named Zhaoling. And decided to make Zhaoling his home and be buried with the queen after his death.

Judging from these records, the concept of "being buried because of mountains" was put forward by his eldest grandson, and Emperor Taizong, who deeply loved the queen, built a mausoleum here and was buried with the stone. However, Emperor Taizong once said, "The empress is thrifty, and her last words are buried thinly, thinking that' the thief only wants rare things, and if there are no rare things, how can he expect them'? This is also my original intention. The king takes the world as his home, why should things be in the mausoleum? They are his own. Today, because Jiuzhang Mountain is the mausoleum, there are only a hundred stone cutters, and they are only in shape, and they are tired of stealing. Let the descendants of the immortals be regarded as laws. " When I say "my original intention is unchanged", I actually mean "taking the mountain as the mausoleum". It was his decision and choice to choose Jiuzhang Mountain as the mausoleum for him and the queen.

We don't know who put forward the idea that Tang Zhaoling was built on a mountain. But one thing is certain, the concept of the eldest grandson queen must have an important influence on the choice of Emperor Taizong. Moreover, the Tang Zhaoling is backed by mountains, surrounded by water behind the mountains, and in front of it is Ma Pingchuan, which is bright and open, meaning that the world is peaceful, and its geomantic omen is the best among the imperial tombs in China.