Northwest of Xi'an City seat in Liquan County is a thrusting peak named Jiuzong Mountain, on which lies the largest of the Tang imperial tombs -- Zhaoling, the tomb of Li Shimin, Emperor Tai Zong, one of the most brilliant rulers in Chinese history. Li Shimin (599-649) was the second emperor of the Tang Dynasty, but its actual founder. Zhaoling Mausoleum is the largest among the 18 mausoleums of the Tang Dynasty. It is also the largest royal mausoleum in the world.
Zhaoling Mausoleum established a precedent for building imperial tombs on mountainsides in the Tang Dynasty. It is clear that to build tombs in this way was not for frugality and simplicity but to demonstrate the ruler’s power and stature through the magnificent mountain and also to prevent looting and grave-breaking. Another important reason for Li Shimin to build the tomb on Mt. Jiuzhong is because of its good fengshui. The steep Jiuzong Mountain is 1,188 metres above sea level, with the Jingshui River winding across the front and the Weishui River flowing at the rear. So we can see, Jiugong Mountain has the best fengshui.
The construction of Zhao Mausoleum was a huge project, lasting for about 107 years from 636 AD when the Empress Zhangsun was first buried in Zhaoling Mausoleum to 743 AD. The imperial burial ground covers an area of 200 square kilometers with a circumference of 60 kilometers. Historical data tell us Zhaoling’s underground palace was tunneled into the mountain. The tomb passage, about 230 metres long, was guarded by five stone gates. The tomb chamber, as luxurious as any, is flanked by eastern and western wings in which are arrayed stone boxes containing sacrificial objects.
More than 180 attendant tombs of Li Shiming’s concubines and daughters, distinguished court officials and generals fan out from the imperial tomb. Highest of all on the mountain, Li Shimin’s tomb occupied the commanding position while attendant tombs were placed on either side, lower on the mountain, indicating the Emperor’s supremacy. Each attendant tomb had its own archway and inscribed stone tablet as courtiers felt honored to be buried with the Emperor.
In the mausoleum against Jiuzong Mountain, there was no gold or jade or anything precious except for some earthen and wooden wares. These were placed here to pacify thieves; their existence or loss was not important. From the excavated parts of the mausoleum, we could now say that the whole project was lavish instead of thrifty. Therefore, in setting the tomb against the mountain they protected it from theft rather than the initial propose as requested by the empress.
The stone statues of 14 kings are preserved in the sacrificial altar of the mausoleum. Besides, there were the world-famous basso-relievos of 6 coursers, but they were destroyed in 1914. Two of them were shipped in secret to the museum of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, US, while the other four had been repaired and displayed in Shanxi Province. These stone carvings fully manifested the art style of the paintings and stone carvings in the early Tang Dynasty.
Zhaoling as a witness to the development from the beginning of Tang to its eventual prosperity. It is also a valuable treasury to help us know the culture, politics and economy of the Chinese feudal society; kept here are large quantities of calligraphy, sculpture and painting works. The epitaphs here written by reputed calligraphers can be said to be the norm of calligraphy in the beginning of Tang Dynasty. Murals here are a portraiture of the real life in Tang Dynasty with a romantic touch. Glazed pottery figures are daintily designed with bright colors.
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