There are thirteen imperial tombs of the Ming Dynasty scattered over an area of forty square kilometers inChangping Districtto the northwest ofBeijing. Construction of the necropolis spanned more than two hundred years, almost throughout the entire Ming Dynasty: The first tomb was built in 1409, and the last one in 1644. There is the magnificentYanshanMountain, running from west to east, encircling the Ming tombs on three sides. The thirteen Ming Dynasty imperial tombs are Changling of Emperor Cheng Zu (Zhu Di), Xianling of Emperor Ren Zong (Zhu Gaozhi), Jingling of Emperor Xuan Zong (Zhu Zhanji), Yuling of Emperor Ying Zong (Zhu Qizhen), Maoling of Emperor Xian Zong (Zhu Jianshen), Tailing of Emperor Xiao Zong (Zhu Youtang), Kangling of Emperor Wu Zong (Zhu Houzhao), Yongling of Emperor Shi Zong (Zhu Houzong), Zhaoling of Emperor Mu Zong (Zhu Zaihou), Dingling of Emperor Shen Zong (Zhu Yijun), Qingling of Emperor Guang Zong (Zhu Changluo), Deling of Emperor Xi Zong (Zhu Youjiao) and Siling of Emperor Si Zong (Zhu Youjian).
Origin of the Ming Tombs The Ming Dynasty was founded by Zhu Yuanzhang, who madeNanjinghis capital, under the reign title of Hong Wu. He was on the throne for thirty-one years and was buried in Xiaoling inNanjingafter his death. The second emperor was Zhu Yunwen, Zhu Yuanzhang's grandson, whose reign title was Jian Wen during the four years he was on the throne. Zhu Yunwen's uncle, Zhu Di, the Prince of Yan, who was inBeijingat that time, sent troops southward to seize the throne for himself. After a war of several years, Zhu 135 finally occupied the Ming capital ofNanjingand became emperor. As Zhu Di occupiedNanjing, the palace was ablaze and Emperor Jian Wen (Zhu Yunwen) disappeared without a trace. Some say he burned himself, others say he became a monk. Still, no one knows.
After Emperor Cheng Zu (Zhu Di) ascended to the throne inNanjing, he changed his reign title to Yong Le. Staying inBeijingfor many years, he had taught Emperor Zhu Di the strategic, military importance of what is nowChina's capital dh7. In the 4th year of the Yong Le reign (1406), one million laborers were sent to begin building projects inBeijing. In the 5th year of the Yongle reign, Empress Xu died. Since Emperor Zhu Di did not plan to build a mausoleum inNanjing, he sent Zhao Yu, a high official, Liao Junqing, a diviner, and other people north to choose auspicious sites for imperial burial grounds.
In the 7th year of the Yong Le reign (1409), the burial grounds were selected. Emperor Zhu Di, in visiting the place himself, found a vast area with good soil and ringed by hills. Zhu Di, gratified that his diviners found the signs for this location agreeable, ordered forty square kilometers in this area dedicated to the necropolis. Thus construction of the Changling Mausoleum began.
