Zhao Mausoleum

Zhaoling, this majestic mausoleum, stands quietly atop the main peak of Jiuyi Mountain in Liquan County, Shaanxi Province. It is the joint burial site of Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin, and Empress Wende, Zhangsun. As the largest of the 18 Tang Tombs in Guanzhong, its grand scale, vast area, numerous accompanying tombs, and rich cultural relics are all breathtaking. 🕰️ The construction of Zhaoling took 13 years, from the initial burial of Empress Wende in the 10th year of the Zhenguan reign to the interment of Emperor Taizong, Li Shimin, in the 23rd year of the Zhenguan reign. It embodied the wisdom and dedication of countless craftsmen. Meticulously designed and overseen by Yan Lide, Zhaoling is more than just a mausoleum; it is a silent history book, telling the glorious chapter of the Tang Dynasty's prosperity. 🌳 The location of Jiuyi Mountain is truly blessed. Surrounded by mountains, the winding Jing River flows through it, and before it lies the vast Guanzhong Plain, with the Wei River flowing through it like a jade belt. This geographical location is not only excellent for feng shui but also symbolizes peace and prosperity, perfectly complementing the achievements of Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin, in both civil and military affairs. 🐎 The "Six Horses of Zhaoling" are undoubtedly the crowning jewels of the mausoleum. These six steeds, loyal companions of Li Shimin throughout his campaigns, are immortalized in high-relief stone carvings at the mausoleum's edge. Each steed possesses a unique posture and expression, as if narrating the days of war and battle. Sadly, "Salu Zi" and "Quanmao Gu" were stolen and shipped to the United States, leaving a lasting legacy for the Chinese people. Today, the remaining four are treasured in the Xi'an Forest of Steles Museum, attracting countless visitors to see their splendor. 🏺 In addition to the "Six Horses of Zhaoling," numerous precious cultural relics have been unearthed from the mausoleum, including statues of chieftains from fourteen states, exquisite pottery figurines, and vibrant Tang Dynasty sancai (three-colored glazed pottery). These artifacts are not only artistic treasures but also vivid reflections of the prosperity and prosperity of the "Zhenguan Reign" during the heyday of the Tang Dynasty. From various perspectives, they showcase the remarkable achievements of the time, encompassing economic, social, and cultural fields, offering a glimpse into the splendor and grandeur of that era. 👑 The system of accompanying burials at Zhaoling is also unique. Emperor Taizong of Tang issued an edict requiring meritorious officials, close relatives, and those who assisted his time in their deeds to be buried alongside him. This measure not only demonstrated his deep affection for his deputies but also underscored the harmonious relationship between the emperor and his subjects during the Tang Dynasty. According to statistics, a total of 154 individuals were buried there, including renowned figures such as Zhangsun Wuji, Cheng Yaojin, and Wei Zheng. Their tombs, like stars surrounding the moon, form a vast complex of accompanying burials within the 300,000-mu (approximately 1,000 acres) Zhaoling cemetery. Many ministers considered it an honor to be buried there, and even their descendants followed their fathers' example. This orderly tradition of accompanying burials has become a unique historical hallmark of Zhaoling. 🌟 Today, Zhaoling has been designated a first-tier National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit and a National AAAA-level Tourist Attraction, attracting visitors from all corners of the world. When you step into this ancient land, it is as if you have traveled through time and space and returned to the magnificent Tang Dynasty.

In 1978, the Zhaoling Museum was officially opened. The Zhaoling Museum mainly displays "The Essence of Excavated Cultural Relics in Zhaoling", "The Forest of Steles in Zhaoling", "The Murals of Tang Tombs in Zhaoling", and "The Essence of Cultural Relics in Zhaoling". I went there earlier. At that time, I only remembered that the Zhaoling Museum was in front of Xu Mao's Tomb, and I also knew about the Six Horses of Zhaoling. The world-famous "Six Horses of Zhaoling" relief is a rare sculpture art treasure in the Tang Dynasty. It was originally placed in the east and west wings of the altar on the north side of the mausoleum. The Six Horses of Zhaoling are six large relief stone carvings erected in the Sima Gate of the North of Emperor Taizong Zhaoling in Liquan County, Xianyang City, Shaanxi Province in the tenth year of Zhenguan in the Tang Dynasty (636 AD). They are "Quanmao Lu", "Shifa Chi", "Bai Ti Wu", "Tele Pi", "Qing Zhui" and "Sa Lu Zi". Among them, the two stone carvings of "Sa Lu Zi" and "Quan Mao Lu" were stolen in 1914 and later collected in the University of Pennsylvania Museum. The other four pieces were also broken and packed, but were intercepted during the theft and are now on display in the Xi'an Forest of Steles Museum. Another time I went to the back mountain. At that time, Zhaoling was just a bare mountain. There might only be the stone stele of Zhaoling of Emperor Taizong of Tang, and other buildings were under construction. Zhaoling is the mausoleum of Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin. It is located on Jiuyi Mountain in Liquan County, about 60 kilometers away from Xi'an. Zhaoling was built according to the terrain of Jiuyi Mountain, setting a precedent for "building a mausoleum on a mountain" in the Tang Dynasty. Zhaoling was built from the tenth year of Zhenguan in the Tang Dynasty (636 AD) to the burial of Li Shimin in the twenty-third year of Zhenguan, which took 13 years. The construction of the mausoleum was large-scale and the architecture was magnificent. With the imperial mausoleum as the center, a huge group of accompanying tombs formed around it. The main distribution range of the accompanying tombs is: from Jiuyi Mountain in the north to Zhao Village of Weishui in the south; from Dongyegu Village in the east to Zhuanghe in the west, 12 kilometers from east to west and 10 kilometers from north to south.

In March of Yangchun, the apricot flowers in the south of Jiujun Mountain were blooming, bathing in the fragrance of 10,000 mu of apricot forests in the mountain bottom village and Dongping village. I stepped into the Tang Zhaoling Scenic Area. Tang Zhaoling is the place where Tang Taizong Li Shimin and Wende Queen Changsun's funeral. It pioneered the model of the Tang Dynasty "Because the mountains are the tombs" system, concentrated the open weather of "Zhenguanzhi", carrying the glory and glory of the Tang Dynasty, and was the peak of the emperor's tomb in the Tang Dynasty. A monument in the architectural history of mausoleums in China and even the world. Step into the gate of the cemetery scenic spot, look up and see the whole picture of Zhaoling. At this time, the apricot flowers on the ridge are blooming, and the apricot flowers are like clouds and snow, and they are against each other with green pine and cypress. Like a colorful picture. The Jiujun Mountain in the distance is unique, the peaks are sudden, the towering, and the Wolong pan. The Zhaoling Tomb backed by the peaks is integrated with the mountain, and stands tall. "Looking up is over the hundred and the thousand, the next is thousands of miles", the sky is magnificent. Along the Shendao, the stone carvings on both sides were solemn, as if they were telling the majesty of the old Datang. I stopped and looked at them. These stone carvings seemed to have life. They took me through time and space and returned to the great Tang Dynasty, which was "nine days to open the palace, and all the nations came to worship the crown flow." For me, the trip to Zhaoling is not only a encounter with the natural beauty, but also a dialogue with history. Tang Taizong has rubbed his Xiongtuba industry into the mountains and rivers. In this ancient land, I seem to feel Li Shimin's Xiongxuan. Touch the pulse of history. History and reality blend here, let me know that the years flow, only traditional culture and national spirit can cross time and space, shine, lead us back to the prosperity of the world.

Zhaoling is the joint burial mausoleum of Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin, and Empress Zhangsun. It is located on Jiuyi Mountain in Yanxia Town, Liquan County, Xianyang City. It is the beginning of the Tang mausoleums built on the mountain. Most of the main buildings in the mausoleum are modern constructions. You can see replicas of the famous Six Horses of Zhaoling Mausoleum, as well as monuments of emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties in Zhaoling Mausoleum. The overall scenic area is not very large, and there are not as many ancient stone carvings and stone sculptures as in other Tang mausoleums.

Zhaoling is the joint burial mausoleum of Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin, and Empress Wende, Changsun. It is located on Jiuyi Mountain, 22.5 kilometers northwest of Liquan County, Xianyang City, Shaanxi Province. It is a representative imperial mausoleum of the Tang Dynasty and is known as the "Famous Mausoleum of the World". Zhaoling Museum has a rich collection of cultural relics, among which Feibai calligraphy is world-famous! There is also Yuanjia Village nearby, which is very good and a benefit for foodies

Tang Zhaoling is the emperor's Mausoleum of Li Shimin, Emperor Taizong of Tang Dynasty. The scenic spot is on the mountain and on the Panshan Highway about 400 meters below the mountain. It rained in the middle of the day and the mountain was foggy. After visiting the scenic spot, it felt not as big as it had imagined. The whole scenic area is arranged in a zigzag shape. The middle part is the main road. There are tablets on both sides for generals and ministers of the Tang Dynasty. After entering the gate, the terrain tends to rise until the innermost part. There are four steps in the main road, each of which has a building site. The last one should be the location of the emperor's mausoleum and the back hill. On the day of the tour, the fog was heavy and the landscape could not be seen clearly. However, the mausoleum gave the impression of solemnity and grandeur, which highlighted the status of the Tang Dynasty's flourishing emperor. Tang Zhaoling has a high historical significance and value. But at present, the scenic spot feels slightly simple and needs further development and repair.

The tickets I bought on Ctrip said they were for Zhaoling and the museum. The linked navigation also led directly to the entrance of Zhaoling. But when I arrived at the entrance of the scenic area, I was told that the Ctrip tickets were not available and I had to buy them separately for 60 yuan each. Thinking that this was the tomb of Emperor Li Shimin of the Tang Dynasty, I bought the tickets to go in. But I was disappointed. The tomb had been robbed a long time ago. There was nothing left except the Six Horses and the ruins. And the whole scenic area only takes 10 minutes. But many people took the wild path to climb to the top of the tomb. On the way to Zhaoling, there are the tomb of Princess Changle and the tomb of Concubine Wei, who was buried with Zhaoling Mausoleum. But they charge an additional 40 yuan each. This is the most cost-effective of all the tombs I have visited. Poor Li Er, he was so great when he was alive and so miserable after his death. His tomb was robbed and even his bones could not be preserved. How sad.

Tang Zhaoling Mausoleum is the tomb of Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin, one of the greatest emperors in Chinese history. The grand palace ruins show the great achievements of this emperor. The mausoleum is built on a mountain, which looks grand and majestic. Although it has not been excavated, standing on the top of Zhaoling Mausoleum and overlooking the grand burial garden and the world-famous sculptures of the Six Horses of Zhaoling Mausoleum, nostalgia suddenly surges in your heart.