Preface

The Zhao Mausoleum, situated at Mt. Jiuzhong in Liquan County, Shaanxi Province is the tomb of Emperor Taizong of the Tang dynasty. It initiates the tradition of using mountains as the tomb sites of the Tang emperors. The dominant peak of Mt. Jiuzhong is 1,188m in elevation, and the Cemetery of the Zhao Mausoleum is 60km in circumference. It covers an area of more than 20,000 hectares and is surrounded by 167 satellite tombs. The construction of the whole mausoleum lasts for over 120 years, making it the largest imperial mausoleum in China, even in the world.

Mt. Jiuzhong is a famous mount situated in Weibei, with its momentum hovering the whole Guanzhong area. The dominant peak as one of the nine towering peaks surpasses all the others. Since Qin and Han, the mount has always been covered by fine woods. It is constantly enveloped in clouds and thick purple vapors. There are tinkling fountains and rare animals everywhere, a good place for emperors and their officials to go galloping and hunting. At the early years of Yang when Emperor Taizong were fighting wars and hunting, he had enjoyed the beautiful scenery and daring steepness of the mount many times. Besides, Mt. Jiuzhong lies against hills and the Jing River and is guarded by hills in the front. In the front of the mount, there lies the open Guanzhong Plan and vast Wei River. This makes it absolutely a best site for tomb according to the philosophy of feng shui (geomantic omen) in ancient China. Therefore, as early as in the 10th year of Zhen Guan, Emperor Taizong selected Mt. Jiuzhong as the “home” of himself and his empress when placing the coffin of Empress Zhangsun temporarily, and named it the Zhao Mausoleum.
　
With its majestic and forceful hill tomb, huge and grand cemetery, perfect feng shui and hundreds of celebrities buried around, the Zhao Mausoleum possesses many No.1 in China and in the world. Besides, during its construction, Emperor Taizong designated Yan Lide, a well-known architectural designer as the official specifically responsible for tomb construction. All these have bemisted the Zhao Mausoleum in mystery. People of all ages have tried to unveil it through various approaches, so the design concept, overall layout and building scale etc. of the tomb have been talked about by generations of people interested in history. Like the so called “Scissored but not severed, trimmed, but still massive”, different records and legends have made the Zhao Mausoleum even more like the goddess of Mt. Wushan, so complicated and confusing. Thus, numerous of tourists have been allured here in succession. While worshiping the heavenly Emperor Taizong, they could also seek for those eccentric and wild legends at the mausoleum and enjoy the capriccioso and fancy scenery.

From the 1970s, over 40 satellite tombs of Xu Maogong, Yuchi Jingde, Cheng Yaojin and the concubine Wei around the Zhao Mausoleum have been excavated by the state with thousands of precious relics unearthed. A Zhaoling Museum has been built to hold the relics. The relics of the Zhao Mausoleum reflect scientifically and in details the political situation and common lives during the hundred-year at early Tang. They are the most precious material data for the current people to explore the Tang civilization. The Zhao Mausoleum possesses relics in big quantity, full variety and high grade which have extensive and far-reaching influence both home and abroad.
　
　　To develop tourism at the Zhao Mausoleum and fully reflect the rich and unique tourism resources, we have prepared this material starting from the secrets of the tomb hill and the scenery and legends of the cemetery etc. for the convenience of Mr. Li.
This document is composed of 3 chapters, namely the Secrets of the Zhao Mausoleum, the Legends of the Zhao Mausoleum and the Daydreams about the Zhao Mausoleum etc. In Chapter 1, we try to discuss rather scientifically some secrets in the architecture of the tomb widely concerned but not familiar to people based on historical literature. In Chapter 2, we collect and compiled those legends spreading around this area into some stories. In Chapter 3, we list some thoughts for the development in allusion to the legends.

　　As limited by our level and the tight schedule, this material might be far from complete. We hope you could forgive this. By the way, this is only a collection of data to serve for the development of tourism market, and it is totally not academic. All historical data quoted are not verified and all argumentations not carefully demonstrated. The readers should make their own authentication.