Magnificence of Zhaoling Mausoleum from Ancient to Present

Having buried his wife, Empress Zhangsun, at Zhaoling Mausoleum in the late tenth year during Zhen Guan period of the early Tang, Emperor Taizong issues a rescript called Mt. Jiuzong Bulingzhao in February next year. In this rescript, Zhaoling Mausoleum is explicitly stipulated as the cemetery for his wife and himself, and ministers in literary and military and royal relatives are called on to be buried there after death. The rescript reads:“Those ministers and officials who has made meritorious services and contributions to the country are persons of loyalty and righteousness. Some serve in civil affairs, some in war fighting, they all have devoted much to the peace and prosperity of the country. What impressive and unforgettable memories when recalling those hard passed years! Now, they go to another world to enjoy their freedom and quiet. If their spirits still exist, it would be a delighted thing to call them back and settled down on the mountain, facing each other and standing by each other. In past, the emperor of Han Dynasty had his ministers and generals buried with him by presenting them articles, inner and outer coffins, shroud etc for their single-hearted devotion and deep affection to his country. How could I make difference to treat my men! From now on, ministers and officials with merits and

virtues will also be provided with a piece of land and all necessary articles for funeral after their death. This is exactly in compliance with my intention to express my gratitude and thanks to them.”Subsequently, the supplement to the rescript is issued, allowing the offspring of royal ancestors to be buried together. That is‘it is allowed to be buried together if the offspring intend to follow their fathers’footsteps.’At the call of Emperor Taizong, those important ministers and royal relatives all take it a great honor to serve as a companion to the emperor after death. During the periods from Zhen Guan to Kai Yuan, hundreds of prominent and prestigious people are buried here and thereby form a huge imperial mausoleum. According to Tang Huiyao- Peiling Mingwei, the number of people buried, at different times, at Zhaoling Mausoleum totals 155, among which there are 7 concubines, 5 rajas, 10 princesses, 13 prime ministers, 50 with third-grade official titles and 60 honorable generals. But compared to You Shixiong’s Map of Tang Zhaoling Mausoleum for Emperor Taizong and Song Minqiu’s Chang’an Zhi, there are 165 and 166 respectively, excluding sons and grandsons descended from imperial family and other royal servants (imperial concubines with lower status and female court attendants). After an on-the-spot investigation to the whole Mausoleum, it is currently affirmed that there are 193 satellite tombs, among which quite a few are for couples. Therefore, the number reaches well above 200, or 300. The Mausoleum covers an area of over 20,000 hectare with 60 km in perimeter, and is the largest one for feudal emperors in China or even in the world.
　
Zhaoling Mausoleum is mainly featured in its unique arrangement. The resting place for Emperor Taizong is located at the farthest north end of the highest peak of Mt. Jiuzong. Taking the highest peak as center, over 190 satellite tombs are scattered around into a fan shape at both sides and the obverse south of the mountain, surrounding and protecting the Zhaoling Mausoleum just like stars in groups for the North Star. The arrangement is exactly the same as that of Chang’an city in those years, namely the palace for the emperor seats in the north, and the palace for courtiers and imperial relatives in the south, which symbolizes the sovereign power of the emperor. The array of those satellite tombs also embodies the deep-rooted feudal ideology. It mainly adopts two methods to show the relations to the emperor and the rank of people buried together, one is the location of the tomb and the other the size of the tomb.

As for the location, it is divided into two parts, hills around the Mausoleum Mountain and plains at the foot of the mountain. The concubines of Emperor Taizong and the princesses (delivered by the Empress) are buried near the mausoleum mountain. Till now, there are 3 tombs found to have this privilege, namely they are Weizheng Tomb, Aishinasimo Tomb (Li Simo) and Ashinashermo Tomb (unconfirmed). In front of Weizheng Tomb lies a small-scaled tomb without heaped earth (probably damaged), which is supposed to be one of the people who accompanied Weizheng after death. Weizheng, serving as an excellent minister at court in Zhen Guan period, has won high praises from Emperor Taizong, saying,“The flourish after Zhen Guan period is attributed to Weizheng.”As for Ashinasimo and Ashinasher, they are the good examples of Tujue nationality for their success in assuming the posts of Governors in the imperial court to serve for Tang dynasty. Most of the princesses, princes (not delivered by the Empress) and ministers are buried in the plain area at the mountain foot. Obviously, people buried on the mountain near the Mausoleum have a high status, and those buried in the plain area are regarded with lower ranks.

As for the size, they are classified into five grades accordingly. Mausoleums in big sizes are naturally built on mountains. At present, only Weizheng Tomb and Tomb of empress Wei are found to fall into this group. Then comes the second group, the small earth hummock. As its name suggests, such tombs are heaped like a cup putting onto the ground upside down. Except for a few ones, tombs for emperors and important ministers in Qin and Han dynasties are included into this group. In the same period, the heaped earth is called Shanling (the higher part of a mountain). Therefore, the sizes of such tombs are a bit of large. Currently, only three tombs for Princess Changle, Chengyang and Xincheng are listed in this group. And they are also located near to the main mausoleum mountain. The third are tombs in Xiangshan shape. They are built into cone-shaped hills connecting up with each other like stretching mountains, however, in writing theeey are proclaimed as Xiangshan Shap. There are four in this group, namely, Lijing Tomb, Liji Tomb (Xu Maogong), Ashinasimo Tomb and Ashinasher Tomb. Since Xiangshanxing Tombs are built after those for accomplished ministers in West Han dynasty, such as Huo Qubing and Wei Qing who are heroes defending their land against Xiongnu nationality, they are also belonged to the ones in high rank. The fourth are common cone-shaped tombs that form the majority of satellite tombs of Zhaoling Mausoleum such as Yuchi Jingde Tomb, Fang Xuanling Tomb, Cheng Yaojin Tomb, etc. The fifth are those ones without heaped earth pointed upward. Such tombs are very popular in Shang and Zhou dynasties, and the grade of these tombs can only be told from the inside arrangement. But within the
territory of Zhaoling Mausoleum, only the mausoleum of the accomplished minister, Gao Shilian, can be attributed to this group though his funeral has been made grand and solemn. All the rest tombs in this group are belonged to concubines with low ranks and maids-in-waiting. But it is necessary to make it clear that the ranks of those tombs scattered in plain areas are judged by the way they are heaped rather than the distance from their locations to the highest peek of Zhaoling Mausoleum. Usually those tombs are arranged according to the time when they are built. The ones built earlier lie closer to the mausoleum mountain and vice versa. Up to now, the number of satellite tombs whose masters have been confirmed reaches 70, and those already excavated are 40.