The Star Worshipping Gate
The Star Worshipping Gate with the Soul Tower in the backround. It leads into one of the Ming Tombs. All the tombs were built in accordance to the principles of Feng-Shui. These tombs housed corpses of the Ming Emperors. There are 13 tombs of the Ming Emperors which lie at the foot of the Tianshou Mountains.
The Soul Tower is a "symbolic structure of the mausoleum", according to the sign. In other words, it sits right above the tomb itself and tells you which person the tomb belongs to. This one was originally wooden, constructed during the Ming Dynasty, in 1424. It was reconstructed during the Qing Dynasty (1785-87) and made with stone, as you see it here.
This is Chang Ling, which holds the tomb of the Yongle Emperor (1402-1424). He was responsible for moving the capital of China from Nanjing to Beijing. He was also known to be tolerant of all three of China's major religions: Confucianism, Daoism and Buddhism.
It is said that 16 concubines were buried alive with Emperor Yongle's corpse, to keep him company in the next world.
The Star Worshipping Gate
The Star Worshipping Gate with the Soul Tower in the backround. It leads into one of the Ming Tombs. All the tombs were built in accordance to the principles of Feng-Shui. These tombs housed corpses of the Ming Emperors. There are 13 tombs of the Ming Emperors which lie at the foot of the Tianshou Mountains.
The Soul Tower is a "symbolic structure of the mausoleum", according to the sign. In other words, it sits right above the tomb itself and tells you which person the tomb belongs to. This one was originally wooden, constructed during the Ming Dynasty, in 1424. It was reconstructed during the Qing Dynasty (1785-87) and made with stone, as you see it here.
This is Chang Ling, which holds the tomb of the Yongle Emperor (1402-1424). He was responsible for moving the capital of China from Nanjing to Beijing. He was also known to be tolerant of all three of China's major religions: Confucianism, Daoism and Buddhism.
It is said that 16 concubines were buried alive with Emperor Yongle's corpse, to keep him company in the next world.