Zhaoling is the burial tomb of Emperor Taizong and Wendeshi, located in Lintong District, Shaanxi Province, China. It is one of the most famous royal tombs in the Tang Dynasty and one of the most complete and magnificent royal tombs in the world.
Zhaoling was founded in 647 AD and took nearly 20 years to complete. The mausoleum is dominated by red and covers an area of about 300,000 square meters. It consists of two parts, the square and the forest of steles in front, and the main body of the mausoleum in the back.
The main buildings in Zhaoling include Shinto, Stone Horse, Monument Pavilion, Tomb Gate, Tomb Road and Underground Palace. There are stone horses, sheep and lions on both sides of Shinto, which shows the majestic momentum of the Tang Dynasty. There is a tablet pavilion above the gate of the mausoleum, and the inscription records Li Shimin's achievements. The pyramid-shaped mound is about 100 meters long, leading to the underground palace, where it is buried with the stone.
The architecture of Zhaoling is exquisite and meticulous, showing the great momentum and superb architectural technology of the Tang Dynasty. The scale of the mausoleum shows the majesty and status of Emperor Taizong. At the same time, Zhaoling is also the burial place of Empress Wende, which embodies the unity of deep feelings and political status between Emperor Taizong and Empress Wende.
As an important site in history, Zhaoling is listed as a world cultural heritage, which has attracted the attention and research of many tourists and scholars. It not only showed the culture and architectural art of the Tang Dynasty, but also witnessed the outstanding position and contribution of Emperor Taizong and Empress Wende.
Features of Zhaoling:
1, magnificent: Zhaoling is one of the largest royal tombs in the Tang Dynasty with a vast area and huge building scale. Its magnificent architectural style and exquisite carving show the status and majesty of Emperor Taizong and his empress.
2. Integrate the ancient buildings with the natural landscape: Zhaoling uses the surrounding natural terrain and integrates the design concept of ancient buildings to complement the surrounding landscape. The mausoleum is surrounded by mountains, and the stone horses on both sides of Shinto complement the surrounding landscape, creating a harmonious and natural atmosphere.
3. Treasures of culture and art: Zhaoling has preserved a wealth of cultural relics and artworks, including precious artworks such as stone carvings, murals and cultural relics of the Tang Dynasty. These artworks show the cultural background and artistic style of the Tang Dynasty, which is of great value to the study of art, history and culture in later generations.
4. The model of the royal funeral ceremony in the Tang Dynasty: the construction of Zhaoling reflects the norms and luxury of the royal funeral ceremony in the Tang Dynasty. The layout, architecture and memorial activities of the mausoleum conform to the ancient ritual system, showing the ritual culture and funeral customs of the society at that time.
5. World Cultural Heritage: Zhaoling was listed as a world cultural heritage by UNESCO in 2000, which is internationally recognized as a world-class important cultural heritage. This makes Zhaoling an important tourist attraction, attracting many domestic and foreign tourists to visit and study.