The Ming Tomb(Ding)

The Ming Tombs are about 50 kilometers from Beijing at Tianshou Mountain. They were built within a natural basin, butted on two sides by the Yanshan mountain range, which was said to stop winds carrying evil spirits into the area. Of the sixteen Ming Emperors, thirteen are buried in this complex.
 
Changling is the largest and best preserved of the tombs. Built on a south-facing slope, the Changling??s three courtyards are entirely surrounded by walls. The first courtyard extends from the massive three-arched entrance gate to the Gate of Eminent Favor. On the east of this courtyard stands a pavilion, containing an ancient stone tablet and statues of camels and dragons. Inside the second courtyard stands the Hall of Eminent Favor.
   The central stairway, which leads up to this great hall is carved with designs of sea beasts and dragons. To the east and west of the hall stand two ritual stoves where bolts of silk and inscribed scrolls were set aflame as offerings to the emperor??s ancestors.
 
The dimensions of the Hall of Eminent Favor closely match the dimensions of the Hall of Supreme Harmony in the Forbidden City, which makes it one of the largest wooden buildings in China. Four giant wooden columns and 28 smaller pillars support this structure, The four large columns are extraordinary for the fact that they are each a single trunk of Phoebe nanmu.
Date:2008-3-29