Ming Dynasty's Tai Tomb

Ming Dynasty's Tai Tomb

Ming Dynasty's Tai Tomb is a cultural tourism attraction.

Ming Dynasty's Tai Tomb, located on the southeastern foothills of Bijia Mountain, also known as "Shijia Terrace" or "Shijia Mountain," is the joint burial mausoleum of the ninth emperor of the Ming Dynasty, Emperor Xiaozong (Zhu Youchang, reign title Hongzhi), and Empress Zhang.

The planning for the Tai Tomb began after the death of Emperor Xiaozong. The Veritable Records of Emperor Wuzong of Ming states that after Emperor Wuzong ascended the throne, he immediately started arranging the funeral of Emperor Xiaozong. Left Vice Minister of Rites Li Jie, Deputy Director of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau Ni Qian, and Eunuch Dai Yi of the Directorate of Ceremonial told Emperor Wuzong: “There is a place called Shijia Terrace west of the Maoling Tomb, which is an auspicious site for building an imperial mausoleum. The late emperor’s tomb can be constructed there.” Right Censor of the Ministry of Works Xu Tiansi also advised Emperor Wuzong to dispatch court officials proficient in geomancy to re-inspect the site. He also proposed: “If there are doubts, promptly send a letter to Jiangxi and other regions. Seek out many geomancers, extensively inquire about famous mountains, and strive to find a site with strong terrain, concentrated energy, deep soil and water, proper burial methods, and complete vitality—as described by the Song scholar Zhu Xi—so as to properly enshrine the spirit and assist the nation in praying for everlasting mandate from heaven.” The Ministry of Rites also supported this suggestion. Therefore, Emperor Wuzong ordered Eunuchs Fu’an, Li Xing, Qin Guan, and Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites Wang Hua to go to Shijia Terrace to inspect the site, and they ultimately decided to build Emperor Xiaozong’s mausoleum there.

On the fifth day of the sixth month of the eighteenth year of the Hongzhi reign, construction of the tomb officially began, and the tomb was named Tai Tomb. Eunuch Li Xing, Marquis Tan You of Xinning, and Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works Li Su supervised the project. Over ten thousand troops from the Five Military Commander-in-Chiefs' Offices and the Three Great Camps were conscripted for labor. The work took four months, and by the twentieth day of the tenth month of that year at noon, Emperor Xiaozong was laid to rest in the tomb. On the twenty-second day of the third month of the first year of the Zhengde reign (1506), all above-ground structures of the tomb were completed. According to the Veritable Records of Emperor Wuzong of Ming, the entire tomb complex included: “One Gold Well and Precious Mountain City, one Ming Tower, one glazed screen wall, one stele inscribed with the sacred title, an outer wall stretching 142 zhang, three single-character gates, one Incense Hall with five rooms, two left and right side chambers, two paper-burning stoves, one Palace Gate with three rooms, one Divine Kitchen, one Sacrificial Office, one Fire Room, five bridges, one Divine Palace Supervisor’s Office, one Divine Horse Stables, and one Orchard.”

Although the construction of the Tai Tomb took only about ten months, it was not without difficulties. Zhu Yunming’s Nine Dynasties’ Unofficial Records and Sun Xu’s Idle Talks of No Use both document that during the excavation of the Gold Well for the burial chamber, spring water gushed out, “with water jets as large as big cups spraying continuously upward.” Yang Ziqi, an official from the Ministry of Personnel, witnessed this firsthand and reported it truthfully to the imperial court. In ancient geomantic beliefs, water emerging from the Gold Well was considered an ominous sign. As a result, the location of the Tai Tomb had to be changed. At the time, the supervising eunuch Li Xing, who was favored and arrogant due to Emperor Wuzong’s trust, was furious upon hearing criticism of his management of the tomb construction. Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works Li Su, hoping for a speedy completion of the tomb, also believed Yang Ziqi was being meddlesome. They secretly ordered someone to block the spring and submitted a report accusing Yang Ziqi of “slanderous and arrogant speech.” Without investigating the facts, Emperor Wuzong ordered Yang Ziqi to be thrown into prison. Other informed individuals, seeing what happened, dared not bring up the issue again, nor did they dare to speak in defense of Yang Ziqi. Coincidentally, at this time, a newly appointed county magistrate, Qiu Tai from Putian, came to the capital. Seeing the widespread discussion about this matter in the city, he submitted a memorial stating: “Minister Yang’s previous report was very beneficial, because everyone across the country was saying the Tai Tomb had water issues. Had he not spoken up then, and if someone raised the issue after the imperial coffin was buried, reopening the site would release the vital energy, while leaving it closed would leave a lifelong regret. Now, by examining whether there is water or not, this doubt can be resolved.” Emperor Wuzong found this reasonable and ordered Eunuch Xiao Jing of the Directorate of Ceremonial to accompany Yang Ziqi to the Tai Tomb to inspect and verify the situation together.

Emperor Xiaozong of Ming, Zhu Youchang (July 30, 1470 – June 8, 1505), of Han ethnicity, with the reign title Hongzhi, was the ninth emperor of the Ming Dynasty. He was the third son of Emperor Xianzong Zhu Jianshen and his birth mother was Empress Xiaomu, Lady Ji.

Ascending the throne in September of the twenty-third year of the Chenghua reign (1487), Zhu Youchang was kind-hearted and benevolent, practiced frugality, avoided indulgence in pleasure, diligently handled state affairs, emphasized justice, encouraged open expression of opinions, and strived to reverse the corrupt state of politics. He expelled treacherous officials, focused on governance, and promoted upright ministers such as Wang Shu and Liu Daxia. This period is historically known as the “Hongzhi Restoration.” ... More details about Zhu Youchang ++

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