Ming Jing Tomb

Ming Jing Tomb

Ming Jing Tomb is a cultural tourism attraction.

Ming Jing Tomb, located at the foot of the eastern peak of Tianshou Mountain (also known as Black Mountain), is the joint burial mausoleum of the fifth emperor of the Ming Dynasty, Emperor Xuanzong Zhang (temple name Xuanzong), Zhu Zhanji, and his empress, Lady Sun.

The construction of Jing Tomb began after Emperor Xuanzong’s death. After ascending the throne, Emperor Yingzong Zhu Qizhen promptly sent people to the Tianshou Mountain imperial tomb area to select a site. On the eleventh day of the first month in the tenth year of the Xuande era (1435), the formal construction of the tomb commenced. Eunuch Mu Jing, Marquis Fengcheng Li Xian, Minister of Works Wu Zhong, and Vice Minister Cai Xin were appointed to oversee the project. Prince of Cheng Zhu Yong, Duke of Xinjian Li Yu, Commander Shen Qing, along with various internal ministries and the Imperial Guard, mobilized a total of 100,000 civilian and military laborers for the task. On the twenty-first day of the sixth month, Emperor Xuanzong was interred. On the nineteenth day of the third month in the seventh year of the Tianshun era (1463), the construction of the tomb was completed. In total, the project spanned 28 years, with intermittent work.

The layout of the mausoleum complex strictly followed the frugal model of Xian Tomb. Its Sacred Way branches eastward from the southern side of the fifth bridge on the Sacred Way of Chang Tomb, stretching approximately 1.5 kilometers, with a single-arch stone bridge built along the way. The orientation of the mausoleum palace is 55 degrees southwest, covering an area of about 25,000 square meters. The Precious City was built in a slender shape, front rectangular and rear circular, according to the terrain. The front two-courtyard rectangle and the rear Precious City are integrated into one structure. Along the central axis are built, in sequence, the Leng’en Gate, Leng’en Hall, the Three Gates, the Lingxing Gate, the Stone Offering Table, the Square City, and the Ming Tower.

On the twenty-seventh day of the fourth month in the fifteenth year of the Jiajing era (1536), Emperor Shizong of Ming, Zhu Houcong, personally visited and inspected the condition of the imperial tombs. He remarked that “the scale of Jing Tomb is particularly small and has suffered much damage, which is unworthy of the great virtues and merits of our Emperor Xuanzong. The halls should be rebuilt, and the foundations elevated to properly honor his legacy.” According to *Illustrated Accounts of Imperial Tombs*, the reconstructed Leng’en Hall of Jing Tomb featured “interlocking dragon pillars, carved beams and rafters, painted caisson ceilings, and gilded lacquer finishes.” The hall included three inner warm chambers, and the imperial seat screen remained preserved even into the Kangxi era. Additionally, during the Jiajing era, a Divine Merit Stele Pavilion was added in front of the tomb.

The platform of the Leng’en Hall within Jing Tomb remains as it was after the reconstruction during the Jiajing era. Judging from the distribution of the remaining foundation stones of the eaves columns, the hall originally had five bays in the front (31.34 meters wide), three bays in depth (16.9 meters), with a rear wing room (8.1 meters wide and 4.03 meters deep). The imperial path stone in the front featured a carving of two dragons playing with a pearl, which was more exquisite and majestic compared to the plain cloud patterns at Xian Tomb.

Between the fiftieth and fifty-second years of the Qianlong era in the Qing Dynasty (1785–1787), the Qing court carried out a large-scale renovation of the Ming imperial tombs. To save on labor and materials, the Leng’en Gate and Leng’en Hall of Jing Tomb were both rebuilt on a smaller scale, while the side halls and the Divine Merit Stele Pavilion were demolished due to damage. Currently, the platforms of the Leng’en Gate and Leng’en Hall still have the pillar foundation stones left from the Qing renovations. Only the stele and platform of the Divine Merit Stele Pavilion remain.

Emperor Xuanzong Zhu Zhanji (1398–1435), of the Han ethnicity, was the eldest son of Emperor Renzong Zhu Gaochi of the Ming Dynasty. After the death of Emperor Renzong, he ascended the throne as the fifth emperor of the Ming Dynasty. He was born on the third day of the second month in the thirty-first year of the Hongwu era (1398) in Yanwang Mansion. On the tenth day of the eleventh month in the ninth year of the Yongle era (1411), he was designated as the Crown Prince. In the twenty-second year of the Yongle era (1424), after Emperor Renzong ascended the throne, he was enthroned as the Crown Prince on the eleventh day of the tenth month.

On the twelfth day of the sixth month in the first year of the Hongxi era (1425), he ascended the throne as emperor. The following year, the era name was changed to Xuande. On the third day of the first month in the tenth year of the Xuande era (1435), he passed away in the Qianqing Palace at the age of 38. His posthumous title was “Xian Tian Chong...” More details about Zhu Zhanji ++

Shisanling Town: a township under the jurisdiction of Changping County. Established as Tailingyuan Township in 1956, renamed Shisanling Commune in 1958, and became Shisanling Township in 1982. Located in the northern part of the county, 1 kilometer from the county seat, it covers an area of 67.9 square kilometers with a population of 14,000. National Highways 108 and 110 pass through the area. It governs 16 village committees including Jian Tou, Shipailou, Nanxin Village, Xiānrén Dòng, Dàgōngmén, Kānglíngyuán, Wáng Zhuāng, Tàilíngyuán, Hú Zhuāng, Xīshānkǒu, Xiǎogōngmén, Dàolíng Jiān, Wànniángfén, Déshèngkǒu, Guǒ Zhuāng, and Chánglíngyuán, plus one residential committee, Beixin Village. It is one of Beijing’s top ten fruit-producing townships, known for its mopan persimmons... More details about Shisanling Town ++

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