The Six Southern Song Imperial Tombs

The Six Southern Song Imperial Tombs

The Six Southern Song Imperial Tombs is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

The Six Southern Song Imperial Tombs are located on Can Gong Mountain in Gaobu Town, Shaoxing City, 18 kilometers from downtown Shaoxing. They include the imperial tombs of six emperors of the Southern Song Dynasty: Emperor Gaozong’s Yongsi Tomb, Emperor Xiaozong’s Yongfu Tomb, Emperor Guangzong’s Yongchong Tomb, Emperor Ningzong’s Yongmao Tomb, Emperor Lizong’s Yongmu Tomb, and Emperor Duzong’s Yongshao Tomb—hence the name “Six Southern Song Imperial Tombs.” In addition, there are also the tomb of Emperor Huizong of the Northern Song Dynasty, the tomb of Empress of Emperor Zhezong, the tomb of Emperor Huizong’s empress, and Emperor Gaozong’s empress. Covering an area of 2.25 square kilometers, it is the largest imperial tomb complex in southern China. Each tomb complex includes both an upper and lower palace, featuring complete functions and a well-structured layout.

Taking Emperor Gaozong’s Yongsi Tomb as an example, according to the "Si Ling Lu" written by Song dynasty scholar Zhou Bidai, the Yongsi Tomb was divided into an upper and lower palace. The lower palace included an outer fence gate, the Lingxing Gate, enclosing walls, a hall gate, the Da Yaozi, the Offering Hall, and the stone burial chamber. The Southern Song court originally planned to return the imperial remains to the ancestral tombs in Yiluo (today’s Gongxian County, Henan Province) after reclaiming the Central Plains, which is why the temporary resting place was called a “Zan Palace” (meaning temporary palace). In the 22nd year of the Zhi Zheng era of the Yuan Dynasty (1285), Yang Lianzhenja, the head of Tibetan Buddhism in southern China, led people to ransack the Six Southern Song Imperial Tombs, smashing the coffins and looting countless precious burial items. Fortunately, Tang Jue, a righteous man from Shanyin, and others got wind of this in advance, secretly entered the tombs, swapped the real relics with other bones, marked the stone coffins, and relocated the remains to be buried in front of Tianzhang Temple on Lan Zhu Mountain in Shaoxing’s Lanzhu area. Only Emperor Lizong’s skull, being unusually large, was not exchanged. After the fall of the Yuan and rise of the Ming, Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang issued an edict to have Emperor Lizong’s skull along with the remains from the other tombs that had been scattered in the north returned to their original burial sites. Monuments were erected, trees planted, walls built around the sites, and a Righteous Men’s Shrine was constructed to commemorate Tang Jue and others. By the late Qing Dynasty, the tombs had fallen into disrepair. In the 1950s, only the tombs of Emperor Xiaozong and Emperor Lizong remained, with three offering halls enclosed by surrounding walls, while the rest had only tombs, tombstones, and offering tables left. In the 1960s, the tombs were leveled, and the tombstones and offering tables were repurposed. After 1970, the land was turned into tea fields, and all above-ground structures were destroyed. Today, the site still has some remnants of tombstones and over 200 ancient pines that serve as symbols of the Six Tombs. The surroundings still retain the landscape of that era.

This site is located at the Shaoxing County Tea Farm in Fusheng Town, featuring the tombs of six emperors of the Southern Song Dynasty: Emperor Gaozong, Emperor Xiaozong, Emperor Guangzong, Emperor Ningzong, Emperor Lizong, and Emperor Duzong—hence the name “Six Southern Song Imperial Tombs.” In addition, there are also the tomb of Emperor Huizong of the Northern Song Dynasty, the tomb of Empress of Emperor Zhezong, the tomb of Emperor Huizong’s empress, and Emperor Gaozong’s empress. Covering an area of 2.25 square kilometers, it is the largest imperial tomb complex in southern China. Each tomb complex includes both an upper and lower palace, featuring complete functions and a well-structured layout. In the early Yuan Dynasty, the tombs of the emperors and empresses were looted by the Western monk Yang Lianzhenja, and the above-ground structures were damaged. In the early Ming Dynasty, Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang, based on the "Map of the Southern Song Imperial Tombs," re-erected monuments, planted trees, and reinstated ceremonies. In the 1950s, only the tombs of Emperor Xiaozong and Emperor Lizong remained, with three offering halls enclosed by surrounding walls, while the rest had only tombs, tombstones, and offering tables. In the 1960s, the tombs were leveled, and the tombstones and offering tables were repurposed. Today, the site still has some remnants of tombstones and over 200 ancient pines that serve as symbols of the Six Tombs. The surroundings still retain the landscape of that era.

The tomb complex spans an area of 2.24 square kilometers. To the east lies Qinglong Mountain, to the south Ziyun Mountain, to the west Wuhuling, and to the north Wulian Mountain, forming a feng shui pattern of the Green Dragon on the left, White Tiger on the right, Vermilion Bird in front, and Black Tortoise behind—as if these four celestial creatures guard the imperial tombs before them. Additionally, the terrain is slightly lower in the southeast and higher in the northwest, with a clear stream originating from the Darenlong Mountain in the southeast, winding westward through the tomb complex. The entire area presents a landscape where mountains and water blend harmoniously, creating picturesque scenery. This unique method of selecting tomb locations by the Southern Song Dynasty represents both an inheritance and development of ancient Chinese feng shui theory.

Further Reading:

· Seventh Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units