Tomb of Empress Dowager Feng of the Northern Wei Dynasty

Tomb of Empress Dowager Feng of the Northern Wei Dynasty

The Tomb of Empress Dowager Feng of the Northern Wei Dynasty is a cultural tourism attraction.

Also known as the Yonggu Tomb, it is located on Fangshan Mountain, fifty li north of Datong City. According to the Book of Wei: “Construction began in the fifth year of the Taihe era and was completed in the eighth year. In the tenth month of the fourteenth year of Taihe, in the guiyou day, the deceased Empress Dowager Wenming was buried here, and the tomb was named Yonggu.” The Commentary on the Water Classic states: “On Fangling there is the tomb of the deceased Empress Dowager Wenming; to the northeast of the tomb lies the tomb of Emperor Gaozu.” The Old Records refer to these as the two tombs of the Northern Wei Dynasty. The Tang Dynasty poet Wen Tingyun visited the tomb of Empress Dowager Feng and composed a poem titled “Inscription on the Yonggu Tomb of Empress Dowager Feng of the Yuan-Wei Dynasty”:

Gazing north from Yunzhong, Fangshan comes in view,

Yonggu’s hallowed tomb conceals beauty’s face so true.

Her lovely frame has turned to earth below,

Yet desolate her grave in emerald hills doth grow.