Tang Duanling Mausoleum

Introducing Duanling Mausoleum of Tang Dynasty
Duanling Mausoleum lies 70 km (44 mi) north of downtown Xi'an's Bell Tower. Duanling Mausoleum is a Tang Dynasty (618-907) imperial tomb. Duanling Mausoleum is where Emperor Wuzong, the 15th emperor of the Tang Dynasty was buried. Emperor Wuzong was born on July 2, 814. He was put on the throne by eunuchs at the age of 27 after his brother Emperor Wenzong died on Feb 8, 840. He reigned from 840 to 846. His time as ruler is best known for a time of religious persecution. In 842, an imperial edict was initiated weeding out sorcerers and convicts from the ranks of the Buddhist monks and nuns, and returning them to lay life. Monks and nuns were to turn their wealth over to the government unless they returned to lay life and paid taxes. The religious persecution reached its height in the year 845 CE, ultimately confiscating the Buddhist temple properties, destroying 4,600 Buddhist temples and 40,000 shrines, and removing 260,500 monks and nuns from the monasteries. The persecution was directed not only towards Buddhism but also towards other foreign religions, such as Zoroastrianism, Nestorian Christianity, and Manichaeism. Only the native Chinese ideologies of Confucianism and Taoism survived the upheaval relatively unaffected. Emperor Wuzong believed in Taoism which claimed that immortality could be attained by taking elixirs. Ingredients of ancient Chinese elixir of life include mercury, sulphur, and arsenic. Far from contributing to longevity, many of these substances are actively toxic and resulted in Chinese alchemical elixir poisoning. Late in Emperor Wuzong's life, he began taking elixir pills made by Taoist alchemists. He died of elixir poisoning at the age of 33 on April 22, 846, and was buried at Duanling Mausoleum on Aug 3, 846.

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Duanling Mausoleum of Tang Dynasty Fast Facts
• Name in Chinese: Tang Duan Ling 唐端陵
• Best Time to Visit: All year round
• Recommended Visiting Hours: 1 hour
• Distance from Xian: 70 km (44 mi)
• Opening Hours: All day
• Entrance Fee: Free
• Address: Taogou Village, Xumu Township, Sanyuan County, Shaanxi Province
• Address in Chinese: 陕西省三原县徐木乡桃沟村东北

What to expect at Duanling Mausoleum of Tang Dynasty
Duanling Mausoleum was modeled after Emperor Jingzong's Zhuangling Mausoleum. It is the third Tang Dynasty imperial tomb built in the form of square base "pyramid", with a trapezoid, heaped burial mound. Standing at 15 meters (49 ft), the base of this tomb is measured to be 60 meters (197 ft) square. The burial mound was surrounded by an inner wall, with a perimeter of 2,266 meters (7,434 ft). Four gates were opened on the inner wall's four cardinal directions, namely: south vermilion bird gate, north black tortoise gate, east azure dragon gate, and west white tiger gate. Each gate was guarded by two stone lions. Two sets of ceremonial gate towers were built outside the south vermilion bird gate, namely outer ceremonial gate tower symbolizing capital Chang'an's outer city and middle ceremonial gate tower representing Chang'an's royal city. The spirit way was located outside the south vermilion bird gate, with a pair of ornamental columns, a pair of winged horses, a pair of ostriches, five pairs of saddled horses and 10 pairs of government officials. Today, only a few of the stone sculptures survived through the ages, 6 guardian lions are still standing (two lions of north gate were destroyed during the Cultural Revolution). Other surviving stone sculptures include one ornamental column, two winged horses, two saddled horses, three civil officials, and one military official along the spirit way.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How to get to Duanling Mausoleum of Tang Dynasty
• Duanling Mausoleum lies 70 km (44 mi) north of downtown Xian's Bell Tower.
• There is no public transportation from Xian to Duanling Mausoleum.
• Rent a car/bus from GGC to enjoy a hassle free private transfer from hotels in Xian to Duanling Mausoleum.