Tang Jianling Mausoleum

Introducing Jianling Mausoleum of Tang Dynasty
Tang Jianling Mausoleum is located 75 km northwest of Xi'an. Jianling Mausoleum is where Emperor Suzong of Tang Dynasty was buried. Suzong was the 7th emperor of the Tang Dynasty who ruled China from 756 to 762. Much of Emperor Suzong's reign was spent in quelling the aforementioned An Lushan rebellion, which was ultimately put down in 763 during the reign of his son Emperor Daizong. Emperor Suzong died on May 16, 762 at the age of 52, and was buried at Jianling Mausoleum on Mar 27, 763. The Jianling Mausoleum is renowned for its many Tang dynasty stone statues located above ground. It is believed that the stone carvings of Jianling Mausoleum are the most complete and most delicately carved among the 18 Imperial Tombs of the Tang Dynasty.

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Jianling Mausoleum of Tang Dynasty Fast Facts
• Chinese Name: Tang Jian Ling 唐建陵
• Best Time to Visit: All year round
• Recommended Visiting Hours: 2 - 3 hours
• Distance from Xian: 80 km (50 mi)
• Opening Hours: All day
• Entrance Fee: Free
• Address: Shimaping Village, Liquan County, Shaanxi Province

What to expect at Jianling Mausoleum of Tang Dynasty
Jianling Mausoleum follows the rules of Tang Dynasty imperial tombs set by Qianling Mausoleum. The Spirit Way south of the Vermilion Bird Gate is lined on both sides with a succession of stone statues including a pair of ornamental columns, a pair of winged horses, a pair of ostriches, five pairs of saddled horses, and 10 pairs of stone statues of government officials. It is believed that the stone carvings of Jianling Mausoleum are the most complete and most delicately carved among the 18 Imperial Tombs of the Tang Dynasty. Two stone lions are still guarding the Gate of Vermilion Bird. Since the two guardian lions of East Azure Dragon Gate were stolen on Apr 3, 2010, guardian lions of West White Gate and North Black Tortoise Gate, and three pairs of saddled horses outside the Black Tortoise Gate were moved to Zhaoling Museum.

The Spirit Way
Spirit way would symbolize the passage of the soul the dead emperor into the world of the spirits. Due to the uneven terrain, the Spirit Way of Jianling Mausoleum is actually a spirit valley. Among the 18 Tang Dynasty imperial tombs around Xian, Jianling Mausoleum is the only one which used a valley as its spirit way. The Spirit Way of Jianling Mausoleum is 861 meters long from north to south and 160 meters wide from east to west . Following the rules set by Qianling Mausoleum, a pair of Ornamental Columns marks the start of the Spirit Way of Jianling Tomb, followed by a pair of winged horses, a pair of ostriches, five pairs of saddled horses and 10 pairs of government officials. The Spirit Way ends at the South Vermilion Gate.

The Ornamental Columns
The ornamental columns of Tang Dynasty imperial tombs were typically made up of three components. At the bottom is a square column base, decorated with bas-relief depictions of auspicious symbols. Above is an octahedral column which reflects the eight directions of the "Ba-Gua Octagon." The column is topped by a pearl on a round cap. This design of the columns symbolizes the ancient Chinese understanding of the universe, that is, the heaven was round and the earth was square. Putting ornamental columns in front of imperial mausoleums proclaimed the eternal life of the deceased emperor. The east ornamental column is 7.6 meters tall. Its square shaped pedestals were carved with upside down lotus flower. The column bodies were octahedral with bas-relief of clouds and plants. Atop the column is a huge pearl. The west ornamental column was destroyed in history and just excavated recently.

 

Winged Horses
Winged Horses are auspicious animals which symbolize power and fortune in Ancient China. The two winged horses of Jianling Mausoleum are 2.45 meters tall and the body of the winged horse is 2.4 meters long.

 

Ostriches
Qianling Tomb of the Tang Dynasty was the first to use ostrich on the Spirit Way. The Khan of the Western Turks presented an ostrich to the Tang court in 620 and the Tushara Kingdom sent another in 650. Ostriches were arranged on the Spirit Way as a symbol of the Tang Dynasty’s power and influence over its foreign neighbors. The two ostriches of Jianling Mausoleum were carved on a 1.2 meter tall and 1.8 meter wide stone screen.

 

Saddled Horses
Saddled horses were horses of the guard of honor. Five pairs of saddled horses are arranged facing each other long the spirit way. The saddled horses at Jianling Mausoleum are 1.2 -1.5 meters tall and 1.4 to 1.8 meters long. Damages can be found on 9 horses. Currently only one horse on the west spirit way is intact.

 

 

 

 

 

Guardian Statues of Civil & Military Officials
The guardian statues of civil and military officials are called Wengzhong in Chinese. Wengzhong was a giant man of great strength and a general of China's first emperor, Emperor Qin Shihuang. He was garrisoned in Lintao, the west end of Great Wall during the Qin Dynasty and had earned merit in the fight against the Huns. After his death, Emperor Qin Shihuang ordered a bronze statue of Wengzhong to be made after him, placed outside his palace and from then on, bronze or stone statues of humans were called Wengzhong. These stone guardian statues symbolize real civil and military officials guarding the tombs. There are 10 statues of civil officials on the east side of the spirit way. They are 2.05 to 2.16 meters tall, clasping a note-tablet. 10 statues of military officials are standing on the west side of the spirit way. They are 2.1 to 2.8 meters tall, holding a sword up to their chest.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Vermilion Bird Gate
The vermilion bird is one of the Four Symbols of the Chinese constellations representing the direction south. The south gate of Jianling Mausoleum is called the Gate of Vermilion Bird which represents the Gate of Heavenly Succession, the south gate of the Palace City of Chang'an where Tang Dynasty emperors lived with his family. The vermilion bird gate was connected with the Inner Wall of the tomb. The perimeter of the tomb's inner wall is 5 kilometers. Two stone lions are still guarding the ruins of Vermilion Bird Gate Towers.

 

The Azure Dragon Gate
The azure dragon is one of the Four Symbols of the Chinese constellations representing the direction east. The east gate of Jianling Mausoleum is called the Azure Dragon Gate. This gate is connected by a 5 kilometer long wall to the South Vermilion Bird Gate, West White Tiger Gate and North Black Tortoise Gate. The two stone guardian lions were stolen on Apr 3, 2010. It is reported that perpetrators used brackets, hoisting chains and diesel tricycles to steal the lions. The local police office of Liquan offers a reward of CNY100, 000 for clues on the theft of two lions in May 2010. The reward was raised to CNY200, 000 in Nov 2010, CNY30, 000 in 2012. The reward was raised for the 4th time to one million Chinese Yuan on Jun 30, 2020.

How to get to Jianling Mausoleum of Tang Dynasty
• Jianling Mausoleum is located 75 km away from downtown Xian.
• Rent a car/bus from GGC to enjoy a hassle free private transfer from hotels in Xian to Jianling Mausoleum.

Additional travel advice on Jianling Mausoleum of Tang Dynasty
• Please wear comfortable hiking shoes if you want to hike up Mount Wujiang where the tomb chamber is located.
• UV is very strong in summer, please wear sunscreen, hat and sunglasses to prevent sunburns.