Imperial Mausoleums
Mausoleums referred to the cluster of architectural structures built as burial tombs and places of sacrificial offerings for the emperors, empresses, and imperial concubines off ancient China, much like the pyramids of ancient Egypt or the Taj Mahal of India. In ancient China, people believed that the dead had simply entered another realm where they continued to live and the dead were basically eternal souls. The rites and rituals observed under the Confucian code of filial piety similarly advocated the idea of continuous worship and treating the dead as if they were alive, Guided by such thinking, the emperors of all dynasties had gone all out to build their very own mausoleums, which were practically underground palaces in the grandest style.
A total of 50 or more dynasties were founded through out Chinese history, made up of either unified Empire under emperor or separated regimes under the rule of feudal lords. There are estimated 300 to 400 imperial mausoleums located all over China?s more than ten provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions.
Most mausoleums comprised structures which were locate underground as well as above ground. Located underground were tomb chambers later evolved into structures built with bricks and rock. During the Qin Dynasty, massive structures were built for the mausoleums with highly intensive labor. Planted on top were rows and rows of cypress trees as a symbolic representation of the mountain forest. The ancient Chinese emperor's final resting place, or mountain forest, hence the origin of the tree-planting practice. During the Tang Dynasty, the emperors' tombs were often built by directly excavating hills. Above the ground, the architectural layout surrounding the actual tombs was often comprehensively planned, including the topography, the entrances to the mausoleums and passageways for gods, sacrificial altars and greenery. Like mausoleum of Emperor Qin Shihuangdi, The emperors mausoleums of Han Dynasty, Tang Dynasty Ming Dynasty and Qing Dynasty.
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