Qianling-Mausoleum

The Qianling Mausoleum (乾陵, Qianling ) or Qiangling Mausoleum of the Tang Dynasty (唐乾陵, Táng Qianling ) is the grave system of the third Tang Emperor Gaozong (r. 650-683 ) and his wife, the future Empress Wu Zetian (r. 684-704 ), in the district of Qian in the Chinese province of Shaanxi. The dead were buried here in the year 684 or 706.

The grave complex is located on the slope of Mount Liang Shan, six kilometers north of the county town Qian eighty kilometers northwest of the provincial capital Xi'an.

It is surrounded by large established in rows stone carved human and animal figures and decorative stone pillars ( Huabiao ). Famous products of the tangzeitlichen Steinschnitzkunst are the winged horses ( Yima ), stone lions ( shishi ), the panel Shusheng ( Shusheng Jibei ) and the stele without writing ( wuzibei ).

Were already open side graves ( peizangmu ), including the Princess Yongtai, Prince Yide and Prince Zhanghuai. In them a large amount of wall paintings and clay figures was found.

The Qianling Mausoleum ( Qianling ) is on the list of monuments of the People's Republic of China ( 1-171 ) since 1961.

Of the eighteen Tang mausoleums (Tang shiba ling ) or Eighteen Tang imperial tombs in the Guanzhong - level ( Guanzhong (Tang ) shiba ling ) it is the only grave condition, which was spared from devastation caused by grave robbers.

Dictionary

• Cihai ( "Sea of ​​Words " ), Shanghai cishu chubanshe, Shanghai 2002, ISBN 7-5326-0839-5
• Zhongguo Baike as quanshu: Kaoguxue (archeology). Beijing: Zhongguo Baike as quanshu chubanshe, 1986