Spending the early summer at the Ming Tomb; searching for stories about the Ming Dynasty--I

(Written by Wang Wei, an information provider of this website): The Ming Tomb is one of countless historic relics scattered in Nanjing (an ancient capital of six dynasties). In 2003, the Ming Tomb was successfully selected as a world cultural heritage. As a historical novel, Stories about the Ming Dynasty has been always the best seller in the past two years, having triggered off a craze for the culture of the Ming Dynasty. To our great relief, the Ming Tomb, as a carrier of the history of the Ming Dynasty, is located just in our hometown. At this tomb, the architectural structure prevailing 600 years ago can be observed. The Ming Culture Festival was inaugurated on the 13th day of this month. Let’s get close to, pay attention to, and get to know the Ming Tomb, with this culture festival as an opportunity.

The route for walking into the Ming Tomb----from the Dismounting Archway to the Museum of the Ming Tomb

The first stop: The Dismounting Archway
In the Ming Tomb, Zhu Yuanzhang (the first emperor of the Ming Dynasty) and Empress Ma are buried together. As the posthumous title of the empress is “Xiaoci”, this tomb is also called Xiao Tomb. Nanjing, as mentioned by us today, acquired its name in the Ming Dynasty. In 1368 AD, Zhu Yuanzhang ascended the throne of emperor, and renamed Yingtian Prefecture as Nanjing. As the capital of the early Ming Dynasty, Nanjing saw the reign of three emperors, including Hongwu, Jianwen and Yongle, lasting for a total of 53 years. In 1421, Zhu Di, emperor Chengzu of the Ming Dynasty, relocated the capital to Beijing, with Nanjing as “An old capital”.
An archway was often built in front of palaces, tombs and temples in ancient times. When a person came here by taking a carriage or riding a horse, he/she must get off it and walk on foot, to show his/her respect. Such an archway is called Dismounting Archway. The Dismounting Archway located in Weigang, Nanjing, has the same origin. In the opinion of many people, the starting point of the Ming Tomb is Jinshui Bridge, Dajin Gate or Sifang City. However, it is not the case. The real starting point of the Ming Tomb is the Dismounting Archway located on the eastern side of the high slope of Weigang. As a typical building at the entrance to the Ming Tomb (a world cultural heritage), the Dismounting Archway is a stone-made one with two pillars soaring into the sky. It is 4.94 meters wide and 7.85 meters high. On its top, six regular Chinese characters are carved horizontally, meaning “All officials must dismount here”. According to a record, in the 26th year during the reign of emperor Hongwu (1393), the imperial court of the Ming issued an order, “Before crossing or entering the tomb, all officials and civilians must dismount one hundred steps away from the tomb; otherwise, they will be punished for their severe profanity.

During the comprehensive improvement of the environment of the Scenic Area of Dr. Sun Yat- sen’s Mausoleum, a relic park full of lush flowers and grass and the flavor of the Ming culture was built here by the Administration of Dr. Sun Yat-sen’s Mausoleum in 2007. At present, this park is open to the public free of charge.

The first highlight: A structure of stone carving with dragon-patterns
At the entrance to the Park of the Dismounting Archway, there is a structure of stone carving with dragon-patterns on the left of the archway with the inscription of “All officials must Dismount”. This structure is slightly dilapidated at present. As if reclining on a stele, this carving has been broken into three blocks, with dragon patterns as high reliefs. Unearthed in 2007, this structure should be the remains of the Stele Pavilion of Shenlie Mountain.

The second highlight: The camp of Xiaolingwei
In the Ming Dynasty, a guarding station was set up outside the Ming Tomb according to the order of emperors. As a part of the military system, this station undertook the task of protection, with as many as 5600 soldiers stationed near the Ming Tomb. What we can see now is the camp of “Xiaolingwei” modeled after that of 600 years ago. Well-equipped soldiers were ready for departure below the general-counting platform and the watchtower.

The third highlight: A formation of stones
While walking directly upward from the archway, you will find a formation of stones on your left. There are over 60 bluestones in the formation. As foundation stones on the Great Stone Wall of Kuanyin Tower, they were originally located on the section of Xiaowei Street on Nanjing-Hangzhou Road. In July 2007, they were relocated to the Relic Park of Dismounting Archway for protection.

The fourth highlight: Guifu
Shaped like a tortoise, Guifu is good at carrying heavy objects. It is often used to bear a stele in front of a palace or tomb. According to a legend, it is the eldest son of dragon. This Guifu was discovered on the northern bank of the Front Lake. Its head has been destroyed. It should be a relic of the Ming Dynasty.

The fifth highlight: A group of foundation-pillars
This is a group of landscape sculptures consisting of stone-carvings and geometric shapes. The main part of the stone-carving is the religious relic of the Tang Dynasty. On its four sides, such exquisite patterns as “Arch shaped like “人” and “Pot gate” were engraved. Encircled with the foundation-pillars of the Ming Dynasty, it is placed on a simple platform arranged in picturesque disorder. This group of sculptures is strewn according to the typography, and it appears massive, open, grand and spectacular.

The sixth highlight: The head of Chi spraying water
At the end of the tomb passage beside the Museum of the Ming Tomb, there is a stone-carving of “Chi” as a relic of the Sacrificial Hall of the Ming Tomb. Chi is one of the nine sons of dragon, with its big belly holding water. It is often used as a decoration of waterspouts of ancient buildings, popularly called “faucet”.

The seventh highlight: Upward-facing lotus
In front of the Museum of the Ming Tomb, there is a Buddhist relic of the Ming Dynasty called “Upward-Facing Lotus”. On the four sides of this structure, three layers of patterns of upward-facing lotuses were engraved in an exquisite and orderly shape. In an archaized arch-shape, the upright and sturdy steel-structure part vigorously supports a blossoming lotus flower.

The second stop: The Ming Tomb Museum
After having walked ahead for about 1.1 kilometers along the renovated passage to the Ming Tomb located in the Park of the Dismounting Archway, you will arrive at the Ming Tomb Museum. This museum was set up on February 28, 2000. It was originally located in “Hidden Fragrance Pavilion” on the Plum Blossom Hill. Since its establishment, the museum has done a lot of work in researching and displaying the Ming Tomb and the Ming culture and protecting and utilizing the world heritage. However, the small area of the museum (about 350 square meters) prevented it from exerting its role in publicity and exhibition. During the comprehensive project of environmental improvement, two old workshops of the former Nanjing Watch Factory were rebuilt into the new site of the Ming Tomb Museum. Covering an area of about 5000 square meters, this new site is integrated with the scenic spot of the Ming Tomb.

The first highlight: A basic display entitled The Great Ming Tomb
A basic display entitled The Great Ming Tomb consists of six parts: The majestic appearance of the Ming Tomb, a legendary emperor, the selection of the site for building the tomb, an innovation system, the historical status and the vicissitudes of the Ming Tomb. It is divided into three blocks: The preface hall and the first chapter “The majestic appearance of the Ming Tomb” constitute the block of “Ming”, seeking for such styles as grandness and big dimension, and highlighting the simplicity and frugality of the Ming Dynasty. With its emphasis on human beings, the second block recounts the legendary life of Zhu Yuanzhang, with its highlight laid on spatial treatment. The third block recounts the site-selection, construction, system and status of the Ming Tomb, as well as expounds the historical and artistic value of the tomb in all aspects.

The second highlight: 360-degree circular-screen cinema
There is a 360-degree circular-screen cinema in this museum, in which a circular-screen film entitled The Ming Tomb, a World Culture Heritage shot cooperatively by the Central News Film Studio and the Administration of Dr. Sun Yat-sen’s Mausoleum is screened. Incorporating the sceneries of the Scenic Area of the Ming Tomb in such four seasons as spring, summer, autumn and winter, this film has completely displayed the diversified humanistic landscape of the Ming Tomb and Nanjing as an ancient capital. It boasts a strong audio-visual impact and sensation. With a lot of new technologies and craftsmanship adopted, this cinema is the most advanced circular-screen one at present at home and abroad.

The third highlight: The Hall of the Life of the Ming Dynasty
As the only center for exhibiting Ming-style furniture in China at present, The Art Center of Ming-style Furniture exhibits Ming-style furniture and its workmanship in the form of art scenes, as well as reflects the profound cultural connotation of Ming-style furniture. In contrast, the Hall of the Life of the Ming Dynasty is a cultural and leisure center focusing on the exhibition of the brocade of the Ming Dynasty, and the performance of the art and the savoring of the tea as a tribute to royal family during the reign of emperor Hongwu, from which modern people can experience and feel the elegance and refinement of the life of the Ming Dynasty.

(Admission ticket) Both the Park of the Dismounting Archway and the Museum of the Ming Tomb are open to the public free of charge at present.
(Buses) You can reach the Ming Tomb by taking the No.1, No.2, No.3, No.9 and No.20 buses from the urban area of Nanjing.