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Imperial Tombs of the Ming Dynasty
 The hall foundations are hidden in wild grass,
and sections of carved marble balustrade lie here and there. Although the
originally white marble has turned dark-gray, its exquisite carving and
jade-like texture is still perceptible. The tomb bricks, contributed by various
localities, are huge, each weighing over 20 kilograms. There were strict
requirements regarding the quality of these bricks. They had to be fine and
solid in texture, producing a resonant tone when tapped, and bearing the date of
their production and locality. The Kangling Mausoleum bricks clearly show this
information, being marked, "Made by Zhangqiu County in the seventh month of the
17th year of the Chenghua Reign (1481)," or "Made by Linqing Prefecture in the
10th year of the Zhengde Reign (1515)."
Both the memorial tower and Treasure City of these two tombs are still
standing, albeit with a few tiles missing, exposing the weathered, rusty colored
wooden roof bracketing. The five sacrificial utensils, now yellowish with age,
are arranged neatly on a stone table before the memorial tower.
These two tombs belong respectively to the father and son, Emperor Xiaozong
and Emperor Wuzong. Xiaozong was the ninth emperor of the Ming Dynasty. He was a
benevolent, hard-working and competent ruler and created a period of peace and
prosperity. His success as a ruler may have been tempered by his lamentable
childhood. His father, Emperor Xianzong, was a mediocre emperor and concentrated
all his attention on the mean and malicious Concubine Wan, who was 19 years his
senior. Having lost a son when she was young, she bore no more children. To
protect her privileged status with the emperor, she placed her spies in various
corners of the inner court. If another concubine should be discovered to be
pregnant, Wan would force an abortion on her. When Xiaozong's mother was
pregnant with him, she was also made to take an abortion drug, but Xiaozong
miraculously overcame the drug, and lived.
The maid sent by Concubine Wan to spy on Xiaozong's
mother pitied her, and lied to her mistress, saying that Xiaozong's mother was
not pregnant, but had caught a strange disease. Concubine Wan, nevertheless
still suspicious, had Xiaozong's mother placed under house arrest.
Xiaozong was born shortly afterwards, and survived with the help of the deposed
empress and Zhang Min, a eunuch.
One day six years later,
 on looking at his white hair as Zhang Min helped him
comb it, the emperor felt sorrow at having no son. Zhang Min took this
opportunity to tell him of his son, Xiaozong. The emperor was overjoyed, and
immediately ordered his son be brought to the court, whereupon Xiaozong was
crowned, and placed under the care of the empress dowager. In 1488 Xiaozong was
enthroned. He knew that without the love and protection of good people, he could
never have survived to become emperor. This awareness undoubtedly contributed to
the excellence of his reign.
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The hall foundations are hidden in wild grass,
and sections of carved marble balustrade lie here and there. Although the
originally white marble has turned dark-gray, its exquisite carving and
jade-like texture is still perceptible. The tomb bricks, contributed by various
localities, are huge, each weighing over 20 kilograms. There were strict
requirements regarding the quality of these bricks. They had to be fine and
solid in texture, producing a resonant tone when tapped, and bearing the date of
their production and locality. The Kangling Mausoleum bricks clearly show this
information, being marked, "Made by Zhangqiu County in the seventh month of the
17th year of the Chenghua Reign (1481)," or "Made by Linqing Prefecture in the
10th year of the Zhengde Reign (1515)."
