Tomb of Emperor Ruizong, Qiaoling Mausoleum

Written by Clementine | Updated February 27,2024

Emperor Ruizong of the Tang Dynasty, Li Dan by name is the 8th son of Gaozong, Li Zhi, and also the son of Wu Zetian, the Empress. He succeeded the throne when Wu Zetian abrogated Zhongzong Li Xian at the time when he was 23 years old. Died of illness, and he was hurled into the Qiaoling Mausoleum.

The Tomb of Emperor Ruizong was built in the flourishing period under the reign of Kaiyuan, and so the tomb was much more grandiose and magnificent than the Mausoleum of Qianling. Therefore, it can be considered the representative of all the royal tombs of the Tang Dynasty.

Location & Layout of the Mausoleum

Located on the Fengshan Hill (called Qiao Hill in the Tang Dynasty), Jiajia Village, Potou Township, the tomb is 15 kilometers away to the northwest of Pucheng County, Weinan City, Shaanxi Province. With the whole Jinchan Hill enclosed in the tomb, it covers an area of 8. 25 million square meters. Shaped in somewhat way like a square, it has gates on all four sides with each having a tower at the corner. Situated at half the slope of the main peak facing east the tomb-tunnel and the spirit way are not along the same line but slightly toward the east.

The parallel hidden tomb-passage stretches north-south some 70 meters long with a width of 3.78 meters. It is covered up with layers of gravels and lime-and-earth mixture. Underneath the layers of coverings, the stone-slates laid in tight order and built up from north to south like a folded-up stairway.

Based on calculations of the length and depth of the tomb tunnel, along with the number of already known stone slates used, it’s estimated that the deepest part at the north end requires around 30 layers of stone slates, totaling 3,900 pieces to cover the tomb passage. All these stone-slates are fastened with iron-plate jointures and strengthened by molten lead, thereby making the passage very much solidified and unbreakable.

In front of the tomb and gates there are 50 pieces of stone-carvings which are taller and more robust than those at the Qianling Tomb, with the stone-figures standing 3.67 – 4.28 meters tall while the horses are of 1.7 – 2 meters in height and 2. 3 – 2.6 meters in the length. The crouching stone-lions are of 2.4 – 2.8 meters high done outstandingly with a true-to-life skill in carving and so they are considered the treasure of stone-carvings of the Tang Dynasty. Hence they are renowned as “The atone-carvings at Qiaoling the best under heaven.”

However, what is regrettable is that many of them are done out of proportion with the stone figure to have a large head hut a small body or the horse a long neck but short legs. And so if you look at them from some distance away they seem to be of an imposing momentum but a close view reveal them to be short of certain sense of artistic esthetics.

Accompanying Tombs in the Mausoleum

In the Qiaoling Tomb, Li Dan is buried alongside Queen Liu and Queen Dou. Adjacent to this tomb are the resting places of Princes Huizhuang, Huiwen, and Huixuan, as well as Princesses from the States of Xi and Jinxian. Additionally, there’s the Tomb of Duke Peng. Notably, the epitaphs for the Elder Princesses of the States of Liang and Lang, as well as the Elder Princess of Jinxian, were inscribed personally by Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty.

Qiaoling Mausoleum Vs. Qianling Mausoleum

Differences between Qiaoling and Qianling can be observed in the attire and accessories of the stone figures along the sacred way. At Qiaoling, the stone figures, armed with swords, wear gowns with waist sashes and knee-length sleeves. Additionally, the stone animal accompanying them features a unicorn instead of a winged horse. The unicorn resembles a deer with an ox-like head, topped with a single horn, and twin wings at the shoulders. This creature, sometimes referred to as “Tianlu” or “Qilin,” is associated with the God of Wind. Placed near the tomb, it serves as a protective symbol, warding off evil spirits from the area.