The Ming Tombs are where (surprise) the Ming Emperors are buried. There are 13 tombs, but only one has been excavated. They covered the actual tombs in dirt and planted trees all over the tops in order to keep them from being raided. The tombs that were not buried this way were all raided by the British and other groups. When an emperor died, he could take whomever he wanted with him in death.
One of the emperors, ( I do not remember which one), demanded that all of his concubines be killed when he died. They were all brought into the dressing rooms and stood on boxes to be dressed and made up beautifully by their servants (ironically, this is how they were dressed when they were called to "be with" the emperor). They went to a huge banquet and show, and the air had to be festive and joyful, because everyone was doing their final service for the emperor. After dinner, the concubines moved back into the dressing room and over each box was hanging a red rope (another irony, red cord symbolizes good fortune). The concumbines all stepped on the boxes, put their necks in the nooses and amidst te sobs of their servants, hung themselves.
Prior to going into the tombs, our guide asked that we remove our hats and do other things to show respect for the dead. Bob, a guys in our group told me later, "I wasn't going to take my hat off in respect for those guys...murdering all those women. How could I show my respect for that?"
One of the emperors, ( I do not remember which one), demanded that all of his concubines be killed when he died. They were all brought into the dressing rooms and stood on boxes to be dressed and made up beautifully by their servants (ironically, this is how they were dressed when they were called to "be with" the emperor). They went to a huge banquet and show, and the air had to be festive and joyful, because everyone was doing their final service for the emperor. After dinner, the concubines moved back into the dressing room and over each box was hanging a red rope (another irony, red cord symbolizes good fortune). The concumbines all stepped on the boxes, put their necks in the nooses and amidst te sobs of their servants, hung themselves.
Prior to going into the tombs, our guide asked that we remove our hats and do other things to show respect for the dead. Bob, a guys in our group told me later, "I wasn't going to take my hat off in respect for those guys...murdering all those women. How could I show my respect for that?"
Now that you know the story. This is one of the pavilions leading up to the tombs. All of the buildings are hundreds and hundreds of years old. They are made without nails or other connecting pieces. The beams are huge.
The support poles are single tree trunks, seemingly identical in circumference. I cannot even tell you how many feet around they were. Note the military police. They were all over China.
This is a replica of the garment this emperor was buried in. We learned that once a new emperor was crowned, an entire town was given the task of making the garments to be buried with him. They worked on the wardrobe until the day the emperor died.
This is another replica. They have it displayed in pieces. To recreate this robe took three years WITH the assistance of computers and technology... The details on these robes is unbelievable.
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