Han Yangling Mausoleum
Yangling Mausoleum of Han · Tomb of Emperor Jing · Hàn Yáng Líng
Western Han Wen-Jing 157–141 BCE·Western Han imperial·🇨🇳 Shaanxi Province, Xianyang City, Weicheng District, Zhanjiawan, north bank of Wei River 20 km north of Xi'an, China
The original uploader was Dorisyong at English Wikipedia. · CC BY-SA 4.0
About
About Han Yangling Mausoleum
Mausoleum complex of Emperor Jing of Han (Liu Qi, r.157–141 BCE) and Empress Wang Zhi on Wei River terrace north of Xi'an, core of Western Han imperial necropolis (11 tombs). 170 m square 31 m high rammed-earth truncated pyramid (Chinese pyramid) surrounded by 86 attendant pits containing 50,000+ naked terracotta figures (one-third life-size) inventorying Han economy daily life; underground museum glazed over pits.
Why it mattersFifth largest Chinese pyramid and best preserved Han imperial pyramid; 50k mingqi provide census of Han occupations, fauna and bureaucracy.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Why naked (original silk clothing rotted) vs Qin painted?
Theories
- 01Han mingqi social model vs Qin militarism
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- 156–126 BCE construction (31 years)
- Period
- Western Han Wen-Jing 157–141 BCE
- Culture
- Western Han imperial
- Builders
- Emperor Jing / Han artisans
- Purpose
- Imperial afterlife palace and bureaucratic economy inventory
- Abandoned
- sealed 141 BCE
- Rediscovered
- 1990 systematic listing east of pyramid; museum 1999
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
156 BCE
Liu Qi orders Yangling at Wei north terrace
141 BCE
Emperor Jing interred with empress beside; 86 mingqi pits sealed
On the ground
Structures & features
34.4430° N · 108.9400° E · 420 m · 1 mapped feature
Emperor Jing pyramid mound
pyramid31 m rammed-earth truncated pyramid 170 m side
34.4432° N · 108.9402° E
Gallery