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Sacred Way of Ming Tombs

The Sacred Way usually in front of the of imperial necropolises, built in 1540, means the road leading to heaven. The Emperor, known as the Son of the Heaven, went through the sacred road to the sacrificial altar to converse Heaven during his reign, naturally, after his death, he would also go through the Sacred Way back to heaven.

Alongside the Sacred Way are 18 pairs of marble figures lined up in antithesis, these marble figures, sculptured from whole stones, were erected over 500 years ago, symbolizing the good fortune and warding off evil influence.

This Sacred Way starts with two hexagonal columns called Wang Zhu on either side, they are carved with a cloud design. Their tops are shaped like a rounded cylinder.

Then follow, one on each side, lions, xie zhi (a mythical beast of feline family, with a mane and a horn on its head), camels, elephants, Qilin (a kind of imaginary animal with a scaly body, a cow's tail, deer's hooves and, horns on its head), horses. All these six animals are two kneeling, two standing, 12 animals on each side and 24 animals in all. They were supposed to change guards at midnight.

A slight turn of the Sacred Way leads to the human statues. Even this slight turn is in conformity with the principle of Feng Shui (winds of heaven and the waters of earth). On each side stand two generals, two civil officials and two "retired" government officials, 6 on each side, and 12 in all. They are larger-than-life-size human statues.

The avenue of stone animals and statues ends at Ling Xing Gate, better known as the Dragon and Phoenix Gate. But the Sacred Way goes on beyond the Dragon and Phoenix Gate towards the chief tomb-Changling, emperor Yongle's tomb.

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