West Xia Imperial Tombs

Located on the eastern slopes of the Helan Mountains, some 35 kilometers west of the city of Yinchuan, the Imperial Tombs of Xi ("Western") Xia, covers an area of about 50 square kilometers. The West Xia Imperial Tombs, are shaped like giant beehives and dot the valleys of the region. In the entire tomb area, there are 9 massive mausoleums, along with 250 lesser tombs. The mausoleums hold the remains of the imperial leaders of the Western Xia Dynasty.

According to records, the tombs were patterned after Song Tombs in Gongxian County, Henan Province. They adopted the zhao-mu burial system (the father is zhao, son is mu while grandson is zhao again.). East line and west line are formed from south to north with zhao on the left and mu on the right. Each imperial tomb is an individual and integrated group of architectures, sitting north and facing south in a rectangle.

However, the Western Xia Tombs seem to be extremely unique in contrast to the wooden and stone structures of the Ming and Qing imperial tombs. They are actually earth and brick constructions that reflect the culture of the ancient western kingdom. Each main tomb, encircled by a wall with an entrance gate in each direction, has an independent group of buildings; also each has an array of watchtowers and four corner towers; external city; pavilions housing stone tablets; sacrificial hall and coffin platform from south to north. 

The tombs show clear relics of an inner square, roads, courtyards, wells and houses. In the middle of the south end of the heavenly wall stood watchtower platform. To north stood stele pavilions, varying from one mausoleum to another. The extant stele records in both Chinese and West Xia characters the accomplishments of the given emperor. The earth platform in the west was for sacrificial offerings. Behind it is an eye catching mausoleum platform, an earth pile with a remnant height of 23 meters (about 75.44 fee), which used to be a five- or seven-storied solid eight-sided pagoda. This is unique in Chinese mausoleum architectures. It is this relic that is called Oriental Pyramids by foreign tourists. Between the sacrifice palace and mausoleum platform lies earth ridge, under which is corridor leads to the chamber--the underground palace.

There are mysteries yet to be unveiled. Floods in Mt. Helan are numerous but somehow the area of the West Xia Imperial Tombs is left untouched. Also, there are 8 or 9 stone kneeling statues unearthed with sticking teeth, glower and plump breast with unknown significance and function.

The West Xia Imperial Tombs are not only a state cultural heritage but also a state scenic spot. The magnificent labyrinth and the continuous Mt. Helan and boundless desert are definitely worth visiting. At present, only two tombs are open to the public, of which the mausoleum of Emperor Hao (the mausoleum of Weiming Yuan Hao) is the most prominent.

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