The Quest for Perfect Feng Shui

The Yongzheng Emperor’s mausoleum, known as Tailing (泰陵), stands as the centerpiece of the Western Qing Tombs in Yi County, Hebei. Unlike his predecessors who followed tradition by building their tombs near the Eastern Qing Tombs in Zunhua, Yongzheng broke convention—a decision rooted in both practical necessity and imperial ambition.

In 1727, after exhaustive surveys failed to identify suitable sites near his father’s tomb, Yongzheng dispatched his trusted brother Prince Yi to scout alternatives. The initial choice, Jiufeng Chaoyang Mountain, was abandoned when construction revealed unstable sandy soil and geological flaws. This setback triggered a nationwide search, ultimately leading to Taiping Valley in Yi County—a location praised by court geomancers as “where heaven and earth converge, with dragon veins and water currents aligning perfectly.” Contemporary observers would recognize its strategic advantages: the protective embrace of Yongning Mountain, the auspicious “treasure bowl” shape of Yuanbao Hill, and the natural gateway formed by the Juma River.

Engineering an Eternal Resting Place

Construction began in 1729 under the supervision of elite officials, reflecting the project’s national importance. The logistics were staggering:

– Golden Bricks: Over 6,000 specially fired floor tiles from Suzhou, each requiring 130 days of kiln work using progressively finer fuels. Laid at a rate of just five tiles per artisan per day.
– Stonework: Quarried from Fangshan’s marble and Changping’s granite, transported via ice roads in winter. The 31.85-meter-wide stone memorial archway features intricate carvings of dragons and phoenixes.
– Timber: 164 nanmu pillars (each 3.5 meters tall) sourced from southern provinces, alongside 2.56 million jin of ironwood for structural supports.

The complex ultimately spanned 127 acres with 76 structures along a 2.5km spirit way, blending elements from earlier imperial tombs while introducing innovations like double steles in the memorial pavilion.

The Controversy of Missing Statues

Originally, Tailing lacked the traditional stone guardian statues (石像生). Yongzheng cited labor concerns, but court records reveal the true reason: geomantic incompatibility. When his son Qianlong later insisted on adding statues, officials warned it would disrupt the tomb’s “coiling dragon” energy alignment. The compromise—five pairs of statues placed at angles—exemplified the tension between ritual orthodoxy and imperial ego.

Eternal Companions: The Tomb’s Occupants

Beneath the vaulted ceilings rest three figures:

1. Yongzheng Emperor (1678–1735): The fourth Qing emperor, whose 13-year reign saw sweeping reforms—from tax consolidation to the abolition of “mean status” social categories. His sudden death (possibly from mercury poisoning due to Daoist elixirs) remains debated.
2. Empress Xiaojingxian (d. 1731): The Ula Nara clan matriarch who bore his first heir, honored with a 37-character posthumous title.
3. Consort Dunsu (d. 1725): The ill-fated younger sister of powerful general Nian Gengyao, whose family’s political downfall coincided with her death shortly after being elevated to Imperial Noble Consort.

Legacy in Stone and Memory

The mausoleum’s dual-language stele proclaims Yongzheng’s virtues, yet history remembers him differently—a reformer who centralized power through the Grand Council, yet whose reign was shadowed by purges and secret police. Modern pop culture obsession with his harem (as seen in Empresses in the Palace) obscures his substantive governance, making Tailing not just a tomb, but a prism through which we examine imperial China’s complexities.

The site’s UNESCO World Heritage status today affirms its architectural brilliance, while ongoing archaeological studies continue revealing how one emperor’s defiance of tradition created a lasting monument to Qing dynasty ambition.