Few visit Beijing without going to the Ming Tombs, the burial grounds of the Ming dynasty who ruled China from 1368 to 1644, and one of China's most important archaeological sites. The book explains the beliefs underlying Chinese burial practices and the symbolism of the stone monuments lining the spirit road - the avenue leading to the first tomb in the valley.
The thirteen mausolea are the earliest Chinese tombs on which surface buildings have survived and the author uses this unique collection of Ming buildings to illustrate the basic principles and methods of construction in classical Chinese architecture, including the theory of geomancy known as fengshui. Two restored tombs - Changling and Zhaoling - give a complete picture of the original splendour of these magnificent complexes. The book also contains new material about Dingling, the tomb which was excavated in the 1950s.
The book is a concise updated version of the only other book on this subject in English - the author's The Imperial Ming
Tombs (Yale University Press, 1981).
Ann Paludan, a graduate of Oxford University, has worked for the British Government and for the BBC.
From 1972 to 1976 she lived in Beijing, where her husband was Danish ambassador. Now retired, she is carrying out research on Chinese sculpture.

14.5cm x 22.5cm, 69 pages, Hardcover, 1991 (Condition: Very Good)

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