Time And Space Distribution And Family Continuity Of The Tomb Attached To The Emperor's Mausoleum In The Tang Dynasty

The mausoleum of the Tang Dynasty and its tombs reflect the characteristics of the development of the mausoleum and tomb system till the Tang Dynasty,and form a special time and space system for empirical mausoleum with the effect of geographical elements.On space,the four tomb areas like the representative one in Central Shaanxi area and the tombs' distribution as that in Zhao Mausoleum have been settled.On time,the quantities of tombs for mausoleum became less,and the tomb system fell from the highest.These characteristics and changes in mausoleum and tomb system in the Tang Dynasty reveal political reasons and changes,and cultural connotations.The most representative mausoleums are Zhao Mausoleum for Emperor Taizong of Tang,Qianling Mausoleum for Emperor Gaozong and his wife Wu Zetian,and Tailing Mausoleum for Emperor Xuanzong,which show the influence of different political situations on Mausoleum and tombs system.Since the mausoleum and tomb system has been built in the early Tang Dynasty,it has been a sign for political purposes of the emperors,which is revealed by the criteria for choosing the sacrificers and distribution order for tombs.During the time building Zhao Mausoleum,the development of mausoleum and tomb system reached its highest.The early emperors regulated the system not by accident.but with caution and consideration about all elements.For emperors.a strict and ordered system for mausoleum and tombs is an important way to justify the legitimacy and reinforce the rule.For sacrificers.it is a great honor for them and their families to bury with the divine emperors.Therefore,the founding and implementation of the system for mausoleum and tombs contain deeper political consideration of the emperors.With the development of the system,and the effects of geography and observances during the implementation.the system has changed after the building of Qianling Mausoleum thus shows different characteristics.It began to decay while building the Tailing Mausoleum.This falling of the mausoleum and tomb system is contributed by factors like political relations,burial observances and operation difficulties.What is worth noting is that the regulations about royal younger generations' burial in the system make it difficult to operate.Royal younger generations' being buried with emperor breaks the link between sacrificers and their family tombs,destroying the sacrifice rites and burial in the hometown.Therefore,the clans of the sacrificers would be affected and be unable to fulfill the rules of clan observances which are strict and traditional.There could exist inevitability in the falling of mausoleum and tomb system from the perspective of political culture,but it can be further explored on the political ideas and clan observances with analysis of historical documents and archaeological discoveries.