Atlas
Tang Qianling
The Tang Qianling Mausoleum — using a natural double-peaked karst mountain as the tumulus, Wu Zetian's blank stele standing on the spirit way, a timeless masterpiece that lets posterity judge her merits and faults.
Prefecture: Xianyang
Province: ShaanxiStone lions, horses, an ostrich and Tang envoys line Qianling’s Sacred Way beneath Mount Liang.
Memorial4
- Qianling Wordless Stele & Shusheng Stele
Wu Zetian's towering blank stele, traditionally read as leaving her merits and faults for later generations to judge, stands beside Gaozong's Shusheng Stele atop Mount Liang.
- Qianling Sixty-One Foreign Envoys Statues
Lining the spirit way, sixty-one stone statues of rulers and envoys from the Western Regions and frontier states recall the many foreign delegations at the Tang court.
- Qianling Sacred Way Winged Horses & Sculptures
Following the natural slope of Mount Liang for several kilometres, the sacred way is lined with winged horses, lions and stone officials, high points of Tang stone carving.
- Princess Yongtai Tomb & Murals Museum in Qianling
Princess Yongtai's tomb, a satellite of Qianling, is famed for its Palace Ladies mural, and the museum displays further treasured Tang murals and painted sancai figures.
In its history3
- Wu Zetian (Empress Wu)624–705 CE
Part of Tang Qianling's history: Wu Zetian's Reign. Consort of Emperor Gaozong who governed first as empress dowager and then, from 690 until her forced abdication in 705, as emperor of her own Zhou dynasty
- Di Renjie630–700 CE
Part of Tang Qianling's history: Wu Zetian's Reign. Chief minister under Empress Wu who cleared a vast backlog of court cases, survived Lai Junchen's frame-up, and persuaded her to recall Li Xian as heir
- Li Zhi628–683 CE
Part of Tang Qianling's history: Wu Zetian's Reign. Third Tang emperor, Gaozong, who issued the annotated Tang Code, made Wu Zhao his empress, and destroyed Baekje and Goguryeo
Tang3
- Stone Carvings of Qianling's Sacred Wayc. 684–706 CE
Qianling's sacred way preserves Tang stone carvings including pillars, winged horses, lions, officials, and foreign-envoy figures; individual carving dates are not assigned here.
- Wu Zetian's Reign
Wu Zetian proclaimed her Zhou dynasty, expanded examination recruitment, and promoted officials beyond the established aristocratic families.
- Wu Zetian Buried at Qianling706 CE
In the fifth month of 706, Tang Zhongzong had Wu Zetian buried at Qianling with Emperor Gaozong, in accordance with her final instructions.
