How did the emperor hold a funeral?

The ancient emperors enjoyed all the splendor before their death, and also talked about funeral ostentation and extravagance after their death.

According to relevant historical records, emperors usually choose a place with good geomantic omen during their lifetime as the address for burial of tombs after death.

Since the emperor shunzhi in Qing Dynasty, the tombs of emperors and empresses have been located in Dongling (Zunhua, Hebei Province) and Xiling (Yixian, Hebei Province). Before they died, even when they were young, they ordered craftsmen to build an "underground palace" for themselves, so that they could enjoy the happiness of ghosts in the afterlife. For example, the cemetery of Empress Dowager Cixi was built for 35 years and spent countless money.

The coffins of the emperors and empresses of the Qing Dynasty (called Zigong by the emperor) were all made of golden nanmu made in Yunnan, and the freight for wood alone was as high as 65,438+12,000 silver. After the coffin is finished, 7749 layers of paint should be painted inside and outside.

After the emperor's death (called Yan Jia or his death), he should choose an auspicious day for his funeral, then stop for a few days and hold a funeral, such as mourning activities, and then choose an auspicious day in the ecliptic for funeral and burial.

Before the funeral of the emperor's coffin, porters (coffin bearers) should be called and carried out in Deshengmen according to the scale and requirements of the official funeral (practice) 10 day. The bartender first lifts a single dragon wood (about 10 thousand Jin) with the same weight as the coffin, and puts a bowl of water on it until the water in the bowl can't be spilled. At the same time, migrant workers will be sent to work day and night to repair the imperial road leading to the mausoleum.

On the day of emergence, the priceless Dafa boat should be burned first, and the coffin should be carried out of Donghuamen with a small bar (72 people). At this time, the palace rushed out, and the leader of 64 people walked in front of the coffin, holding high the national flag umbrella. Then the emperor's humble guard of honor, as many as 1628 people, each with different weapons, was magnificent.

Porters carrying coffins are divided into three shifts, each shift 128 people take turns to carry them. Walking behind the coffin are the eight banners armed to the teeth. Behind is the team of officials, royalty, imperial clan, and car sedan chairs are continuous.

There are also a large number of monks, Taoist priests, nuns, Taoist priests and lamas in the funeral procession. They wear vestments and hold musical instruments, playing and chanting along the way. Along the way, a group of people specially distributed paper money, and the whole funeral procession was more than ten miles long.

From Beijing to the cemetery, there are hundreds of miles along the way. At regular intervals, there is also a reed hall (also called temporary security hall) for undertaker and the funeral procession to rest. This reed hall is very luxurious, and the jade steps and golden tiles set each other off with Zhu Bi.

The emperor spent a lot of money from death to burial (also called Feng 'an). Cixi's funeral lasted nearly a year and cost 6.5438+0.2 million silver.