Emperor Yongle, who ascended to the throne in 1368, had a grand vision for his father’s tomb. He commissioned the construction of a monolithic stone stele, which was to stand at over 70 meters high and be carved from mountain rock. The project was a testament to the emperor’s desire to honor his ancestors and leave a lasting legacy.
However, the project faced many challenges. The stele was made of limestone from the Yangshan quarry near Nanjing, southeastern China. Although this mine had been a primary source of stone during the Six Dynasties period, it was no longer as prominent by Yongle’s time. Furthermore, moving such a massive stone (weighing 31,000 tons) from the quarry to its intended location would have been impossible due to its weight.
Despite these challenges, Yongle persisted in his project. However, ultimately it was canceled due to its immense size and weight. It is unclear why exactly it was canceled, but it is likely that practical considerations played a significant role. Nevertheless, Yongle’s efforts did not go entirely to waste. Instead of building the giant stele at his father’s tomb, he commissioned a smaller one that was installed at the Minh Hieu mausoleum in Nanjing.
Although Emperor Yongle’s giant stele project did not come to fruition as planned, he left behind many other impressive accomplishments during his reign. He repaired the Grand Canal, moved the capital to Beijing (where he built several iconic structures like the Forbidden City and Nanjing Porcelain Tower), and continued his father’s work on expanding trade with other countries in Asia and beyond.
Today visitors can still see remnants of Yongle’s ambitious project at the Yangshan quarry near Nanjing. The abandoned base of the stele stands as a reminder of what could have been and an indication of how difficult even seemingly impossible projects can be when they are undertaken with great ambition and determination.
Emperor Yongle may have abandoned his dream of creating a giant stone stele for his father’s tomb but he left an indelible mark on China through his reign and accomplishments that continue to inspire people today.
The Yangshan quarry may no longer be as prominent today but it remains an important site for visitors interested in Chinese history who come to see remnants of this gigantic unfinished stone monument that stood at over 70 meters high and weighed 31,000 tons.
