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June 13, 2026Open Access

Site selection principles and geocomputational modeling for the imperial tombs of the Ming and Qing Dynasties in China

Key Points

The study aims to examine the site selection principles for the Imperial Tombs of the Ming and Qing Dynasties based on Feng Shui principles.
Utilized DEM elevation data, water network data, and remote sensing images.
Developed a geocomputational modeling of site selection principles (GMSP) using the Maxent model.
Validated the model with site data from 23 tombs of Ming Dynasty princes.
The model effectively characterized site selection principles with strong applicability.
Elevation was the most significant geographical factor, followed by mountain ridge, river system, and slope.
Most mausoleums were located in areas with high Feng Shui Index (FSI), confirming the model’s validity.

Abstract

The site selection and construction of the Imperial Tombs of the Ming and Qing Dynasties in China strictly adhered to Feng Shui principles, reflecting the highest funeral institution of Chinese feudal society and its cosmological and philosophical views on life and death over thousands of years. In this study, the Imperial Tombs of the Ming and Qing Dynasties of China are examined using DEM elevation data, water network data, and remote sensing images. The Feng Shui principles of the Form School related to tomb site selection were analyzed, and a geocomputational modeling of site selection principles (GMSP) based on the Maxent model was established to quantify them. The model verified the geographical characteristics involved in the Feng Shui of the Form School. The research findings indicate that: (1) the model demonstrated strong applicability and effectively characterized the site selection principles for the Imperial Tombs of the Ming and Qing Dynasties of China; (2) among geographical environmental factors, elevation contributed the most, followed by mountain ridge, river system and slope; (3) the model’s validity and reliability were further verified using 23 tombs of Ming Dynasty princes, with most mausoleums being located in areas with a high Feng Shui Index (FSI). This study provides a novel computational approach to quantifying and expressing Feng Shui principles in the site selection of the Imperial Tombs of the Ming and Qing Dynasties, and contributes to a deeper understanding of the ancient Chinese cosmology of the “unity of heaven and man” and the life-and-death philosophy of “serving the dead as serving the living.” The methodological framework established here not only provides a practical tool for interpreting the site selection of ancient Chinese cities and traditional villages, but also has significant implications for the preservation and transmission of traditional Feng Shui culture.

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