Mausoleum Of The First Qin Emperor
Mausoleum Of The First Qin Emperor
According to history, Emperor Qin was the first Emperor in Chinese history to merge the entire country, geographically at least. Regardless, of this venture, there have been conflicts regarding his ruling. Numerous and questionable policies were also in place under his reign. Just as many authoritative figures in history, he too seeks immortality. So, a massive mausoleum was built as his final resting place, with the terracotta warriors defending him for centuries to come. Despite the fact parts of the mausoleum were open since its discovery, huge areas of it continued to be unexplored due to the immense size, and destructive traps that were left. Who knows, maybe one day we will get to pinpoint Qin Emperor’s grave’s actual location.
Ise Grand Shrine
Ise Grand Shrine
An additional religious destination that is forbidden for a different reason is the Ise Grand Shrine. It is a Shinto shrine devoted to the sun goddess Amaterasu and is treated as the holiest Shinto site in the country. To symbolize life and death, the shrine is also liable to be torn down and rebuilt every 20 years. It is such a cherished location, that the emperor makes an annual visit. The Japanese emperor also paid a visit to the Grand Shrines of Ise to mark the end of the inauguration rites.
