Astronomy and Feng Shui in the projects of the Tang, Ming and Qing royal mausoleums: A satellite imagery approach

The royal Chinese mausoleums of the Tang, Ming and Qing Chinese dynasties are astounding ensembles of monuments, conceived and built to assure immortality in the afterlife and perennial fame on Earth for the emperors. To this end, a series of cognitive elements were embodied in the funerary landscapes selected for such monuments, including astronomy, general topography and traditional Chinese “geomancy”. Taking advantage of satellite imagery and paleo-magnetic data analysis, I investigate this issue from a general perspective. In particular, a simple but rigorous approach is developed to determine whether the magnetic compass was used in the planning of such monuments.