ABSTRACT
Empress Xiaoduan was the longest serving empress in Ming history. In Ming-dynasty terms, Xiaoduan’s position in relation to Wanli is higher and more prestigious than that of Xiaojing’s, which honors Xiaoduan’s rank as the principal empress. Wanli took great interest in the construction of the mausoleum and visited the site several times during the five-year construction period, often accompanied by empress dowagers and consorts. The elevation of Xiaojing to the position of empress dowager followed correct protocol given that she was the mother of the emperor. Her re-burial into the Ding Mausoleum must also have been seen as an opportunity to right past wrongs following the death of Wanli, as officials criticized Consort Zheng for her treatment of Xiaojing. Xiaoduan’s body was arranged on her back, while Xiaojing’s was arranged in a similar fashion to Wanli but with her knees bent and it is unclear whether it can be interpreted as the position of ‘auspicious sleep’.
