A farmer herds his sheep nearby the Qianling Mausoleum, the tomb of the third Tang emperor, Li Zhi, and Empress Wu Zetian. It is located on Liangshan Mountain, about six kilometers north of the Qianxian county seat and 80 kilometers from Xi'an, capital of Shaanxi province. [Photo by Deng Hai/cpanet.org.cn]

In ancient China, in order to last imperial power for eternity, imperial mausoleums became a reflection of the social ritual and system. The site selection of the imperial mausoleum was regarded as a matter of primary importance as its feng shui was considered to affect the fate of the whole country. Therefore, the scale of imperial mausoleum reflects the rise and fall of a dynasty.

Due to feng shui factors, 18 Tang Dynasty imperial mausoleums were were built on high mountains and steep slopes, which also had little fertile land. For more than 1000 years, the guardians, who lived near the royal tombs, kept the most primitive way of farming.

Nevertheless, following the footsteps of their predecessors, the figures kept guarding the imperial mausoleums and offered sacrifice to the passing ancestors.

Photographer Deng Hai has focused his lens on the Tang Dynasty imperial mausoleums and the remaining tomb guardians, who devoted their lives to defending China's historical and cultural relics.