The southeastern corner of a large shicangzi (stone burial chamber), positioned below the foundational plinth of the former offering hall. [Photo provided to China Daily]

"While the stone chambers themselves are nearly identical in size and craftsmanship — showing strict adherence to core rituals — aboveground layouts reveal a shift in mindset," Li says.

Earlier mausoleums in the south were austere: tomb, turtle-head hall, and front hall in a simple design embodying the "temporary" ethos.

By contrast, Mausoleum No 7 boasts complex flanking corridors, features previously reserved for utilitarian areas serving ancestral worship and daily management.

"This is a critical signal. It indicates that by the late Southern Song period, even though the political slogan of a temporary burial remained unchanged, the actual construction had begun to transform," he emphasizes, adding that the architecture was becoming more permanent and intricate.

"In simple terms, they probably knew in their hearts that they were never going back," Li says.

Throughout history, the Song mausoleums suffered repeated devastations, earning them the online epithet of "the most tragic imperial tombs in history". However, archaeological discoveries have gradually revealed their profound historical and cultural significance.

As Li points out, these mausoleums, together with the imperial palace, represent far more than just the lofty institutions of the royal family.

"They stand as symbols of cultural heritage involving the collective participation and creativity of society at the time," Li says.

Shou Qinze, a renowned scholar of Song Dynasty civilization and art history, highlights the long and continuous evolution of Chinese rituals, noting that a relatively complete system of ritual customs had already been established as early as the Western Zhou Dynasty (c. 11th century-771 BC).

By the Tang (618-907) and Song dynasties, a comprehensive set of ritual institutions and related cultural practices had taken shape, he says.

Over the past six centuries since the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), the Six Mausoleums of the Song Dynasty saw a distinct sacrificial ritual system and a complete set of ceremonial norms gradually develop, which were highly valued by the descendants, Shou explains.

Despite interruptions due to various historical factors, the tradition was steadfastly maintained, making it a significant example of the enduring and unbroken transmission of Chinese civilization, he emphasizes.

Since 2012, under the overall planning of the National Cultural Heritage Administration and the Zhejiang provincial cultural heritage bureau, the Zhejiang cultural relics and archaeology institute has conducted systematic archaeological surveys, explorations, and excavations at the mausoleum site.

The study of the Six Mausoleums of the Song Dynasty depends more on field evidence.

"Very few early documents have survived, and records from the Ming and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties are often highly misleading," Li says.

"Therefore, we have had to rely almost entirely on field archaeology to rediscover and understand this imperial burial ground."

Specifically, a blend of old and new methods has been applied.

"The most effective way is still traditional manual drilling and excavation — hard, meticulous work," Li admits.

The team applied both traditional and modern methods. Manual drilling and excavation remain irreplaceable, while 3D laser scanning ensures precise recording.

Findings are expected to shape the Song mausoleum archaeological site park. Li envisions the park as both a center for protection and research and a tourist attraction. Visitors would not only witness imperial grandeur but also learn how a mausoleum could be constructed within six to seven months and discover the communities of artisans and guards who sustained the site.

"The six Southern Song mausoleums spanned the entire dynasty. They are a perfect window into that era," Li concludes.

The discovery of Mausoleum No 7 cleans that window, offering a clearer view of a dynasty at a psychological turning point, when hopes of return gave way to a final home of stone, earth, and wood.