Nine gates in the capital city
The ancient city wall in the capital city was built in Yuan Dynasty,but the formation is 1436 in Ming Dynasty.The initial stage of Ming Dynasty, when Liu Bowen built city in Peking, the original 11citygates
were changed to 9. They are“Zheng Yang Men”,“Chong Wen Men”,“Xuan Wu Men”,“An Ding Men”,“De Sheng Men”,“Dong Zhi Men”,“Xi Zhi Men”,“Chao Yang Men”,“Fu Cheng Men”, known as the “Nine gates” or “Nine inner cities” of the capital city.
The nine gates in the capital city were built at the beginning according to the symmetry structure. “Xi Zhi Men”is opposite to “Dong Zhi Men”, “Fu Cheng Men” to “Chao Yang Men”, “Chong Wen Men” to “An Ding Men”, “Xuan Wu Men” to “De Sheng Men”. Only“Zheng Yang Men” has no opposite gate. “Zheng Yang Men” is located in central south, on the medium line of the city, which is the main gate. “Zheng Yang Men” is opposite to the imperial palaces, taking an idea of “the emperor is like the sun,looked by everyone in the world with reverence”, being named “Zheng Yang Men”. There is no gate in the central north, considering it may leak out the power of the emperor. At that time, gate towers were built together with the nine gates, which looked majestic and impressive.
“Zheng Yang Men” is so called “Qian Men”,also the frontispiece of the capital city. It lasted ever after to Qing dynasty, a highest city gate of specification, through which only the emperor can come in and go out. The emperor went out from “Zheng Yang Men”twice a year, one is to go to The Temple of Heaven to worship the heaven, the other is to go to Xian Nong Tan to plant grains on “Waking of Insects”. Some important sections of the government at that time were also set up here.
“Chong Wen Men” was called “Ha De Men” or “Hai Dai Men” during Yuan dynasty. It is where the taxes were imposed. All Businessmen should pay their taxes here. “Chong Wen Men” is also a gate through which the wine curbs went. Most wine workshops were in the southern suburb at that time. The wine way was established outside the city.
“Xuan Wu Men” was for the prison van. The execution ground of Qing dynasty was at “Cai Shi Kou” right out of “Xuan Wu Men”. After the examine and approval, prisoners were dragged out from “Xuan Wu Men”, and killed at “Cai Shi Kou”. Three words were graved on the top of the gate:" late to regret ".
“Chao Yang Men” was for the grain van. At ancient times, grain was transported through river, and was loaded on vans in Tong Zhou. After that, the grain vans were driven to the city through “Chao Yang Men”, on the top of which still carved an ear of rice.
The vans went through “Dong Zhi Men” were more miscellaneous, but mainly were the brick and timber vans. At that time, all brick kilns were built out of “Dong Zhi Men”. The street was paved with stones. There were more than a hundred stores where people can buy any necessaries and household utensils.
“Xi Zhi Men” was so called “water gate”, which is the entrance of water carts .Water from jade spring on jade spring mountain in the west suburb was needed in the imperial palace at that time, so people used water cart to carry water through “Xi Zhi Men” to imperial palace from the jade spring mountain everyday.
“Fu Cheng Men” was the entrance of coal carts because there are plenty of coals in the west of Peking. On the top of the gate hole engraved one plum flower by the businessmen, taking the homophonic of “coal”. So has the word of "Fu Cheng plum flower to report warm spring".
“De Sheng Men” was the entrance of soilders. It means triumph.
“An Ding Men” was the entrance of muck vans. “Zhen Wu” temple was set up there which developed a school of its own among nine city gates.
In addition, there were no hooks in the word”Men” on signboards of the nine city towers. It is said that the emperor is a true dragon Emperor. Dragon lives in the water, which is afraid of hook. In order to avoid the taboo, all the word “Men” has no hook in Chinese character.
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