China Xi'an Bell Tower and Drum Tower were built more than 600 years ago by Ming Dynasty emperor Zhu Yuanzhang to move the capital, but the plan was eventually abandoned.
In many places in China, drum towers and bell towers were built in ancient times to tell time, originating from the Tang Dynasty tradition. Bells were rung in the early morning to signal the opening of the city gates for people to enter and exit, and drums were rung in the evening to remind people to close the city gates and enforce curfew.
Xi'an is home to the largest and best-preserved bell tower and drum tower in China. They were both built during the reign of Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang (1328-1398), founder of the Ming Dynasty, which ruled China from 1368-1644.
Drum Tower and Bell Tower in Xi'an. Video: Pear
After overthrowing the Yuan Dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang established his capital in Nanjing. He later had the idea of moving the capital to Xi'an, hoping that the dynasty he founded would be as prosperous as the Western Han and the Great Tang, both of which had their capitals here.
In 1380, he ordered the construction of the Drum Tower in the center of Xi'an. The tower itself is 34 meters high, with a height of 36 meters including the base, built on a rectangular plot of land nearly 1,400 square meters wide. The tower itself is made of bricks and wood, the roof is covered with gray tiles, the inside is painted red and gilded, and the wooden pillars are elaborately carved.
The tower had two floors and originally contained a giant drum, but it no longer exists today. In 1996, the city of Xi'an decided to build a new drum modeled after the ancient one. The drum is 1.8 meters high, 2.83 meters in diameter, and weighs 1.5 tons.
The first floor of the tower also has many large drums, decorated with calligraphy to symbolize good luck. These drums are for display only and visitors are not allowed to touch them. Inside the tower is a museum displaying many types of drums, some of which are thousands of years old.
Drum Tower in Xi'an. Photo: Baidu
The bell tower is about 200 meters west of the drum tower and was built in 1384. It is located at the intersection of four main busy streets in the city center. The tower is made of wood and bricks and has the same height and area as the drum tower.
The tower originally contained a large bronze bell from the Tang Dynasty called Jingyun. This bell is now in the museum. The city of Xi'an cast a new replica of the ancient bell, 2.45 meters high, 1.65 meters in diameter, and weighing 6.5 tons. It has been hanging in the northwest corner of the tower since 1997.
Bell Tower in Xi'an. Photo: Ctrip
There is a legend that during the Ming Dynasty, a major earthquake struck Xi'an and the surrounding area, killing and injuring thousands. The cause of the earthquake was a giant turtle in the river that ran through the center of Xi'an.
The governor of Xi'an ordered the city's blacksmiths to make an iron chain several thousand meters long and drop it into the river. He then ordered 5,000 workers to repair the bell tower day and night to suppress the turtle. After that, earthquakes never happened in Xi'an again.
Jingyun Bell was originally hung in the bell tower in Xi'an. Photo: Baidu
The two structures in Xi'an were even larger than the bell tower and drum tower in the then capital of Nanjing, demonstrating Zhu Yuanzhang's intention to move the capital. But in the end, this plan failed. Crown Prince Zhu Xiao died after a trip to Xi'an to survey. Zhu Yuanzhang was heartbroken at the loss of a successor. From then on, he never mentioned the intention of moving the capital to Xi'an again.
After Zhu Yuanzhang's death, Zhu Xiao's son Zhu Yunwen succeeded him and ruled from 1398 to 1402. Zhu Di, Zhu Yuanzhang's fourth son, rose up in 1402 to usurp his nephew's throne and ruled until 1424. He moved the capital to Beijing and built the Forbidden City.
Hong Hanh (According to Pear/Baidu )
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