western-style clockwork was made the official means of time-keeping and the bells and drums finally fell silent.
It was not only the end of an era and a political system, but also of a way of life for the city, in
The so called Yongle Bell of the Beijing Bell Tower, an object not to be confused with the official "Great" Yongle Bell found at the Beijing Great Bell Temple of the Haidian District, is the largest Bell ever to be produced in ancient China. Made out of bronze and created in the early 15th century along with the rising new Imperial Capital the bell is 5.55 meters high. Including its suspender, which is the best appreciated from the eastern side or western side on the outside of the platform, the bell construction is 7.02 meters high, dwarfing anyone standing beside it. This gigantic bell measures 3.4 meters in diameter, with a thickness ranging between 120 and 245 millimeters. The bottom edge thickness of the bell is 24.5 centimeters. The total weight of the bell is an astonishing 63 thousand kilograms (138,891 pounds). There is an inscription on its edge.
Previous to the bronze bell currently seen hanging suspended in the tower, the bell tower had an iron bell. This iron bell has a height of 4.2 meters and a diameter, a thickness of 17 centimeters and a total weight if 25 tons, significantly less than the current bronze bell.
Due to the fact that most people including the Emperor did not appreciate the high pitched sound of this bell, it was removed not too long after the initial construction of the tower in the Ming Dynasty. Afterwards, for some 500 years, it remained stored in the nearby Drum Tower. However, more recently it was taken away to the Great Bell (Dazhong) Temple in the Haidian District of Beijing, where it can be seen on display together with a staggering multitude of other historic bells from towns and villages in north China.
Although the Great Bell Temple (大钟寺) prides itself in the largest collection of Bells, it is by no means the home of the largest bell in China. The Great Bell of the Beijing Bell Tower is the largest and the
This page was last updated on: June 17, 2017
Having made it up the many stone stairs hidden within the long frame of the Bell Tower one is greeted by an abundance of light reigning down from the sun, which with purpose, always passes in sight along the southern horizon as it presents itself from the high platform. At the time of the conception of city and towers in the early Ming Dynasty Era, in order to keep an accurate time it was necessary to have the sun in sight during daytime, and the moon and where possible the stars at night. Although later in feudal history in China there were other noted evices such as clepsydra's able to keep the time reasonably accurately, the best method yet was to keep track of the sun, the moon and the stars. As was shown clear enough be the expeditions of the Yongle Emperors close aide the Admiral Zheng He, which were made in the same era that the Bell Tower was constructed, the Chinese were excellent astronomers and by that time in the Ming Dynasty were able to navigate using the sighting of the stars and a compass.
The long climb in the darkness is suddenly replaced by the bright glaring light and the sight of the Drum Tower (Gulou) which sits across the longitudinal Bell-and-Drumtower Square or courtyard. As the closest structure of interest, and also the largest for some distance, the Drum Tower usually attracts the eyes the first. Later one's attention can turn to rest of views on the Beijing Skyline.
A mid-high white marble balustrade prevents the worst from happening, otherwise there is nothing much to see on the narrow platform space but the grey tiling of the floor. The white marble balustrade has interesting carved patterns, with cloud patterns visible on the "boards" set between the pillars.
A tight corridor allows visitors to venture around in both the eastern and western direction, allowing for further viewing of the impressive old Bell and of course the various districts of Beijing visible beyond the balustrade.
Providing the time of day for the entire city (although the Imperial Palace kept its own time) and dictating activities in the daily cycle of life the Yongle Bell can be seen as the heart and the spirit of the people of the old feudal era city. For centuries, the bell was struck according to a strict schedule which itself was based on the then operative Lunar Calendar. As a result the difference with the current day calendar and time calculation methods, the bell was not struck 28 times a day but 36 times a day. In the morning hours (roughly corresponding to ante meridiam) the beats were struck fast after each other, after mid day (the 18th strike) the rhythm for ringing the hour was slower, thereby showing which part of the day it was.
In the same calendar, there were 12 months in a year. A Month however was made up of 6 hou (climate), which themselves counted 5 days. In addition, until the Christian Jesuits under leadership of Matteo Ricci arrived at the Ming Court helped create a much more accurate calendar for the Chinese Emperor, the year often did not entirely add up in the end, so every few years a day had to be skipped or ignored.
The Telling of time tradition in Beijing was abondoned together with the old Emperor in 1924 AD and the tower remained inactive during the years of the Cultural Revolution (1966 AD - 1976 AD). The towers were restored in the 1980's after the passing away of "Chairman" Mao Zedong and the according earthquake that shook the city only weeks before. The only damage is reported to the Bell Tower in that massive earthquake event, was the loss of a single stone animal head decorating the roof. It is however mentioned in the book "The Peoples Doctor, George Hatem and China's Revolution" how several hutong dwellings including Doctor Hatems own sustained damage in the area near the "rear lake", the houhai which is not too far from the Bell Tower. As a result of the earthquake the Doctor had to move elsewhere temporarily, while repairs to the house were being made.
Not too many years after the quake and the death of the tyrant, after life in China had refound itself a bit and prosperity and hapiness became possible again, some of the tradition was restored.
The massive 63 ton Yongle Bell seen hanging suspened on a wooden frame within the Bell Tower of Beijing.
View of the adjacent Drum Tower (Gu Lou) of old Beijing from the top platform of the Bell Tower.
From the platform of the Bell Tower one can clearly make out parts of the northernmost lake (Houhai) and the Qianhai (Heavenly Lake) which connects with it extending southward. It is on the south shores of these lakes that the Prince Gong Palace stands, which is the ancestral home of the last feudal Emperor of China, the above mentioned "Henry" Pu Yi (Life: 7 February 1906 – 17 October 1967). Today it is a well visited tourist magnet which lies within hiking distance from the Bell Tower.
Beyond the glittering waters one can make out the massive Bai Tai, white Dagoba of Beihai Park. Until recently, Beihai's White Dagoba , itself constructed long after the construction of the Bell Tower, was one of the easiest visible and most recognizable points along the far horizon, however in recent years much has changed.
In the west, where during the entire Feudal
Squinting against the sunlight in the afternoon, one can clearly see the waters of the nearby Houhai glistening. Beyond it the white marble dagoba of north lake park (Beihai) forms another surviving part of the ancient city lay out.
Great Bell of the Great Bell Temple is smaller with only a height of 6.94 m. (22.77 feet) including suspender, a diameter of 3.3 meters and a weight of a mere 46.5 tons (102, 514.95 pounds). The bottom edge measures 22 centimters versus the 24.5 centimeters of this bell in the Bell Tower. As a final measure, the Yongle Bell of Dazhong Temple can produce a sound that can be heard at a distance of can be carried 15 kilometers (9.32 miles) away, whereas the sound of the bell in the Bell Tower is known to carry as far as 20 kilometers or more on a clear day.
The Bell Tower itself is a 47.9 meters high square stone structure with a wide base which makes it especially earthquake resistant. The original Bell Tower was built during in the year 1272 AD at the very
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The Yongle Bell viewed from the east side of the platform which shows it suspended on a 8 legged wooden frame.
Satellite Image Map of Bell Tower (Zhonglou) and surrounding area of Beijing, by AsiaReport.com
View of the Drum Tower across the balustrade of the top platform at the Bell Tower. Down below tourist and other people dwell in the longitudinal courtyard set between both of the towers. While the sun blazes in from the south, flocks of pigeons fly about the towers and hutong courtyards below (Photo: November 2004).
View of the Drum Tower across the balustrade of the top platform at the Bell Tower. Down below tourist and other people dwell in the longitudinal courtyard set between both of the towers. While the sun blazes in from the south, flocks of pigeons fly about the towers and hutong courtyards below (Photo: November 2004).
is taken up by the Drum Tower, which in some respects annoyingly prevents the viewing of what seems the most interesting part of the sky, the southern direction with Jingshan and the Palace Museum and Square of Heavenly Peace beyond. No such view is offered, although interestingly -providing the sky and air are clear and clean- the tower of the Capital Hotel within the so called (former) Foreign Legations Quarter just east of the Square of Heavenly Peace can be seen. Other towers within the Dongcheng
Thus, although a Republic had been proclaimed in the year 1912 AD, the Bell and Drum Towers continued to function as the official timepiece of Beijing until the year 1924, when at last Aisin-Gioro Pu Yi was forced to leave the Forbidden City, soon falling under Japanese influence.
Meanwhile in Beijing after 1924 AD, as a sign of modernization,
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which everyone did everything at the same time because the bell and drum gave the signal to do so.
Naturally, the Bell did not just operate individually, but its signal was combined with the working of the large drums sitting inside the wooden frame of the drum tower.
The signals went on by day, but also by night.
The ancient Chinese scientists in charge of the calendars, observatory and rituals divided each night into five periods (Wu) in which each period covered about two modern hours. At dusk (19:00 PM) the Bell would strike the first period which would last until 21:00 PM. At 21:00 PM the Hai Period was sounded, starting the second period of the evening. Zi period was the name of the third period (23:00 - 1:00 AM), Chou Period - which translates as "when the cock crows" was between 01:00 AM and 3:00 AM, Finally, the Yin period, the Bright period of daybreak between 03:00 AM and 05:00 AM was considered the fifth and last period of the night.
Both the first and the last periods were announced by a ringing of the enormous bell, which after it had completed its signal was followed by the sound of the Drums just beyond. In the dead of night between the second and the fourth period, only the bronze bell of the Bell Tower was struck, preserving harmony.
In addition to the sounding of the hours and the rhytm of day and night, the bell also sounded at the closing of the city gates which fell during the Wu period. After that time, the city was supposed to be asleep. After the closing of the gates, the last traffic died down,
Viewed from the east side of the platform over surrounding Hutong and the eastern parts of the Dongcheng District. Many of the nearby hutong have been lost to various forms of development since the taking of this photo in November of 2004.
gates were closed and locked and curfews went into effect. No one wandered the streets unpermitted and at the this time of night only Police Patrols and the special envoys of the Emperor were supposed to be out at night.
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District have now claimed their place in the view but in general, no other monuments can be seen but the White marble Dagoba at the Green Jade Island in Beihai Park. This ancient monument, and the home of the protective deity of the city of Beijing, is visible a bit west and to the right of the Drum Tower beyond the waters of the nearby Qianhai Lake.
Although one would almost forget about it altogether after having experienced the breath taking views across the city, the "other" main attraction of the Bell Tower stands behinds everyone's back sheltered within the stone arches of the upper segment of the Beijing Bell Tower. This is the Bell of the Beijing Bell Tower created in the Yongle Reign (17 July 1402 AD – 12 August 1424 AD) of the Ming Dynasty (1368 AD - 1644 AD), a popular historical relic which still holds some of its ritual functions today.
The Capital Hotel tower at Qianmen Dongdajie visible in the distance.
In the east, in the area's of the Dongcheng District nearer the Bell Tower the building of office towers has so far not occured. When the weather and pollution allow for it one can see well beyond and see the monumental highrises of the
Turn the corners of the balcony of the Bell Tower to get the most of the 360 degree all around view. On a clear day one can see all the landmarks even those in Chaoyang.
strewn throughout the city impressive new highrises,malls and office towers have emerged. Have a walk along the ancient white marble balustrades of the tower and try to recognize the famous scenic spots and modern architectural wonders of today's modern metropolis. Bring binoculars for a full appreciation of the view !
On the New Year's Eve of the year 2001 the nearby Drum Tower was also restored to some of its grace. In the aftermath of its first sounds on the opening of year 2002, it was beaten four times a day, for 15 minutes at a time. Ever since, both towers sound their instruments every New Year Eve, with the drums in the drum tower beaten together 108 times to send a blessing to the people.
Except for admiring the truly unique and impressive Yongle Bell, a hike up the stairs of the Bell Tower of Beijing also rewards with the incredible view of the surrounding area and the far away skyline of the city of Beijing.
Much has changed in this view in the recent years. Down below, the once tranquil and rather inactive hutong have been reduced in their scope, no longer leading away for 100's of meters in several directions. In the place cleared by demolishing hutong to the west of the Bell Tower one can now
Map of the popular ShichaHai (3 Lakes) area of Beijing Old City.
walk along a widened Jiugulou Road. Once a rather narrow main route filled with bus traffic, this road has been widened into a boulevard alongside of which a string of small restaurants and bars have since sprung up. More development of the area may be in store as the Shichahai- Houhai area remains a popular nightlife and outing destination for locals and tourists alike.
On the New Year's Eve of year 1990, the Bell of the Beijing Bell Tower sounded again for the first time in conceivable history. It was struck 108 times in total, referring to a Buddhist tradition attached to the Lunar Calendar. In the old lunar calendar, there are 12 months, 24 solar terms and 72 hou (5 days a hou), which makes for a 108 in total. According to many Chinese adherents to Buddhism, if people have 108 worries these will be removed by the striking of the bell.
It was a special treat for a city which had gone without much of its traditions for such a long time and which had known plenty of sorrows in the years bygone.
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beginning of the Mongolian Yuan Dynasty (1271 AD - 1368 AD)but was part of a Temple. This structure was rebuilt during the rise of the new Ming Capital of Beijing to become its Bell Tower in 1420 AD.
Both the Yuan era and Ming era towers were very different of construction than the current tower and contained considerably more wood, the main reason why the Ming Era Bell Tower burned down in the year 1742 AD of the Qing Dynasty during the reign of the Qianlong Emperor. The tower was rebuilt in the year 1747 AD, but only after a thorough revision of design, leading to the pure stone construction that still stands today.
In order to enhance the sound of the bell in the top of the tower, it was at this time that a sound passage was created among things involving reconstruction of the small courtyard in front of the Bell Tower. One of the functions of the enormous stone ladder leading visitors up to the platform is to make the sound of the bell more resonant and lead it down through and out of the tower. On the outside of the tower the surrounding walled courtyard was reshaped so that it sound might be more resonant, and therefor more simple and rigorous.
In order to be able to bare the load of the enormous Yongle Bell, as well as in order to prevent fire or a ravage due to earthquakes frequent in the region, the entire structure was made out of stone and natural rock.
A good view of the massive wooden frame built in the ming dynasty to hold the 63 ton Bell, the largest such Bell ever produced in China.
The total area taken up by the Bell Tower is 1477.98 square meters. On top the tower is adorned with double eaved traditional style roofing carrying gray glazed tiles. Apart from the magnificent so called "resting mountain" crowning and huge ceramic ceremonial animal, the main roof is made up of tube shaped tiles, as can be seen on many other classical structures within the Dongcheng District and other parts of the old city. The edges of the roof are covered with green glazed tiles for contrast and esthetics.
LEGEND OF THE BELL OF THE BEIJING BELL TOWER:
According to legend of the Bell Tower, an official named Deng tried unsuccessfully for over a year to cast the bell. After an initial mis-casting and other delays the Emperor grew impatient, threatening to have all bronze working carftsmen executed if the project was not completed. On the eve of the final casting, his daughter, fearing that further delays and loss of working time would bring blame on her father, decided to sacrifice her life in order to move the gods to bring about a perfect casting. As such, she threw herself into the molten bronze. Her panic-stricken father could only recover a single embroidered slipper from the flames. Yet, afterwards the casting was a success and the Emperor, moved by the young girl's spirit of sacrifice, named her the "Goddess of the Golden Furnace" and built a temple in her honor near the foundry. By the ordinary people she was remembered as the "Goddess Who Cast the Bell."
After the bell was installed, the chimes could be heard clearly and resonantly all across the city. But on stormy evenings, the bell would emit a desolate moaning sound similar to the word xie, which means "shoe" in Chinese. Recalling the old legend, mothers would comfort their children with: "Go to sleep! The Bell Tower is tolling. The Goddess Who Cast the Bell wants her embroidered slipper back." now
BELL OF THE BEIJING BELL TOWER, LARGEST BELL IN CHINA:
