Solar terms drum tower

"Remember, in the northernmost part of Beijing's central axis, there stands the ancient Bell and Drum Tower. In front is the Drum Tower with red walls and yellow tiles. The bell tower is in the back, with grey walls and green tiles. Drum tower is fat, bell tower is thin. Although they no longer ring twilight drums and morning bells, when they are reflected in the eyes of a willing heart, they still mean a long time. " This is what the famous writer Mr. Liu said in his classic novel "Bell and Drum Tower".

The distance between the Bell Tower and the Drum Tower is about 100 meter, and there is a leisure Little Square in the middle.

The existing bell tower was built in the 10th year of Qing Qianlong (AD 1745). The building is 33 meters high and is of masonry structure.

The existing Drum Tower was built in the 18th year of Yongle (AD 1420). This is a single wooden structure, built on a high brick abutment. The platform is 4 meters high and the building is about 46 meters high.

When Beijing bells and drums strike, they all strike 108. The method is: 18 tight, 18 slow, 18 slow, slow and slow alternately, and knock twice.

The ancients in China used "108" to represent a year, which has 12 months, 24 solar terms and 72 cycles, and the three add up to 108.

In ancient times, telling the time was actually telling the time.

The ancient one to five tables are today's: one table day:19: 00-21:00; Second duty day: 21:00-23: 00; Night performance day: 23: 00-01:00; Four viewing days: Clown 01:00-03: 00; In five days: Yin Shi? 03:00? -? 05:00。 That is, from 19: 00 in the evening to 5: 00 the next morning, * * * is divided into five classes.

The newspaper starts from the first duty, and the daily time starts from the "twilight drum" and ends at the "morning bell".

In the 600-year-old time-telling history, Beijing Bell and Drum Tower has always adopted the time-telling method of "dusk drum and morning bell".

From the Drum Tower to the south, not far away is an ancient hutong, Mibai Xie Jie.

Zhang Zhidong lived here for about two years when he was transferred back to Beijing in the thirty-third year of Guangxu (AD 1907).

The former residence is well preserved, the stone lion at the door is gone, and the zhaobi is still there.

Today, the vicissitudes of Mibai Xie Jie can be described as a quiet place in the hustle and bustle. Surrounded by the excitement around him, like an old man, he is still serene and peaceful.