Ancient Chinese cities were characterized by all having(...)

Cities in ancient China were characterized by all having bell and drum towers.

China's ancient as the most important landmarks in urban architecture have bells, drums, and are built in the center of the city in a prominent position. The role of the bell, the drum tower in addition to the time, the so-called "morning bells and drums" and show the majesty of the outside, itself because of its tall eye-catching building also plays a role in indicating the direction of the role of the ancient city civilization is one of the landmarks of the building. In ancient times, every big city once existed bell, drum tower, many cities still exist, like Beijing and Xi'an drum tower or national treasure unit.

As the ancient capital of Kaifeng eight dynasties originally had a bell and drum tower, also known as China's earliest bell and drum tower, rumored to be created for the Song Dynasty, according to "Kaifeng Shengshu Zhi" records: the city's original bells, drums, two buildings, east and west look at each other to report the dawn and dusk. Regrettably, the Song Dynasty bell, drums and two buildings have long since ceased to exist.

Bell and Drum Tower

Bell and Drum Tower is one of China's traditional architecture, belonging to the bell tower and the drum tower of the joint name, in ancient China is mainly used for chiming the time of the building. There are two kinds of bell and drum towers, one built in the palace and one built in the center of the city, mostly two-story buildings. The bell and drum tower in the palace began in the Sui Dynasty and ended in the Ming Dynasty. It is in addition to the time, but also as a court of honor to control the rituals of the use.

City bells and drums early for the special time building. In ancient times, the city of Li Fang system (see Li) implemented a curfew, morning and evening drumming for the opening and closing of the Fangmen signal. Built in the Ming Hongwu years of Xi'an bell and drum tower is the oldest surviving example. In addition, bells and drums were set up in temples during the Tang Dynasty, and in the Yuan and Ming Dynasties, bell towers and drum towers were built opposite to each other and used exclusively for Buddhist ceremonies.

Refer to Baidu Encyclopedia - Bell and Drum Towers