Yuanzhou qiaolou

Yuanzhou qiaolou

Yuanzhou qiaolou, also known as Yichun Drum Tower, is located in the walking street of Gulou road in Yichun City, Jiangxi Province. Yuanzhou qiaolou was first built in 944, the second year of Baoda in the Southern Tang Dynasty. In 1219, it was built as a local time Observatory with three functions of time measurement, time keeping and time service.

The qiaolou in Yuanzhou is composed of the main platform, the South observation platform, the North observation platform and the qiaolou on the main platform. The base covers an area of 780 square meters and the main platform is 6.05 meters high. Qiao Lou is built on the platform, with a width of 27.3 meters, a depth of 11.8 meters and a height of 10.8 meters. Close to the north and south sides of the main platform, there is a viewing platform, which is 19 meters long and 7.6 meters wide. The main platform and the north and South viewing platforms are arranged in the shape of "π". Under the city platform, there are stone arches, and the East and West arches are respectively embedded with "Drum Tower" and "afterglow" stone forehead.

On May 25, 2006, Yuanzhou qiaolou was approved by the State Council of the people's Republic of China and announced as the Sixth Batch of national key cultural relics protection units.

Historical evolution

In 944, the second year of Baoda in the Southern Tang Dynasty, Liu renzhan, the governor of Yuanzhou, built Yuanzhou qiaolou, which is a part of Yuanzhou government, namely the Ximen of Yuanzhou City, known as the "Ximen site".

In 1219, a local time Observatory was built in qiaolou, Yuanzhou, with the functions of time measurement, punctuality and time service.

In 1511, Liu Tianxi, the magistrate of Yichun County, rebuilt qiaolou; in 1543, Fan Qin, the magistrate of Yuanzhou, rebuilt qiaolou. During the Wanli period (1573-1620), the old appearance of qiaolou was colored, and a plaque was added, saying "Yingxi Lou" and "worshipping yuan Tiangang on it"; during the war in the late Ming Dynasty, the qiaolou in Yuanzhou suffered from different degrees of damage.

During the reign of emperor Shunzhi of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1662), Wu Nandai, the governor of Yuanzhou, rebuilt the qiaolou and rebuilt the abandoned site of the left learning Office of Yingxi Lou. During the reign of Emperor Kangxi and Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty, the qiaolou was rebuilt again in the seventh year of Emperor Tongzhi of the Qing Dynasty (1868).

Architectural features

The qiaolou in Yuanzhou is composed of the main platform, the South observation platform, the North observation platform and the qiaolou on the main platform. The base covers an area of 780 square meters and the main platform is 6.05 meters high. Qiao Lou is built on the platform, with a width of 27.3 meters, a depth of 11.8 meters and a height of 10.8 meters. Close to the north and south sides of the main platform, there is a viewing platform, which is 19 meters long and 7.6 meters wide. The main platform and the north and South viewing platforms are arranged in a "π" shape.

Cultural relics

There are stone arches under the platform of qiaolou city in Yuanzhou, with "Drum Tower" and "afterglow" stone forehead embedded in the East and West arches respectively. At the bottom of the existing qiaolou, the wall base is built in the Southern Song Dynasty, and there are brick inscriptions in the 11th year of emperor song Chunyou. The foundation of the platform was built in the Ming and Qing Dynasties, with brick inscriptions on the 10th year of Hongwu in the Ming Dynasty, the 16th year of Daoguang in the Qing Dynasty, and the 2nd year of Tongzhi in the Qing Dynasty.

On the north and South observation platforms of Yuanzhou qiaolou, there are seismometers, sundials, ecliptic theodolites and other astronomical observation instruments. In the building, there are time measuring and time reporting facilities such as copper kettles, ancient clocks and drums.

Scientific research achievements

From 1992 to 1994, the Institute of the history of natural sciences of the Chinese Academy of Sciences cooperated with Jiangxi University to research the topic of "Yuanzhou qiaolou, the earliest existing local time working Observatory in China". In October 1994, the science and Technology Commission of Jiangxi Province issued the appraisal report on the scientific and technological achievements of the project, further confirming that Yuanzhou qiaolou is the earliest existing local time working Observatory in China.

Value significance

Qiaolou in Yuanzhou mainly uses "Tonghu dilou" to keep time, report time and serve time. Compared with the "Beijing time" on modern clocks and watches, the measured time is only 20 seconds a day. The discovery of qiaolou in Yuanzhou is of great historical significance and reference value for the study of the history of ancient astronomy in China.

Cultural Activity

Legends and anecdotes

Teng qiangshu building

Teng qiangshu, the newly appointed governor of Yuanzhou, presided over the construction of qiaolou in Yuanzhou. The progress of civil engineering is very fast, but there is trouble in purchasing beam and column materials. Because of the tight time limit, the people who sent to select materials found 24 pieces of Chinese fir which were bought from left to right. Although they are thick, they are not straight enough. After hearing this, magistrate Teng was very anxious, so he called together the craftsmen to discuss what to do. A carpenter looked back and forth at 24 pieces of wood, and suggested: "people can lift things with their hands open, and separate these beams and columns together with the trend. If they are tilted, they should also be able to support the house." After listening to this, we all think it makes sense. As a result, the eight pillars in the East, the eight pillars in the middle and the eight pillars in the West slant to the East, supporting the roof of Xieshan.

 

Activity construction

From January 1 to March 30, 2018, "Yuanzhou qiaolou, astronomical treasure" exhibition was held in Yuanzhou qiaolou.

 

protective measures

In December 1985, with the approval of Jiangxi provincial government, Yuanzhou qiaolou was listed as a provincial scenic spot.

 

In 2003, Yichun Municipal Party committee and government invested in the renovation of Yuanzhou qiaolou, maintaining the original historical appearance of qiaolou, restoring the instruments for measuring time, keeping time and reporting time, such as bronze pot drip, bell, drum, guibiao, etc., and adding celestial instruments such as seismograph, ecliptic theodolite, armillary sphere, sundial, star sundial, human body sundial, etc.

 

On May 25, 2006, Yuanzhou qiaolou was approved by the State Council of the people's Republic of China and announced as the Sixth Batch of national key cultural relics protection units.

 

 

In June 2010, with the approval of Jiangxi Provincial People's government, the legend of Yuanzhou qiaolou was listed in the third batch of provincial intangible cultural heritage list.

 

In 2013, the protection plan of Yuanzhou qiaolou submitted by Jiangxi Provincial Bureau of cultural relics was officially approved by the State Bureau of cultural relics.

 

Tourism information

address

Yuanzhou qiaolou is located in Gulou square, Yuanzhou District, Yichun City, Jiangxi Province.

 

admission ticket

Yuanzhou qiaolou ticket is 5 yuan per person.

traffic

Take Yichun bus No. 1, Yichun bus No. 3, Yichun bus No. 4, Yichun bus No. 5, Yichun bus No. 6, Yichun bus No. 9, Yichun bus No. 10, Yichun bus No. 15, Yichun bus No. 17, Yichun bus No. 21, Yichun bus No. 22, Yichun bus No. 23, Yichun bus No. 26 and Yichun bus No. 27 to reach Yuanzhou qiaolou.

Address: Gulou Road Pedestrian Street, Yichun City Center, Jiangxi Province

Longitude: 114.383184

Latitude: 27.793989