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Myth of Beijing,Beijing History,A Tale of Beijing

beijing xizhimen 1930 All elements that comprise of the variety of aspects related to this city seem to have found their mythical origins circulated through times, handed down by seniors of the city. Perhaps this is where a substantial common point exists in all the other centries-old cities cross the world. These literary histories however, are always carrying somewhat taboo, rooted deeply in Chinese folk culture, partly reflecting ideologies, values and attitudes of the mass towards nature, the unknown, and the high and mighty. What's interesting and distinctively bewildering, is all these tales can be actually traced into real facts, correspondent to real figures of renown in Chinese history.

Why did Emperors choose the current place to build the Captial of China, Beijing city? - The Tale of the Emperor Yan and Minister Liu Bowen

The Emperor Yan(named Zhuli, 1360-1424), the fourth son of the Beijing Myth Dragon founder of Ming Dynasty-Zhu Yuanzhang, titled as Ming Cheng Zu, then still living in Nanjing(now in Jiangsu province), planned to contruct the seat of capital in Northern area of then China but not sure which peculiar region was the most suitable. He asked one'f the ministers, an outstanding intellectual of versatility- Liu Bo Wen, for recommendations. Liu recommendated a valiant general Xu Da to deal with this mission. Liu said to Xu:" You are of great power and skill in archery, please just shoot an arrow in nortern direction, where the arrow is located could be the place to build the city." Xu did what was commanded. His arrow fell in the Beijing's southern part, where a bunch of landlords risided. The lanlords feared that their lands be confiscated for city contruction, but the minister said to them:"the court could spare your land on the condition that you fund the execution of the building programme. " The landlords consented. However, after building the "Xizhimen city gate", their financial support exhausted. Then the resourceful minister Liu foresaw that a beggar could be in help. When the beggar was called in, he confessed that there were bullions burried under earth. Then minister ordered to excavate the earth and successfully gained the fortune which were used to financially support the final completion of the whole Beijing city. And the huge pits where bullions unearthed were later infused with water and turned to now Beijing's Shi Sha Hai(or Back Sea), the North Sea, and the Middle South Sea. Now, the once beijing xizhimen 1930 XizhimenCity Gate has turned to Xizhimen crossroad,and the Back Sea, now a frequented bar street mostly visited by foreign tourists, a conglomeration of vanguard arts, tangled social networks and insumptuous indulgence of those hunting for recreation and city beats. Back Sea Bar Street: No.5 along northern beach of Beijing Shi Sha Hai, Western District. See Beijing Night Life

"The Brick that Secures the Whole City"?

When one climbs over the Jia Yu Pass, the western starting point of the existing Great Wall of the Ming Dynasty, a spare BRICK could be seen on the back brim of the western wing, which according to legends, is the famous brick who "secures the whole city."

In tales, the emperor of the Ming Dynasty ordered to carried out a construction programme to maintain the strength of Jia Yu Pass Town and the City Gate. The supervisor in duty was a Captin named Hao Kong, who was very cruel and merciless, used to torturing the workers and craftman. Among the workers was a craftman preeminent in accomplishing well-designed, even-formed building of firmness and solidity, named Yi Kai Zhan. And one day Hao, harboring vicousness, asked Yi:" How many bricks to be used to build the Pass exactly?" The latter answered with confidence:" I have counted, in total 999'999 bricks will be needed." beijing xizhimen 1930 Then Hao said:" Really? Aright, I will send bricks exactly as you reported, but if it turns out to be one brick either in short or excessive, you will be beheaded! And the other craftman will be in escuage for three years." After days of hard work, under Yi's direction, the construction was brought to the end. However, a craftman reported there was a spare brick left. Knowing this, Hao shouted out to Yi: you must be killed!" Yi, in aplomb, easy at what Hao said to him, said" This brick is very important, it's specially left here to put on the Pass without which, the whole city will encounter a collapse." At this, Hao had no more words to say and went away.

Now if you could spot the brick there, you will see the brick is hang over the brim imossible for anyone to reach. This special position is a symbol of the hard-attained accomplishement and feat the craftman had achieved, thus the brick as one commemoration.

"The Brave Young Man Gao Liang and The Evil Water Dragon"? beijing myth dragon

According to legends, Beijing was in ancient times an ocean - "a quiet secret place deep in the sea of bitter waters ", and there was an evil dragon under the sea. beijing culture,beijing myth,dragon When the dragon knew his place gonna be invaded he decided to flow all the water away leaving the land as dry and deserted. At this, a yong man named Gao Liang came foward and said he was willing to venture his life to win back water resource which is critical for people's living here. The General in charge of building the capital city told Gao that you must break the bag of the Dragon containing water, then run away without looking back. However the "sweet water bag " was taken away by the mother of the Dragon who hid away from Gao's chase; and the bag he did break was the one containing "bitter water". That's why the water in most wells in this ancient city taste very "bitter". And the life of Gao Liang, was also carried away by the waters. To memorise the bravery and spirit of self-sacrifice of Gao, a bridge was built named "Gao Liang Bridge"(today's 高粱桥). Gao Liang Bridge,beijing gaoliangqiao It's quite rare, among the ancient tales of all the other countires in the world, that humans are set as roles against Gods or Spirits; but in this tale trying to explain the origin of Beijing, Gao is an exception only for striving for goods of the common people.

Tales of the Forbidden City - Actually there is large area in the famous Forbidden City not open to the public tourists. It is said that mysterious and weird events occurred in this unaccessible area after liberation. Inspectors on the tour then guarding the palace reported that they sometimes caught sight of strange beasts, sized bigger than a mouse, looked like porcupines and could run very fast. It's said that these strange beasts are pets kept by the royal.
Wanna know more of the Forbidden City —
Address: No.4, Jingshan Qianjie, Dongcheng District Admission Fee: CNY 40/60
Opening Hours: 8:30-17:00 Bus Route: No.1, 4

The Ancient Well through which sea is seen in Beixin Bridge - As the tale goes, during the time when Japan invaded Beijing, the soldiers wanted to destroy all constructions, historical relics including this ancient well in Beixin Bridge. When they tried to pull out the plug in the well, they heard vague roaring of sea waters looming large from the deeper dark of the well, and kinda fishy smell sank in, everybody getting afraid and gave up pulling out the plug stone.
Address: No.5 Metro

Ghosts at Beijing Bell and Drum Tower -

Tale had it round half century ago that, after the drummer beated the drum, he must have to throw the drumstick at random, and the next day the sticks would be mysteriously put on the right place themselves; but If the sticks were placed in order by the drummer, they would not be found the next day; And also weird things always happened on the tower, there was heavy fog toward evening everyday...if you wanna know more..you can go there and check it out yourself.
Address: Northern end of Di An Men Wai ST., Dong Cheng District

The Longfu Temple of the Ming Dynasty - Lonsfu Temple was built in the Ming Dynasty． beijing Guijie,Gui Street in beijing,Ghost Street It is located in Dongsi．The exact date when Longfu Temple was built is not fixed．In 1901，Lonsfu Temple caught a fire and some halls were burned down．Since then, people never dared to burn anything there．Confusius Temple turned into a trading centre and a tourist favorite．The fair held in Longfu Temple were extremely big, when numerous stalls open; a variety of Chinese special products can be found. Address: No.1 Longfusi Qianjie, Dong Cheng District

Pavilion of the Fragrance of Buddha on the Longevity Hill - Tales had it that there is an imperor concubine's tomb of the Ming dynasty under the Longevity hill. During the Emperor Qianlong(Qing Dynasty)'s excavation of the hill to build a park, the tomb appeared with inscriptions on it: Your life will be endangered should my tomb be destroyed. Then the emperor Qianlong ordered recovering the hill plus building a Temple on the top, which is the pavilion now.

... ...Other Sites of Myths in Beijing

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