“Beacon of the Lu Family Slope, Number 9,” a name echoing through time. Let’s delve into the story of this defensive tower. Beijing, a city steeped in history, has been a capital for over 870 years. Fresh stories emerge constantly thanks to diligent archaeologists. These discoveries span 2,000 years of Beijing’s past. They range from the Western Zhou Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty.
Beijing’s stint as a national capital started in 1153. The Jin Dynasty moved its capital here then. They called it Zhongdu. It was located mainly in today’s Xicheng and Fengtai districts. Archaeologists recently found a gate from the Jin Zhongdu era. This marked a significant find.
Ding Lina, a researcher at the Beijing Institute of Archaeology, said it was their first discovery of a Jin Zhongdu gate. It was also their first time excavating such a structure. The gate’s composition included two piers. These piers stood on the eastern and western sides of a six-meter doorway. Traces of wheels and hoofs were visible. These suggested the comings and goings of carriages and horses.
Outside the gate stood a horseshoe-shaped wengcheng. This was a defensive enclosure. Such structures were often built outside city gates in ancient China. Inside the city, remains of two streets have been found. Guo Jingning directs the Beijing Institute of Archaeology. He noted that the Jin Dynasty rulers used Confucian ideas when building Zhongdu.
City gates bore names with characters for virtues. These included benevolence, righteousness, propriety, and wisdom. Duanli Gate was a southern gate. Its location, shape, and size all align with historical records. This discovery filled a significant gap. Previously, understanding of Jin Zhongdu relied on literature and limited archaeological finds.
Zhang Lixin, director of Beijing Municipal Cultural Heritage Bureau, hailed the discovery. He said it testified to Beijing’s long history as a capital. Beijing has a history of about 3,000 years. It stands as one of China’s four ancient cities. It has been the capital for roughly 700 years. Six ancient dynasties called it their capital. These included the Yuan, Ming, and Qing empires.
The story of Beijing, and of Lu Family Slope, Number 9 beacon tower, is a story of resilience. It is also about adaptation. The city transformed under different rulers. Each dynasty left its mark on Beijing’s landscape. The tower may have stood through some of these changes. It may have been a silent observer. It is a reminder of Beijing’s enduring importance in Chinese history. The defensive tower and others stand as testaments to the past.