Dear & I arrived at Zhengyang Gate (or “Zhengyang Men” in Chinese), commonly known as the Front Gate (or “Qianmen” in Chinese), located on the South-North axis of Beijing – Central South of Tiananmen Square, North of Qianmen Street.

Zhengyang Gate was the Front Gate of the inner Forbidden City of Beijing during the Ming (1368-1644), & Qing (1644-1911) Dynasties, now comprising of 2 parts – the City Gate Tower & the Watchtower (or Archery Tower or “Jianlou” in Chinese).

Built in 1421 during the Ming Dynasty, the City Gate Tower is 36.7 metres wide, 16.5 metres deep & 27.3 metres high, sitting on a Brick platform with 1.2-metre-high eave Walls, & trimmed with Grey pantiles & Green glazed tiles. Doors can be found in 4 directions upstairs & downstairs, & the whole building is 42 metres in height, which makes the Zhengyang Gate the highest among all the Gates in Beijing.

City Gate Tower :

The Watchtower was also built during the Ming Dynasty in 1439, in a style resembling that of the City Gate Tower. The Tower has 4 storeys & altogether, there’re 82 embrasures open to the East, West & South sides. Seven rooms on the South are 62 metres wides, 12 metres deep & 26 metres high, & the total height of the Watchtower with its platform is 38 metres, which makes the Watchtower the highest one among those in Beijing.

Watchtower : 

On the 1st storey of the Watchtower is now a Museum of Folk Customs of Beijing where Dear & I visited.

Our tour guide Wang Jing led us walking through the underground passage way of the Qianmen Subway Station before we arrived at the Watchtower of Zhengyang Gate. And before we climbed up the Watchtower to the Museum, we had to have all our bags checked by security guards. And upon entering the Museum, photography was not allowed – thus the following Slideshow contains photos from where we started walking into the underground passage way through the Qianmen Subway Station, to the Watchtower just before we entered the Museum.

Inside the Museum, we were shown the Old Beijing Map by a Chinese Professor who explained to us the Chinese theory (based on Confucianism, Chinese Cosmology & Fengshui) behind the layout & constructions of the Imperial Palace, & its whole Empire in Beijing. We were also shown photos of all kinds of Good & Bad Fengshui constructed Buildings around the world,  from which we were explained the Fengshui reasonings behind them.

The theoretical basis of Fengshui (translated as Wind for “Feng”, & Water for “Shui”) lies in the concept of Qi (the Material Force). Basically, Man & Everything, both the Living & Dead, are under the control of Qi, prevalent in Heaven & Earth. The Qi is believed to flow underneath the Earth & is related to the growths & changes of all the phenomena in the World. Thus the Chinese belief that the Land is a Living Breathing thing filled with the Qi energy, & that individuals should live in harmony with the Wind & Water of our natural environment. If the Qi is not properly treated, the destiny of Man in relation to the site, will be affected. Accordingly, Man & his physical environment are strongly linked, thus good Fengshui is to establish a harmonious relationship between the cosmos & the physical environment & the man-made structures.

The space of Beijing was conceived in terms of a directional ceremony that ultimately pointed to Heaven. The City was founded as Dadu (or Khanbaliq), the new Capital of the Mongolian invaders under the reign of Kublai Khan, grandson of Ghengis khan. In order to gain the confidence of the Chinese, the Mongolian Emperor adopted the Confucian precedents in Architecture & Administration, reinstituting the Examination System in 1315. Dadu was laid out in Squares like a Chessboard, & had a long axis Street leading to a Fortified Palace. 

After the expulsion of the Mongols, the Ming Dynasty produced the Palace compound we know today beginning in 1421, along the same lines, following the Tradition of Walls within Walls. organised in wards for the different people (the wealthier ones staying closer to the Palace) gathered in the City leading up to a Walled Inner City in the North for all the supporting Staffs & Administrators of the Empire, inside which is the Forbidden City (or Purple City as it was commonly known). It’s an Architectural demonstration of the order of the Political World – the rituals carried out meant to appease Heaven & demonstrate that the Order of the World is functioning & that everyone is in their orderly place.

An artificial Mountain was piled up with the Earth used to make the Moat (filled with Water) surrounding the Chinese Imperial Empire to terminate the axis. This was to satisfy the geomancy rules of Fengshui to interrupt the grand axis. And throughout the Palace there’re Spirit Walls & Mirrors & Bells on the eaves, all of which are part of the Fengshui tradition of thwarting the ill disposed axis. The positive Qi energy is gained by contained spaces like those of the Courtyards. And there’s the Temple of Heaven (or “Tiantan” in Chinese) In the Southern suburbs of Beijing outside the Walls of the enclosed Imperial City where the Emperor made sacrifices to the Heavens. The City was laid out in a cosmological fashion in which most men, including the Emperor, would find their destiny already prescribed.

Old Beijing Map :

We were later led to a higher level room where we were sat down & introduced to more Fengshui theories such as the Chinese Five Elements (or “Wu Xing” in Chinese – Wood, Fire, Metal, Earth & Water). All Chinese astrological sciences including the times, years & dates of birth are categorised as one of these Five Elements, & the Five Elements are also associated with Colors, Seasons & Directions & Planets. 

In the Productive Cycle – Fire produces Earth, which produces Mental, which produces Water, which produces Wood, which produces Fire.

The Destructive Cycle is just as important as the Productive Cycle, as the process of decay makes room for growth – Wood breaks up Earth, which absorbs Water, which eliminates Fire, which melts Metal, which chops Wood. 

We were also introduced to Fengshui ornaments, such as the Pixiu, which were on sales. 

In Chinese mythology, the Dragon King has 9 children : Qiuniu, Chafeng, Pulao, Xuanni, Bixi, Bian, Fuxi & Pixiu. Dragons are believed to have Supernatural Power in changing weather & ruling the oceans & so naturally the Sons of the Dragon King are all Powerful.

Pixiu is able to fly & has the Head of  a Dragon, the Body of a Horse & the Legs of a Kylin. In fact, Pixiu has 26 figures & 49 incarnations. Gold, Silver, Jewels & all other Treasures are the Pixiu’s staple food. That gives the Pixiu a noble temperament which helped it win the love of the Jade Emperor & the Dragon King. One day, may be cos it’s eaten too much, it relieved its bowels in the Jade Emperor’s Palace. The angry Emperor beat the Pixiu & removed its anus. When news spread among the Chinese people, they regard the Pixiu as an Auspicious animal that can help in making Fortunes. The Chinese people called the Pixiu the “Fortune Beast”. 

Pixui (referred to as Piyao in its Heavenly form) is both Ferocious & Powerful & worked as a Security Guard of Heaven, resisting Demons & Ghosts. Pikan is its Sea form & Pixiu is its Earth form.

Fengshui experts say that Pixiu can Protect homes, bringing Happiness & Good Luck, exorcise Devils & raise Fortunes & Power for the Master. Pixiu absorbs Wealth from all directions cos it has no anus. signifying Money coming in without going out. Pixiu also absorbs Evil & the Evil cannot escape & infect the place it protects.

Chinese Folklore says that Pixiu has helped Emperor Huang Di to defeat his opponent. And the ancient Warriors of China were described as Brave as Pixiu, even the words “Pixiu” was written on Military Banners to symbolize Winning & Conquering.

Dear & I standing outside the Museum on the 1st storey of the Watchtower of Zhengyang Gate, after visiting the Museum - with the City Gate Tower behind us. Dear’s holding the Fengshui Pixiu which we bought inside the Museum.

Dear bought the following Jade Pixiu – our most priced Souvenir from Beijing.

Our Shiny Beautiful Jade Pixiu (as it has 2 Horns it’s also called “Tianlu” meaning Heavenly Authority).

Both Dear & I fell in love with this Pixiu when we first saw it looking so Shiny & Beautiful with its big wide mouth opened so widely (meaning it can “eat” alot of Wealth & Treasures). Also, we find it very Unique & Special cos it has a Baby sprawled on top of its Back (meaning it can bring us children!).

Out of Fate & liking the Pixiu so much & feeling very good about it, & with the belief that Fengshui does help enhance our Luck & Fortune in our Household, Dear & I decided to bring the Pixiu home with us – we named it “YuYu” (meaning “Jade Jade” in Chinese).

Actually, we were told by the Chinese Lady Professor (from the Museum) that we should not say we “bought” YuYu, but rather that we “invited” (or “Qing” in Chinese) YuYu home, cos YuYu has already gone through chanting & “Kai Deng” (meaning “Open Light”) prayers in Chinese Temple.

The below pic shows 2 Chinese Symbols Seal Stamps under “YuYu” – one is of a Round with a smaller Square attached with 4 Lines in the middle Symbol under the left front leg, & the other is of the Chinese Character “雲” (meaning “Cloud” in English) under the belly :

Well, according to the Chinese Lady Professor, all the Fengshui Pixius from Zhengyang Gate are stamped with such Seals to symbolize their genuinity, & that should one wana ”invite” Pixiu home, he/she should come only to Zhengyang Gate in Beijing, & not other parts of China such as Shanghai etc, cos only the ones in Zhengyang Gate with the Seals/Stamps are genuine ones that’ve gone through prayers.

Now, the following very much smaller golden brown Jade Pixiu was a gift to Dear from the Chinese Lady Professor from whom we invited “YuYu”.

The Professor also gave me a small Jade Pixiu pendant for Good Luck, but unfortuantely I forgot where I kept it at home so I can’t take a photo of it to show you.

We soon left Zhengyang Gate walking through the Qianmen Subway Station to our Chinese driver Sifu’s vehicle. Along the way, we saw Blood Donations Tent at the roadside where there were people queuing to donate blood to the Sichuan Earthquake victims.

I’ve put the photos taken from walking from the Zhengyang Gate to the carpark where Sifu’s vehicle was parked in the below Slideshow :