What was the gold-plated water tank in the Forbidden City used to do?

Since China recorded history, divination and geomantic omen have been closely related to people's lives. Both people in the former feudal dynasty and people in the new society love the theory of geomantic omen, and everything has to be related to geomantic omen. The so-called "gathering wind and gas, getting water is the best" is the precipitation of thousands of years of culture. Therefore, in many families in China, when ordinary natural conditions can't meet the needs of mountains and rivers, they will put some water tanks and fish tanks to make up for the geomantic omen. If nothing else is said today, let's talk about this water tank! Speaking of the place with the most water tanks, it is the Forbidden City, which is called "the best in the world".

Friends who have been to the Forbidden City should have heard that several gold-plated copper cylinders in front of the three halls of the Forbidden City were scraped clean with bayonets by greedy western powers in Eight-Nation Alliance 100 years ago. Although historical records record that there were 308 jars in the palace when the Qing Dynasty perished, there are not many left so far! It is said that the most expensive casting cylinder was in Qing Dynasty, and the cost of casting 18 copper cylinder was as high as 1 1 ten thousand RMB. Why don't they plan to do so much decoration in the local area? In the imperial palace, which has always paid attention to the solemn hierarchy, many water tanks were arranged from the former dynasty to the harem. Is this made in the palace to recuperate Feng Shui?

You know, in the feudal hierarchical society in ancient China, there were different levels of artifacts. However, this jar belongs to the inferior and vulgar thing that can't get on the table. Compared with the incense burner turtle crane on the white marble pedestal of the palace, it is really nothing to mention, extremely humble! But as it happens, only these barrels are covered with gold. Emperors, who have always been self-abased, want to put such vats in the most solemn place under the sun, and even daub them with precious gold. Of course, they have special needs.

In the eyes of these emperors, it is their mascot. The so-called ruling clique needs such good luck to pray for peace! These cylinders are called auspicious cylinders, also called Taiping cylinders. Generally speaking, they are all made of iron and copper. According to its material, it can be divided into iron urn, bronze urn and gold-plated urn, and these three urns also have a name used by * * *, that is "door sea".

Of course, their main function is not decoration, but the "fire pond" at that time, which can be said to be much more advanced in thought! As we all know, the main components of ancient buildings in China are all wood. Once they catch fire, they will be out of control, so fire prevention is extremely important. Some people may ask, how much can a cylinder do? Not really. If it doesn't have a big effect, it can always be used as a starting point! At that time, there were no advanced fire-fighting facilities, and only a large number of large water tanks were cast for fire prevention and disaster relief. Because the winter in Beijing is particularly cold, in order to prevent the water in the tank from freezing, in winter, every vat will be wrapped in a quilt and coal will be burned under the vat.

There really was a fire in this palace in history. The Palace Museum was built in A.D. 1420. In the following year, a big fire broke out in the Forbidden City, which burned three expensive and magnificent halls, that is, the Golden Hall, which we often hear, into a pile of rubble. This was a great blow to the court at that time, and even to Zhu Di, the Ming emperor, because he brought together 65,438+10,000 craftsmen and craftsmen in this unparalleled palace. It is also a symbol of the emperor's power. This fire not only burned the material palace, but also burned the majesty and face of the emperor. In the following time, the burned Golden Throne Hall was in ruins. It was not until 19 that Ming Chengzu accumulated enough wealth to rebuild the three halls.

The oldest existing mouth of the Forbidden City was cast in Hongzhi four years of Ming Dynasty (A.D. 149 1), more than 500 years ago. During the reign of Emperor Wanli, gilded bronze pots were cast, four of which were placed in front of Gan Qing Palace, which was the living palace of the Qing emperor.

In the Qing Dynasty, there were 18 golden seas in the Forbidden City, which were the so-called vats among the general population. These are all cast by rich children, each of which can hold three tons of water. Think about how big it is! according to

According to relevant records, each can weighs 1.696 kg and costs about 520 silver. With the 120 gold wrapped in the outer layer, the casting cost is equivalent to 600,000 yuan, accounting for 18 * * accounting for1080,000 yuan! The cost of 65,438+08 copper cylinder cast in Qing Dynasty is equivalent to RMB 65,438+065,438+0 million. Why don't they plan to do so much "decoration" locally?

Generally speaking, it seems that the ancient people put water tanks between the yard and the house, not all for today's illusory goals, but more for nip in the bud, to protect their families and property to the maximum extent when the fire comes, and more for practical functions. Of course, we say that although there are many things in life that seem mysterious and nonsense, what can be handed down in history has the simplest truth, so when facing those historical heritages, we should not only know why, but also know why.