DAIDU: THE YUAN CAPITAL

People know that Beijing (Peking) is the capital of People's Republic of China. But people maybe do not know that Beijing (Northern Capital) was the capital of Greator Mongolian Yuan States in XIII -XIV centuries. In these days Beijing was named Daidu (Tatu or Khanbalig, Great Capital). According to earlier Chinese resources, the rulers of the Liao Dynasty (Qidan, Khidan or Tomor Ulus, A.D. 916-1125, Mongolian-speakers who gradually became Sinicized) were first to establish their capital in the inner side of the Great Wall and called it "Nanching" (South Capital). The Kin Dynasty (Zurchidiin Altan Ulus, A.D. 1115 - 1234) rulers also made it their capital and named it "Chungtu" (Middle Capital). In the Greator Mongolian Yuan States (A.D. 1272 - 1368), a new capital was built northeast of the old capital of Liao and Kin Dynasties.

The building of Daidu began in the 4th year of the reign of Chih Yuan (1267). Grand in scale and systematic in plan, it was a metropolis of contemporary world frame. After the Great Mongolian Yuan Empire, the Ming rulers gradually rebuilt and expend the southern half of Daidu into Peking of the Ming Dynasty, and following the Ching Dynasty (Manchu Ching Ulus, A.D. 1620 - 1911).

What is left from the Yuan Capital city?

TEMPLE OF THE WHITE PAGODA AND WHITE STUPA.

The Temple of the White Pagoda, formally known as Miao Ying Temple, was opened in 8th year of Zhi Yuan(in 1271) and the white stupa was designed by a well-known Nepalese architect and technologist Arniger. The White Pagoda (50.9 metres in height) is the largest existing Yuan Dynasty Pagoda. The stupa occupies 810 square meters and contains three sections: the base, the body and the head. The body is like a huge upside-down alms bowl bound with seven huge iron hoops.with seven huge iron hoops. The conical head of the stupa is composed of the 13 concentric rings of the vault of heaven, at the zenith, these rings are topped with a plateshaped canopy, there are 36 strings of engraved copper tassels and bells hanging around the edge of the canopy. In the center of the canopy stands the crown of the stupa. It is located in a little lane on the northern side of Fu Cheng Street. Do not confuse with the white pagoda in Beihai Park, which has the same style.


THE DRUM TOWER AND THE BELL TOWER.

The Drum Tower(gulou) is one of the oldest buildings in Beijing The present building, nearly 600 years old, was once the centre of the old Mongol capital, Da Du, founded in the 13th century.The Drum Tower is 46.7 metres high. It is an arched wooden structure with three layers of upturned eaves, covered with grey tubeshaped tiles and edged with green glazed tiles. In the past there were a Bronze Clepsydra, 24 drums and one main drum on the second floor, but now only the drumhead remains there. The Tower itself has a solid brick base with three passageways in the north-south direction and one passageway in the east-west direction. It is located due north of Coal Hill (Jing Shan Park) at the north end of Dianmen Street, the Drum Tower lies on a north-south axis, passing through the Forbidden City and Tian An Men Square. The Bell Tower(zhonglou), situated due north the Drum Tower, was built in the 9th year of the Zhi Yuan period of the Yuan Dynasty (1272). Later it was burnt down. It was rebuilt in the 10th year of the Qian Long period of the Qing Dynasty (1745). The Bell Tower stands 47.9 metres high. It is an ancient domed, double-eavedtower made of stones and bricks covered with black glazed tiles and edged with green glazed tiles with no beam in the building. It appears a semi-sphere in the center of the roof over the second floor. Under the octagonal bell rack, there hangs a big bell which was inscribed with " It was built on a lucky day, month and year under the reign of Emperor Yongle" The Bell Tower is 63 tons in weight and is the biggest ancient bell in China.


THE WHITE PAGODA OF THE BEIHAI PARK.

When Beijing became the capital of the Yuan Empire, Khubilai Khaan had the park splendidly designed. The large picturesque stones on the park grounds were brought here from the Imperial Garden of the Northern Song Capital, Kaifeng. In 1651, the White Pagoda was built on the site of the ruins of Guanghan Palace which had been destroyed by an earthquake. The present structure was a later reconstruction. The lamaist pagoda is 35.9 meters high with a tiered base and a body like an upturned bowl. Sutras in Tibetan language are carved inside the front gate. Fourteen copper bells hang from its copper canopy on top of which is a gilt ball like a flame.