Walk into the Imperial Temple to look for the "dragon": come here to understand the "great unification" of the Chinese nation

　　China News Service, Beijing, February 7th: Heading into the Imperial Temple to look for the “dragon”: Come here to understand the “Great Unification” of the Chinese nation

　　China News Service reporter Liu Wenxi

　　On the inner street of Fuchengmen in Xicheng District, Beijing, there is a magnificent ancient temple with red walls and yellow tiles. Walking into this ancient temple, you can not only find many "dragons", but also learn about the uninterrupted history of Chinese civilization for more than 5,000 years and deeply understand the concept of "great unification" of the Chinese nation.

　　This ancient temple is known as one of the "three major royal temples in Beijing during the Ming and Qing dynasties". Its status is on par with the Imperial Ancestral Temple and the Confucius Temple.

February 2, 2024, Temple of Ancient Emperors. The picture shows the Jingdezhong Temple inside the temple. Photo by China News Service reporter Du Yan

　　Yu Miao, deputy director of the Beijing Imperial Temple Museum, said that the Beijing Imperial Temple was built in the ninth year of Jiajing in the Ming Dynasty (1530). It was a royal temple used to worship the three emperors and five emperors, emperors and famous generals in the Ming and Qing dynasties. Both the person offering sacrifices and the person being sacrificed were the highest rulers in ancient society.

　　The reporter learned that the Imperial Temple of the past dynasties covers an area of ​​more than 20,000 square meters, with a construction area of ​​6,000 square meters. It basically retains the main building and basic layout of the Ming Dynasty. During the Qing Dynasty, the Imperial Temple of the past dynasties was repaired and imperial monuments were added. The building complex faces south and is arranged in depth along the central axis. There are a total of 26 cultural relics buildings of various shapes. The temples have various architectural forms, different sizes, different heights of roofs, and clear priorities, which demonstrate the nobility and style of the royal temples and carry profound cultural connotations.

　　Enter the Temple of the Emperors of the Past Dynasties from the south gate, and go directly to the Jingdezhong Temple to the north, which is similar in size to the Qianqing Palace in the Forbidden City. The main hall is 21 meters high, with a width of nine rooms and a depth of five rooms, symbolizing the imperial etiquette of "nine-five-year-old kings". The reporter saw that the outer eaves of the main hall are painted with golden dragons and seals, and a nine-dragon plaque is hung in relief on the main hall. The dragon ranks first among the architectural vertebrates, and the patterns on the tiles are presented in the shape of dragon patterns. Today, there are 60 nanmu pillars of equal height in the main hall, all of which were old structures from the time of its construction during the Jiajing period of the Ming Dynasty. The hall still retains the colorful ceiling paintings of golden dragons that were restored during the Yongzheng period.

　　"Among the imperial temples of past dynasties, the most noteworthy 'dragon' element is undoubtedly the Dragon Fu stele in the pavilions on the east and west sides of Chongdezhen Temple in Jingdez." Yu Miao said.

　　Standing in front of the stele pavilion in the east, what comes into view is the giant dragon embossed on the forehead of the stele. The dragon's head reaches forward, and it is extremely powerful. The body and forehead of the monument are a whole, with a height of more than 7 meters. The shape of the stele is not the common one, but is closer to the shape of a "dragon", so it is called the "dragon stele".

February 2, 2024, Temple of Ancient Emperors. The picture shows the Dragon Fu stele in the temple. Photo by China News Service reporter Du Yan

　　When you get closer and take a closer look, you can see that the stele is huge, the carving is exquisite, and the shape is vivid. The dragon's body is covered with scales, with flowing mane on its cheeks, its eyes wide open with anger, and its limbs strong and powerful. Mountain rocks are also carved with relief techniques around the dragon body, echoing the seawater patterns on the ground, taking the meaning of the country, the country, and the country. There is a blue and white stone water plate under the stele, carved with sea water and river cliff patterns. Fish, turtles, shrimps and crabs are scattered in the whirlpools at the four corners of the water plate. There are also several auspicious animals carved in the surrounding water waves, looming in the waves.

　　"The Temple of the Ancient Emperors is the only existing temple in China dedicated to worshiping the emperors of the past dynasties." Yu Miao said that in China's more than 5,000 years of civilization, many ethnic groups have stepped onto the stage of history, and a total of more than 460 emperors have been produced. There are 188 virtuous kings in Chinese history enshrined in the temple. In the east and west side halls of the temple of emperors of the past dynasties, 79 virtuous prime ministers and generals such as Boyi, Jiang Shang, Xiao He, Zhuge Liang, Fang Xuanling, Fan Zhongyan, Yue Fei, Wen Tianxiang, etc. are worshipped.

79 virtuous ministers and generals from past dynasties are worshiped in the temple of emperors of past dynasties. The picture shows an admonishing officer named "Dragon". Photo by China News Service reporter Du Yan

　　In the Jingdezhong Temple, Chinese emperors from all dynasties gathered together to worship together in a solemn and solemn way. "The emperors' sacrificial system in the imperial temples of the past dynasties not only presents the long history of the Chinese nation, but also reflects the continuous historical characteristics of China as a unified multi-ethnic country." In his view, the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties were both important figures in the unification of China. One of them is also the inheritor and looker of history.

　　"The unification of China is as continuous as a thread" was put forward by Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty in the "Instructions to Order the Courtiers to Review the Temple Sacrifice of All Emperors" issued in the 49th year of Qianlong's reign (1784). Yu Miao said that this reflects the overall characteristics of the continuous inheritance of emperors from past dynasties and reflects the integrity of the continuous inheritance of China's unification.

　　The temple of ancient emperors has a long history of China. In order to allow visitors to better understand the historical evolution of the Imperial Temple and the stories behind the cultural relics, the Beijing Imperial Temple Museum has gradually improved the exhibition display system, and has successively launched the Jingdezhong Temple Original Display Exhibition, "Looking Back·Selection" ——Thematic exhibitions on the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties and the temples of emperors in the past dynasties, the special exhibitions on "The merits of the country are in the country and the German Association - the emperors of the past dynasties worshiped famous ministers in the temples", the special exhibitions on "Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors and Hundreds of Surnames", etc. It has also published books such as "History of Imperial Temples of Past Dynasties", "Famous Officials Worshiped in Imperial Temples of Past Dynasties" and "100 Questions of Imperial Temples of Past Dynasties".

On February 2, 2024, an exhibition was held in the Temple of Ancient Emperors. The picture shows the "Bronze Sitting Dragon" on display. Photo by China News Service reporter Liu Wenxi

　　"Please see, everyone, in terms of appearance, the four stele pavilions are similar in appearance. They are all built on the top of a mountain with double eaves, covered with yellow glazed tiles, and painted with golden dragons and seals on the outer eaves. The giant stele and stele pavilions inside the pavilion are combined with the stone carvings of sea water and river cliffs on the ground. All reflect the highest level of the royal family..." Outside Jingdezhong Temple, a group of tourists were listening to volunteers tell the history of the stele pavilion.

　　The Year of the Dragon is coming soon, and the temples of emperors of all dynasties are ready to welcome audiences from all walks of life. Yu Miao expressed that he hopes that through exhibitions with clear themes and rich content, as well as lively and interesting interactive projects and multimedia displays, the audience can understand the historical characteristics of the Chinese nation's regime change and sovereignty continuation, become familiar with the long-standing historical process of China's unification, and feel The various ethnic groups in China have a historical origin of being inclusive and helping each other. (over)