Old Photos (Volume 1)

Author: Compiled by the Press
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-06-01
Features: The Tiananmen, as an important architectural structure of the "model area" in the feudal era, has been depicted by dynasties throughout history. Numerous vivid and realistic historical records, such as the Ming Dynasty's Beijing Imperial City Map, the Qing Dynasty's Kangxi Southern Inspection Map, Qianlong Southern Inspection Map, Guangxu Grand Wedding Map, and Qianlong Beijing Spring Scene, document its prosperous historical appearance. The old photographs published here reflect some of its scenes during the late feudal era, while others show the subsequent changes in Tiananmen Square. Figures 1 and 3 are photographs taken and published in 1900 (the 26th year of the Guangxu reign), by Dr. Toyoichiro Itō of the Tokyo Imperial University, Engineering Department, graduate student Junichi Tsuchiya, assistant Kozo Okayama, and photographer Kazumasa Ogawa. These photographs largely preserve the historical appearance of Tiananmen and its surroundings during the feudal period.
The Beijing Imperial Palace was built between 1417 and 1420 during the Ming Dynasty. Emperor Yongle issued an edict on the fourth day of the first month of the 18th year of his reign (December 8, 1420), proclaiming its completion. Influenced by the Yuan Dynasty's Imperial Palace in Dadu, the palace was constructed in the southern part of the capital, with the Meridian Gate (Wumen) directly facing the main gate (Zhengyangmen). Between Tiananmen and the Endumen, there were 26 eastern and 26 western corridors; between the Meridian Gate and the Endumen, there were 47 eastern and 47 western corridors, serving as office spaces for the six departments and nine ministries under the Censorate. These corridors were commonly referred to as "office spaces" (zhaofang).