Tiananmen Huabiao, as one of the iconic decorations of ancient Chinese architecture, can be traced back to the ancient Yaoshun period. It is said that during the Yao Shun period, wooden signs were set up on major traffic routes for people to write advice, and this kind of wooden signs were called "slander wood" and served as a suggestion box. Over time, this "slanderous wood" gradually evolved into Huabiao, becoming a decorative stone pillar in front of large buildings such as palaces, bridges, and mausoleums.
The Huabiao in front of Tiananmen Square was built in 1403 during the reign of Zhu Di and Yongle of the Ming Dynasty, and was carried out simultaneously with the construction of the palace and city walls of Beijing. Huabiao is composed of three parts: column base, column body and column top, with a height of about 957 meters. The base of the column is generally a lotus pedestal;The column body is mainly circular, but also has octagonal shapes, squares, etc., and the column body is generally carved with patterns such as dragons and curly grassThe upper part of the top of the column is transversely a cloud plate, called the dew plate, and a monster squats in the plate, called the Xuan.
The Huabiao in front of Tiananmen Square is divided into two groups, each with two sticks, which are located on the north and south sides of Tiananmen Square. On the Huabiao in the north, the sword faces north, which means that the emperor should not live in the deep palace for a long time, but should go out of the palace to observe the people's feelings, so it is called "Wangjun out". On the Huabiao in the south, the sword faces south, which means that the emperor should not go out and not return, and should return to the palace to deal with the government, so it is called "Wangjun returns".
Tiananmen Huabiao is not only an outstanding representative of ancient architectural art, but also an important symbol of traditional Chinese culture. Its simple and exquisite shape complements the Forbidden City complex, highlighting the long historical and cultural heritage of the Chinese nation.