Preface.
In the historic city of Beijing, Wangfujing Street is known for its unique charm and profound historical background. Do you know what kind of history is behind this famous street?
This street not only witnesses the glory and glory of the empire, but also embodies the great aspirations of the emperors of the past dynasties, carrying the life trajectories of countless people. Standing on Wangfujing Street and looking up at the blue sky, can you feel the stories that flow slowly in the long river of history?
1. T-shaped street: the prosperity of Yuan Dadu.
Wangfujing Street was called T-shaped Street in ancient times. In 1271, the Yuan capital began to emerge as Kublai Khan, the ancestor of the Yuan dynasty, established the Great Yuan Empire and chose Yanjing as the new capital 12 years later. The city is a grand city with a mix of cultures, bringing together people from all over the world.
In the core area of the Yuan capital, Chang'an Avenue runs through the east and west. At its southern end, two streets intersect to form a T-junction, known as the "T-shaped street". With its superior geographical location and developed commerce, it has become one of the most prosperous areas in the capital of Yuanda. When night falls, the restaurants and flower houses on T-shaped street are even more lively. It witnessed not only the prosperity of the Yuan Dynasty, but also its decline. In 1368, the Ming Dynasty was established, and the glory of the Yuan capital became history.
Second, the grand plan of Beijing of Ming Chengzu and the glory of the Ten Princes' Mansion.
In 1368, after Zhu Yuanzhang, the emperor of the Ming Dynasty, made Nanjing the capital, the unification of the northern territories became his urgent desire. In 1403, Zhu Di, who experienced the Deshengmen Change, had a heavy army and betrayed the imperial court, and launched the Northern Expedition. The following year, he conquered Yanjing and renamed it Beijing, establishing the Ming regime. After a series of political mediations, he replaced Emperor Jianwen in 1421 and became Ming Chengzu.
Ming Chengzu not only possessed outstanding political and military talents, but also had a passion for architecture. He had an ambitious plan to make Beijing his mausoleum and eternal memorial. Therefore, since the day he ascended the throne, Ming Chengzu invested heavily in the large-scale construction of Beijing City. The temple, the palace and the temple were completed one after another, and at the same time he built ten magnificent palaces as residences for the prince and prince. These palaces include the Auxiliary State Mansion, the Qin Palace, etc., each of which is grand in scale and magnificent. These ten palaces became a unique scenery in Beijing at that time.
3. The legend of the Ten Wangjing and the origin of the name of Wangfujing.
Among the 1,258 wells in the city of Beijing, there are very few wells that can pump sweet fresh water, and there have even been cases where the well water has dried up.
In response to this problem, Ming Chengzu specially ordered the eunuch Zheng He in the palace to look around for experts who could dig wells. In the area of Qianmen East Street, Zheng He found an old well digger named Du Shouren, who was nearly eighty years old. Despite his advanced age, he has a wealth of experience and unique skills in exploring underground water sources.
After some hard work, Du Shouren finally found a place with abundant water near today's Wangfujing Street, and successfully dug a sweet water well with excellent water quality. The water quality of this well is clear and sweet, which was highly praised by Ming Chengzu and made Du Shouren famous in one fell swoop. Zheng He even added a large sum of money to allow him to continue digging more wells around the imperial city.
Over time, the sweet water well gradually became famous, and pedestrians on Wong Fu Street stopped here to quench their thirst by enjoying the sweet well water. Therefore, this street is affectionately known as "Shiwangjing Street", which also lays the origin of the name of Wangfujing Street.
Fourth, the rebirth and prosperity of Wangfujing Street.
After the death of Ming Chengzu, with the accession of Ming Yingzong, the capital was moved back to Nanjing, and Beijing's Wangfu Street gradually lost its former glory. However, with the entry of the Manchus of the Qing Dynasty into the Central Plains, this city that retains the atmosphere of the Yuan and Ming dynasties has once again attracted attention. The Qing rulers had both love and hatred for Beijing: admiring its bustling commerce and abundant produce, while resentful of its historical status as the ancient capital of the Han Chinese.
Eventually, the Qing Dynasty decided to keep the city of Beijing and implemented a policy of shaving hair and making it easy to wear in order to promote the integration of Manchu and Han cultures. In the process, in order to establish a harmonious new social order, the Qing Dynasty carried out important planning and rezoning of the city of Beijing.
In this urban planning, the Ten Kings' Mansion, which was built during the Ming Dynasty, was demolished. Wangfu Street was divided into three parts: the northern section retained the name "Wangfu", the middle section was called "Bamian Groove" due to its low-lying terrain, and the southern section was officially named "Wangfujing Street".
Wangfujing Street gathers many Qing Dynasty dignitaries' mansions, as well as many banks and shops, making it once again the most prosperous and lively business district in Beijing. The once-famous sweet water well has continued to quench the thirst of the people for more than 150 years and has become a precious memory in the hearts of old Beijingers. It is this historical change that has shaped the appearance of Wangfujing Street that we are familiar with today.
5. Wangfujing Street: A gorgeous transformation from ancient to modern.
As the years go by, the wheel of history continues to move forward. Today's Wangfujing Street is a far cry from what it used to be, and it has been transformed into Beijing's most famous commercial center. The sweet springs that were once the sweet water that have been passed down for centuries have now disappeared in the long river of history.
Although the appearance of Wangfujing Street has changed dramatically, its name still tells its origin. Walking on this bustling street, it seems that you can feel the afterglow of the Ming Chengzu era and feel the spirit of that era lingering in the streets and alleys. Dressed in modern attire, walking through this historic street, the whispers of the palace maids and eunuchs of yesteryear and the noise of traders and horses may still echo in their hearts.
Wangfujing Street has witnessed the birth of countless historical stories and legends, and it is a bridge between the past and the present, carrying countless changes and precipitation. It is like a mirror of this ancient city, reflecting the ups and downs, ups and downs and changes of the millennium.
This street not only represents Beijing's past, but also looks forward to the city's future. Although no one can predict how the future will unfold, at least for the moment, Wangfujing Street still stands quietly, witnessing every breath and pulse of the city.
Conclusion: Wangfujing Street - a witness of time in Beijing.
The reason why Wangfujing Street is a microcosm of the ancient city of Beijing is precisely because of the rich history and culture it contains. This street is not only a retrospective and commemoration of the past, but also an expectation and prospect for the future. It has witnessed the changes of the city and the change of the times.
No one can predict what the future will be, and how many dynasties and social changes Wangfujing Street will experience. But at least for now, it still stands firmly in the center of Beijing, calm and timeless, quietly telling its own story. Every stone slab and every building on Wangfujing Street is a witness to history, they carry the memory of the past and welcome the arrival of the future. This street is a deep remembrance of Beijing's history, and it is also an expectation of infinite possibilities in the future. February** Dynamic Incentive Program