When you step on the white marble steps, the vast platform in front of the hall appears in front of you. Pen, fun, pavilion www. biquge。 infoActually, it also has a more elegant name - Danbi. At the bottom of it is a white marble pedestal about two meters high. It is surrounded by a ring of stone fences, and the surface is carved with reliefs. Or the dragon swings its tail, or the phoenix soars for nine days.

On the platform, there are coronas and jialiang, the former is a timekeeping instrument, and the latter is a standard measuring instrument. It is placed here, symbolizing the supremacy of imperial power. In addition, a pair of bronze turtles and bronze cranes are also placed, both of which are symbols of longevity, expressing good wishes for the ruler to live a long life.

Around these four utensils, eighteen bronze tripods were erected. Since ancient times, Ding has been regarded as the treasure of the town and the treasure of the country. In the eyes of the rulers, it is a symbol of power. In the eyes of others, it means 'noble and cheap, don't go up and down'. Let people know their own rank, so as not to confuse their dignity and inferiority.

Further on, there is a pre-road stone engraved with double dragons playing with pearls.

You know, this bead is an auspicious wishful bead. Double Dragon, also one represents the Emperor of Heaven and the other represents the Emperor. It means that the emperor is ordered by heaven and is in line with the meaning of heaven. It just caters to the Han Dynasty Confucian Dong Zhongshu's idea of 'talent and divine endowment'.

Because before coming, Jiang Wulin had consulted the relevant information of the Forbidden City. There is also a very detailed introduction to the first three halls. So there is a simple understanding of what you see.

Although his eyes have been watching, his whole person has been closely following the footsteps of the leading minister. Then he walked along both sides of the pre-paving stones, and slowly approached the open temple door.

The current sunlight is a little dazzling, shining on the body, and it is also a little warm. But many Qing ministers in court clothes stood on both sides of the palace gate in a proper manner. Extending outward in this way, they are all lined up under the Danbi. Some guards in armor and holding spears were meticulously stationed around the main hall.

Seeing Jiang Wulin and the others coming up, they all shifted their attention to them. Sometimes pointing fingers and talking endlessly.

"Look! They don't seem to have braids! Someone said in surprise.

"Bah! Really! I heard that before they were, they were all the people of the Qing Dynasty! The tone was determined.

"Hey! That was all from the past. They are all outcasts now, so their braids have been cut. And on an overseas desert island, he built a small country of Lanfang. Now that I have come here, I am asking for help from our Qing Dynasty. A courtier said proudly.

"Humph! Don't accept the king! It was also our Emperor Tai's benevolence and righteousness that allowed these abandoned people to return to the Qing Dynasty as envoys. The voice was loud and the tone was contemptuous.

Jiang Wulin and his entourage listened, but they were all relatively calm! After all, the Lanfang Mission, which had sent an envoy to the Qing Kingdom in the past, had also suffered such humiliation and humiliation. Therefore, Jiang Wulin and the others were mentally prepared. Now that I listen to these ugly words, I can treat them with a normal heart.

As the head of the mission, Jiang Wulin calmly met the eyes of the courtiers. Some were embarrassed to avoid it, and some still stared at it to express dissatisfaction. But Jiang Wulin's face showed a slight chuckle, which made those who had evil intentions a little embarrassed.

But his gaze soon drifted. Constantly going up, it gradually fixed on the roof of the Taihe Palace.

It was the top of the heavy eaves hall. In the palace architecture of the Han people, the roof of this kind of hall was of a high grade. And the temples that make up the top of this kind of temple are rectangular in plane, and the width of the face is greater than the depth. The intersection of the front and rear slopes is a normal ridge. There are two slopes on the left and right, and there are four vertical ridges. Extend separately and intersect at one end of the normal ridge. And the Taihe Palace, as the head of each palace, naturally has to show differences. It is under the top of the palace, and a short eaves are set up. Each of the four corners extends a short vertical ridge, bringing the total number to nine.

And at the ends of the ridge, a tall and large giant kiss was placed. This is a common architectural feature when the Han people built palaces. The specific method is to place a very highly decorative town tile on the fork ridge. However, this is not an ordinary tile in the imagination, but a mythical beast of different shapes.

The order in which they are arranged reflects a strict hierarchy. Because the status of the Taihe Hall is the highest, there are still ten Zhenwa beasts on the roof. But at the top, it is not a beast, but a phoenix riding immortal. According to legend, this is the incarnation of King Qi Ming of the Southern Dynasty, who became an immortal by cultivating the Tao.

After that, there are dragons, phoenixes, lions, heavenly horses, seahorses, sinisters, fish, pigs, bullfights, and xingshi. Although their main purpose is to reflect the majesty of the temple. But it also has the beautiful implication of eliminating disasters, turning evil into good fortune, cutting off evil, and upholding justice.

Although it was the first time Jiang Wulin had seen it with his own eyes, before he came, he had learned some information about the divine beast. I know that except for the Taihe Palace, there are less than ten divine beasts in other palaces. Like the middle temple, there are only seven. There are only nine of them in the Baohe Palace.

It is also to highlight the difference in rank and reflect the uniqueness of imperial power.

It may be that he has lived in Daming for a long time, or the concept of equality in Daming is too deeply rooted in the hearts of the people. He has an instinctive resistance and disgust for this strict hierarchical concept. Although in the actual life of the Ming Dynasty, the difference in rank will still be reflected in all aspects. But in social interactions, the idea of hierarchy is not obvious. Like many etiquettes that embody the concept of hierarchy, they were banned by the Ming Dynasty. In addition to the elders and juniors, administrative agencies, public institutions and other places where there is a clear distinction between upper and lower levels, it is necessary to bow down to greet each other or perform simple etiquette such as shaking hands. Other common kneeling rituals among Han Chinese were abolished.

As for the difference in the hierarchy of buildings, it is even more invisible. As long as you have money, no matter how luxurious and gorgeous the house is, the Ming official will not say anything unruly.

And the Qing State not only embodies a strong sense of hierarchy in people. In the building, it is also all visible. As a result, the gorgeous Taihe Palace, in his eyes, has become a vast prison cage. Looking at it, it's a little boring.

He withdrew his gaze and raised his eyes. The minister of the Qing Kingdom, who followed the way, stood in front of the gate of the Taihe Palace. The eunuch's high-pitched and long voice also sounded immediately. Just listen: "Jiang Wulin, the envoy of Xuanlan Fangguo, came to see him." ”。 Because the temple was too empty, the echo of the eunuch dragged on for a long time. So much so that it was repeated several times before it was removed from the root of the ear.

Jiang Wulin listened, instinctively feeling uncomfortable.

But on the face, he was calm and relaxed, and did not show a trace of dissatisfaction.

When the courtier crossed the threshold, he followed him into the main hall. But the other entourage, due to insufficient rank, could only wait obediently outside the hall.

After kneeling three times and bowing nine times, and shouting three times long live my emperor, Jiang Wulin was able to raise his head and was fortunate to see the face of heaven. But he was immediately a little disappointed. Because the Emperor Qianlong in front of him, who is a 'perfect martial artist', is completely like a bad old man. The muddy eyes are no longer clear because of the power of time. The face is also full of folds, like the ravines washed by the rain, of different shades. Dots of old age and spots also took root on his face. (To be continued.) )