Pingyang Drum Tower / Dazhong building

There is a popular saying: "there is a big drum tower in Pingyang mansion, half of which is inserted in the sky." Located in the urban area of Linfen, the large and medium-sized building, commonly known as the drum tower, is famous for its height and grandeur. For thousands of years, the old people in the city have been proud of this building, which is well-known to tourists from other places. This building is indeed a symbol of the ancient civilization of the old capital of Emperor Yao. The large and medium-sized building was built in the center of the East, West, South and North streets. Its base is square, with a building area of 1600 square meters. The four-way gate openings intersect in the center of the base. Since the beginning of their worship, they have set up buildings and drums in various prefectures. " Li Chong was the governor of Yanzhou, Shandong Province at the end of the Northern Wei Dynasty. Since the Northern Wei Dynasty started from Yanzhou, Shandong Province, the drum tower was built in Zhouzhou, so it is possible that Pingyang, as the governing body of Jinzhou, built the drum tower in the Northern Wei Dynasty. According to the research of historians, Pingyang Drum Tower was rebuilt in the Jin Dynasty and named bell tower. Now there is a big iron bell cast in 1196. It can be inferred that this building was built in the Northern Song Dynasty at the latest. With the passage of time and the development of the city, the role of the drum tower has gradually changed from anti-theft to time reporting. Because the drum tower is built in the center of the city, it can play the role of human landscape. Therefore, the more times it is destroyed and rebuilt, the more magnificent the building shape will be. According to local records and steles, Linfen Drum Tower was built seven times in history. Since the Jin Dynasty was rebuilt, until 1933, people from all walks of life donated money to build the drum tower. In 1948, the people's liberation war turned into the stage of strategic counterattack, and commander Xu Qianqian led his troops to encircle Linfen City. Yan Jun, who was tenacious in the city, demolished the drum tower, which had been repaired for only 15 years, regardless of the public's opposition. From September 1984 to May 1987, Linfen City set up a committee to restore the drum tower. It restored the drum tower according to the style of Ming Dynasty, and restored the title of the drum tower in Ming Dynasty - Dazhong tower. The plaque in the hall of the newly built large and medium-sized building is basically the original plaque of the Ming and Qing Dynasties. On the East and south sides of the third floor, "Taihang Xingsheng" and "Yuntian Zhichi" are inscribed by Marshal Xu Qianqian: on the west side, "wangyugushe" is written by Mr. Qigong, former chairman of the national Calligrapher Association; on the north side, "chuangsu bullfight" is written by Li Feng, a famous calligrapher in the army; on the second floor, there are four door plaques, on the east side, "Ziqi faces to the East" is written by Mr. Dong Shouping, a famous calligrapher and painter of Hongdong nationality, and on the west side, "Jin" "Mountain belt river" is written by Duan Yun, a veteran revolutionary cadre from Puxian county and former deputy director of the State Planning Commission. In the south, "heaven and earth Pavilion" is written by Shu Tong, a great calligrapher. In the north, "sound and strike Earth" is written by Zhao Puchu, vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese people's Political Consultative Conference, President of the Buddhist Association and great calligrapher. It's true: famous people hang famous buildings on famous plaques, and Yao's reputation spreads to Kyushu. There are stone tablets on the top of the door openings. On four sides, they are "Leihuo in the East", "Hefen in the west", "Qinshu in the South" and "Youbing in the north". According to the original inscriptions in 1603 of Wanli reign of Ming Dynasty, this group of inscriptions is vigorous and simple, and summarizes the important geographical location of Pingyang Prefecture. On the East and west sides of the base of the large and medium-sized building, there are stone steps and gatehouses. If you climb 40 steps, you can reach the terrace which is nearly 10 meters high. From there, you can enter the first hall and go up to the second floor, overlooking the whole city. The pavilion is a huge wooden structure with two floors, three eaves and four levels of dripping water. It is a Ming style building on the top of the mountain, with a total height of 43.75 meters. The 12 pillars supporting the two-story pavilion are about one meter in diameter. Visitors can't help but wonder: "there is no royal palace like this. The top of the first floor is a patio style painted grid, which depicts the traditional national patterns of peacocks and auspicious dragons. It's as resplendent as a palace; the second floor is a beam arched roof, which is shaped like a eight trigram caisson. The four walls are all grilled windows. The wooden grid on the top of the grilled windows is mainly based on the legend of Emperor Yao, depicting more than 60 ancient stories When King Yao visited sages, or when Dayu locked the mosquito, perhaps by ear washing, all of them were elegant in color and vivid in ink. There is a corridor outside the second Hall. When you go out of the hall and look around, you can have a panoramic view of the mountains and waters of Linfen: a bird's-eye view of the city, the streets and lanes are colorful, and the flowers and fruits are beautiful in the city; a broad view of the suburbs, the mountains and rivers are green, and the maimian village is overflowing with gold and silver. No wonder visitors to the building all said with emotion: "if you don't go to the big and medium-sized building, you'll come to Pingyang in vain." There is no document to confirm the date when the large and medium-sized building was built. According to the records of Li chongzhuan in northern history: "Yantu was robbed by many people. Chongling village was built on the first floor, with a drum hanging on the floor. Where the robbers started, they hit the drum with two hammers. Every village on all sides kept the main road when they heard the drum. In a short time, they were arrested and sent away. The present large and medium-sized building is the venue for the exhibition of unearthed cultural relics, calligraphy and painting in Linfen City. Since its completion in May 1987, the tiewo cattle unearthed three times in history have been displayed in the center of the third floor hall. Linfen is known as the city of Wo Niu, which is easy to defend but difficult to attack. For thousands of years, this iron crouching ox has lived in the city wall, heard the sound of fighting and tasted the suffering of the world. Now, in the prosperous age, it can see the sun, live high in Chonglou, and receive visitors, showing the rich and splendid cultural features of Pingyang, the capital of Yao.

Address: Gulou West Street, Yaodu District, Linfen City, Shanxi Province

Longitude: 111.513119

Latitude: 36.085176

Chinese PinYin : Ping Yang Gu Lou Da Zhong Lou