Why is the ancient city of Pingyao built in the shape of a turtle?

The overall layout of the ancient city of Pingyao is in the shape of a turtle. The reason why it was built in the shape of a turtle may be related to the location selection of the "turtle divination". The turtle is a spiritual creature of longevity, so the city was built in the shape of a turtle to achieve long-term peace and stability. , meaning longevity and longevity. In accordance with the saying of "adapting measures to local conditions" and the custom of "mountains and rivers facing the sun, playing in the water in front of the turtle", the ancient city placed the turtle's head in the south, facing the sun and facing the Zhongdu River, while the turtle's tail was located in the lower north, with the south higher and the north lower. Turtle City happened to be looking up. "Yangzhai Huixin Ji" says: "The city gate is related to the residents of one party and must be distinguished. It must always be mainly to welcome the mountains and rivers." Therefore, Pingyao City Gate is designed according to the design of welcoming mountains and rivers - "If there is a moon city, If there is no moon city, then build a pavilion or pavilion outside the city to collect it. "Therefore, there are Zhongdu River and Chaoshan in the southeast of Pingyao, so the city gate will be opened in the south to absorb its energy. The two city gates are opposite the Xitai Tower on Xitai Mountain. On the one hand, there is a good view when you open the door. On the other hand, it also follows the traditional Feng Shui theory.

The roads in the city are "Four Main Streets, Eight Small Streets, and Seventy-Two Centipede Alleys." These complicated streets and alleys form a huge Bagua pattern. People may attach it to the word "Xi" or refer to it as "Xi". The word "Shou" looks like the armor pattern on a turtle's back at first glance, which is very interesting. Among them, the main streets intersect in the form of a cross, which is the so-called "Ten Heart of Heaven". The center is where the acupuncture point is located. This kind of acupuncture point has strong Qi. It is very appropriate to build a public tower here, so the market building is built here. at.