Looking for Bell Tower in Kaifeng Drum Tower
Kaifeng Bell Tower was built in the 13th year of Ming Hongwu (1380), later than the Drum Tower 1 year. As a public facility for telling time, the bell tower is usually built in the city center. At that time, the location of the bell tower and drum tower in Kaifeng city was contrary to the ancient system. The Drum Tower was built in the center of the city, but the bell tower was built on the side. It is said that a governor in Henan was ill at that time, and it was suspected that the cause was caused by the geomantic terrain where the bell tower was located. So he ordered the bell tower and drum tower to be exchanged. Later, the Drum Tower was located in the city center and the Bell Tower was in the west. Where did Kaifeng Bell Tower go later? There have been many legends in the past few years. One of the legends is that at the end of the Qing Dynasty, a governor went to Kaifeng to take office, but after taking office, he ignored political affairs and often played with a group of people all night. In the morning, loud bells often wake up the governor who has just fallen asleep. He was so angry that he called his host and ordered him not to ring the doorbell again in the morning. Bao inquired awkwardly and said, "Morning bell and dusk drum are the rules of Kaifeng City for many years, and it is difficult to change." "It's not easy to change, it's annoying, tear down the bell tower." Worthy of being a senior consultant, the master immediately said, "It's easy to tear down the bell tower, but we must convince all people, convince them orally and support them." Favourite said, and presented a coup.
Two days later, the governor summoned some venerable old people in the city. He preached that recently, it was reported that the bell tower was in disrepair. I am afraid that the rainy season will come and the rain will collapse, hurting passers-by, so I will temporarily close the bell tower, tear it down and rebuild it. What's your opinion?
After listening to this, the old people thanked the adults for their consideration of the people and the benefit of the place. However, when the bell tower was demolished and rebuilt, where did the money come from? The governor said that there was not much money in the treasury, but some money could be taken out. I gave all my salary, and I hope the elders in the city will donate a little. The elders were deeply moved after hearing this, and said with one voice, Adults benefit the people. We all agree that if we don't get money, the people of the whole city will come to raise money.
Soon, the bell tower began to be demolished and slowly built, soon. In just a few days, the bell tower in Kaifeng City was demolished. After that, the government urged the donation of silver to repair the bell tower every year, but there was no sign that the bell tower was started. Soon, the governor was promoted to another province and ran away with the money donated by the whole people. When people in the ancient city learned about it, they hated it, so they called the site after the bell tower was demolished "Loukoukou". After a long time, it was misinformed as "the intersection of cars" (in the area of Shengli Market in West Street, the provincial capital).
According to relevant historical records, the demolition of the bell tower was the breach of the Yellow River in the fifteenth year of Chongzhen in the Ming Dynasty (1642). After the flood flooded the city, the foundation of the bell tower was silted up underground and the building was greatly damaged. Until the tenth year of Kangxi (167 1), Governor Langting noticed that the bell tower was damaged and the doorways downstairs were impassable. He ordered the demolition of the bell tower, and all the building materials obtained were transported to Suoguo Temple for the construction of the Jinglou. Since then, the bell tower has disappeared from the ancient city.