Nanjing Shence Gate

Nanjing Shence Gate

Nanjing Shence Gate

According to legend, Shence Gate was personally surveyed and planned for construction by Liu Bowen, the military strategist of Zhu Yuanzhang. To enter or exit the gate, one had to pass through the left or right archways; normally only one gate was open, and “in emergencies, one archway may be opened as appropriate.” This fully reflects Zhu Yuanzhang’s adaptive approach to city wall construction—employing different methods in different sections and environmental conditions.

When it comes to the old city gates of Nanjing, there is a popular folk rhyme: “Thirteen inside, eighteen outside, one bolt sticking out.” The gate described as having “a bolt sticking out” refers to Shence Gate.

Shence Gate is relatively small in scale, with the main gate situated inside and the barbican outside. The gate of the barbican is not directly opposite the main gate but is located at the northeast corner of the barbican. The rhyme vividly summarizes its unique architectural form. Today, Shence Gate is one of the better-preserved gates in Nanjing, with its barbican, arrow towers, and other features still intact.

Although Shence Gate is located in a remote area, it juts out beside Xuanwu Lake, with the Mufu Mountain (formerly known as White Earth Mountain) and the Yangtze River to the north, making it strategically important for military defense. In the 13th year of the Yongli era of the Southern Ming Dynasty (the 16th year of the Shunzhi era of the Qing Dynasty, 1659 AD), the Southern Ming general Zheng Chenggong, tasked with establishing the cause of anti-Qing and restoring the Ming, led his troops to strike against the Qing army in the southeastern coastal areas and attacked Nanjing, a key stronghold of the Qing government in the southeast.

Zheng Chenggong’s 100,000-strong army set up 83 camps on Bai Tu Mountain (now Mufu Mountain) outside Nanjing, cutting off both land and water transportation and turning Nanjing—defended by just over ten thousand Qing soldiers—into an isolated city. The two engagements between Zheng Chenggong’s forces and the Qing army outside Shence Gate resulted in over a thousand Qing casualties. The Qing Viceroy of Liangjiang, Lang Tingzu, ordered the gates of Shence Gate to be tightly closed and forbade any sorties. While seeking reinforcements from all sides, he also attempted to delay the enemy by feigning surrender. Elated by a series of victories, Zheng Chenggong grew arrogant and underestimated the enemy, agreeing to the Qing envoys’ request for a one-month extension and holding his forces back in anticipation of the Qing opening the gates and surrendering the city. The Qing army noticed the extremely lax defenses of the Zheng forces at the foot of Bai Tu Mountain and chose it as their breakthrough point. On the night of July 21, the Qing forces quietly opened the right archway of Shence Gate, slipped out of the city, and launched a surprise attack on the Zheng army. They returned at dawn with a minor victory. Emboldened by this success, the Qing troops swarmed out of Shence Gate to engage in battle. Caught off guard, the Zheng forces scrambled to respond, fell into chaos, and retreated. After the “Battle of Bai Tu Mountain,” Zheng Chenggong’s army suffered tens of thousands of casualties, with more than ten senior generals killed. The once “great shock to the southeast”—Zheng Chenggong’s victorious northern expedition—thus vanished into thin air. To celebrate the great Qing victory, Emperor Shunzhi specially decreed that Shence Gate be renamed “Desheng Gate” (Gate of Victory).

Although Shence Gate was a military stronghold, its remote location and sparse population meant it was largely unused during the Ming, Qing, and Republican periods. In 1928, the Nationalist Government renamed Desheng Gate to “Heping Gate” (Gate of Peace). During the Anti-Japanese War, after the Japanese occupied Nanjing, they built a gasoline depot within the barbican outside Heping Gate. After the liberation, the Nanjing Military Region took over the site and continued to use it as an oil depot. Due to its long-term use as a military facility, Shence Gate remained shrouded in mystery. In accordance with the planning of Nanjing’s Ming City Wall Scenic Belt, in August 2001, the Shence Gate Moon City Park was completed. Shence Gate finally unveiled its mysterious veil, showcasing its unique charm to the world.