Jian’ou Drum Tower

Jian’ou Drum Tower

During the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, Wang Yanzheng, the ruler of the Min Kingdom, declared himself emperor in Jianzhou in the first year of Tiande (943 AD). He converted the southern gate tower of Jian’an County—established in the first year of Jian’an during the Eastern Han Dynasty (196 AD)—into the “Five Phoenix Tower” to showcase the imperial aura of “phoenixes gathering as an auspicious sign.” The original arched tunnel foundation beneath the tower has been preserved for over 1,800 years. Over the course of more than a thousand years, the drum tower has been destroyed and rebuilt several times. In the second year of the Duanping era of the Southern Song Dynasty (1235 AD), a new “Yao Tower,” i.e., the drum tower, was built on the ruins of the “Five Phoenix Tower,” and the Southern Song literati Liu Kezhuang wrote the *Record of the Construction of the New Yao Tower*. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, it was reconstructed five times in total. After being rebuilt in the 19th year of the Qianlong era of the Qing Dynasty (1754 AD), it was named “Zhen’an Tower.” In the 6th year of the Republic of China (1917 AD), it was renovated again and reverted to the name Drum Tower, which has been used ever since. After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the first reconstruction took place in 1980 and was completed in 1983. (The bluish-green building in the lower right corner in the distance is the drum tower before its major renovation in 2005, photographed in 1998.)

Reconstruction

This reconstruction was a historic event carried out under the circumstances of comprehensively building a moderately prosperous society in the new century, responding to public will and pooling collective effort. The project began in February 2004 and was completed in early 2005.

Specifications

Jian’ou Drum Tower

The newly built drum tower faces south and is designed in the Ming and Qing architectural style of a double-eaved hip-and-gable roof. It is 26.5 meters wide, 17 meters long, and 28 meters tall, standing majestically and imposingly. The main tower features double-layered flying eaves, red pillars all around, and carved beams and painted rafters, rich in the charm of an ancient city while also showcasing a modern aesthetic. Plaques are hung on both the southern and northern sides of the tower, inscribed with “Majestically Guarding the Southern Skies” and “Welcoming Grace from the North Star.”

(The illuminated structure below is the drum tower after its 2005 major renovation, showing significant changes. It was reduced from three stories to two, the upper section was made narrower, and additional decorative patterns were added.)

Outlook

The drum tower has become an iconic landmark of Jian’ou and an important feature of this historical and cultural city. Having witnessed the vast changes over a millennium, the drum tower will also bear witness to the bright future of Jian’ou as it rises and soars.