The origin of Beijing’s place names! Just tell me how many you can!

1. Overpass

The original overpass is located northwest of the Temple of Heaven, crossing Longxugou in the north-south direction. This bridge is the bridge that the emperor must pass when he goes to the Temple of Heaven to worship heaven. It means the bridge to the sky, so it is called "Sky Bridge".

The original overpass had a bridge. In the Ming Dynasty, a white marble single-hole high arch bridge was built here to connect the "imperial road". The emperor is also called the Son of Heaven, and the bridge the Emperor walks on is called Tianqiao. This is the origin of the name Tianqiao. The overpass is usually sealed with wooden fences, and no one except the emperor is allowed to pass. Officials and citizens can only walk on the wooden bridges on both sides. The original river channel under the bridge later gradually evolved into Longxugou. "In the 32nd year of the reign of Emperor Guangxu of the Qing Dynasty (1906), the road from Xianyang Gate to Yongding Gate was renovated. All the original stone strips on this road were removed and converted into gravel roads. The overpass was also converted into short stone bridges. In 1929, due to the inconvenience of trams, the bridge body of the overpass was flattened, but there were still stone railings on both sides. In 1934, the road from Zhengyang Gate to Yongding Gate was widened, and all the stone railings on both sides of the overpass were removed. The bridge site no longer exists. ”

2. Dashilan Street

The street starts from Qianmen Street in the east and ends at Meishi Street in the west, with a total length of nearly 300 meters and a narrow street. In the old days, there used to be a reputation that "the essence of the capital city is here, and there is nothing more lively and prosperous than this" and "where can you find a prosperous market, just go to Dashilan for a tour". Dashilan Street was originally called Langfang Si Tiao and has a history of nearly 500 years. After the capital was moved to Beijing in the 18th year of Yongle in the Ming Dynasty (AD 1420), in order to encourage the development of industry and commerce, a market was set up outside Zhengyang Gate and a "langfang" was built as a commercial shop to attract investment and open a market. By the time of Jiajing in the middle of Ming Dynasty, this area had gradually developed into a famous and prosperous downtown.

During the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty, iron fences were installed at the entrances at both ends of the street, so it was called Dashilan. This became the name of the street.

3. Dongsi and Xisi

The full names should be Dongsi Archway and Xisi Archway. The word "four" refers to the fact that there is an archway built at each intersection on the cross street. Together they were named after the four archways. However, these grand archways were demolished due to traffic problems, so only the abbreviations of these place names are left. The full names of Dongdan and Xidan are Dongdan Archway and Xidan Archway. Refers to a single archway

4. Dabei Kiln

Out of Dongbianmen, 3 miles northeast of the city, the terrain is vast, the soil is fine, and bricks have always been fired. Over the years, there have been many brick kilns, the largest of which is a large kiln with a tall chimney, which can be seen from a distance, so residents from far and near use the big kiln as a symbol. Over time, this place was called "Dabei Kiln." ".

5. Liangma River

There is a small river outside Dongzhimen. Carriages of merchants from far away come here and often wash their dusty horses in the river. The finished horses were dried on the river bank, hence the name "Horse Drying River". Over time, it was called "Liangma River"

6. Hujialou

Two or three miles north of Dabeiyao, there is a place named "Hujia Building". There was a rich man named Hu who built a building (that is, a two-story building). It overlooks the low-rise residential buildings and has become a landmark nearby for a long time. Call this place "Hujialou"

7. Huangzhuang

It was originally called "Huangzhuang", which means the royal village. The land was divided into officials in the Ming Dynasty. Tian and people's fields. The royal family's imperial village, official village, and eunuch village were all over the suburbs of Beijing, all occupying rich land. The imperial village in Beijing originated from the 23rd year of Emperor Taizu Hongwu of the Ming Dynasty (1390), and began in the early years of Yongle, when Emperor Wuzong ascended the throne. In the same month, 7 Huangzhuangs were built, including this one. In the early years of Jiajing, the Huangzhuang was abolished, but the official villages with different characteristics were retained until the end of the Ming Dynasty.

8. Baofu Temple

Located in Zhongguancun East Station, retired eunuchs raised funds to build this temple, which means longevity.

9. Wukesong

It was originally the residence of Shao Ying, the admiral of the Qing Dynasty. There are five ancient pine trees in the tomb, and the surrounding area is desolate. The locals took this pine tree as a landmark and called the place "Wukesong". In 1966, the first-line subway was built, and the original pine trees died in the Wukesong subway. There are still five pine trees planted at the northwest exit of the station to match its name.

10. Princess Tomb

The main tomb is located among the green pines and cypresses in the garden at the center of Fuxingmenwai Street. , according to historical records, the person buried in this tomb is not the real princess, but Kong Sizhen, the adopted daughter of Emperor Shunzhi's mother. There is a historical reason why she was called a princess and was buried in a rich burial.

His father, Kong Sizhen, was named Kong Youde, a Han nationality from Liaoyang. He was an unusual figure in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties. Kong Youde was originally a general of the Ming Dynasty. In the fifth year of the Apocalypse, Emperor Taizong of the Qing Dynasty raised troops to attack the Ming Dynasty. In order to recruit talents, he issued an imperial edict with the nature of bribery. Kong Youde saw the decline and corruption of the Ming Dynasty, so he surrendered to the Qing court. After the Qing soldiers entered the customs, they led their troops to the battlefield and traveled all over the country. In capturing Nanjing, attacking Jiangyin, campaigning in Guizhou and Guangxi, and capturing the princes of the Ming clan, they tried their best to be loyal to the Qing Dynasty and made great military exploits. Emperor Shunzhi regarded him as He was a good general who founded the country and was highly rewarded and commended many times. The ninth year of Shunzhi. Kong Youde led his troops to conquer Liuzhou in the south and failed in a battle with the Ming Dynasty general Li Dingguo. Finally, he committed suicide with his two wives in Guilin. After his parents were killed in battle, the young Kong Sizhen returned to Beijing. Empress Xiaozhuang, the mother of Emperor Shunzhi, regarded the daughter of the hero as her adopted daughter, kept her in the palace to raise her, let her share the honor, and named her Princess Heshuo. Kong Sizhen grew up in a military camp since she was a child. She was good at riding, shooting, and martial arts. When she grew up, she married Sun Yanling, the Minister of the Interior. Later, the Qing Dynasty specially granted Kong Sizhen the throne of his father, "King Dingnan", and ordered Sun Yanling and his wife to go to Guangxi to control military affairs. After Sun arrived in Guangxi, he became arrogant and rebelled against the Qing government by joining Wu Sangui. Kong Sizhen firmly opposed Sun and Wu's rebellious behavior and resolutely led his troops to attack them. Kong Sizhen was both wise and brave, and quickly quelled the rebellion in Yunnan, making great contributions to the stability of the Qing Dynasty. After putting down the rebellion in Yunnan, Emperor Kangxi called her back to Beijing and conferred a title on her, making her a queen of the Qing Dynasty. After Kong Sizhen passed away, the Qing court treated her with a grand funeral and buried her here, calling it the "Princess Tomb".

11. Liuli Bridge

Located in the southwest of Beijing, it is the main passage into the city from the southwest. There was a stone bridge originally built, but it was called "Liuli Bridge" because it was still six miles away from the Guang'anmen city gate.

12. Balizhuang

Located in the west of Beijing, heading towards the west The main thoroughfare into the city. Because it is still eight miles away from the Fuchengmen city gate, it is called "Bali Village".

13. Wangfujing

The Mansion of Prince Yan of the Sui Dynasty, the Marshal Mansion of Peking King Luo Yi is here, and it is still known as the Marshal Mansion Garden. Luo Yi is Luo Yi in the novel "The Romance of the Sui and Tang Dynasties" Cheng's father, Emperor Gaozong of the Tang Dynasty, granted Luo Yi the title of King of Yan and took charge of Youzhou. In the Ming Dynasty, with the construction of the Forbidden City, many dignitaries built palaces here. Therefore, according to "Records of Chengzu of the Ming Dynasty", This place was called Ten Princes' Mansion and Wangfu Street. During the Republic of China and the end of the imperial era, the people gradually forgot about these. At that time, the most important thing for the people was food, drink, housing and transportation. In Beijing at that time, the people could not afford to dig wells, so ordinary wells were dug. The water in the village is bitter and can only be used for washing clothes and steaming rice, while drinking water is sold. On TV, we often see people pushing water carts to sell water. In fact, the water they sell is only relatively small. In comparison, the bitter taste is lighter, and there is a well-known high-quality sweet water well on the west side of Wangfu Street, called Tianshui. It is actually colorless and odorless. Relatively speaking, this is how the place name Wangfujing came about.

14. Xianglai Street (Changchun Street)

Xianglai Street is located about one mile west of Xuanwu Gate. It was originally the place where elephants were raised during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Some countries in Southeast Asia brought elephants to China to pay tribute to the emperor as a sign of friendship. In the eighth year of Hongzhi in the Ming Dynasty, an elephant room and an elephant performance center were established in the southwest city of Xuanwumen. In ancient times, elephants were regarded as a symbol of peace and good luck. It symbolizes the renewal of all things. Whenever there is a grand ceremony in the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the elephants are led to the palace. There are people who drive, carry treasures, and stand, each with their own division of labor. Usually, when ministers go to court, the elephants stand in line at noon. The Qing Dynasty followed the Ming Dynasty's system and customs of taming elephants. However, in the late Qing Dynasty, the funds for taming elephants were withheld at all levels, and the elephants' situation continued to deteriorate, and they were gradually diseased. He died of hunger, leaving only the name Xianglai Street.

15. Huguo Temple

Huguo Temple is one of the eight major temples in Beijing and was built in the Yuan Dynasty. It was the official residence of Tuoketuo, Prime Minister of the Yuan Dynasty, and was originally named Chongguo Temple (North Temple). In the fourth year of Xuande in the Ming Dynasty (1429), it was renamed Dalongshan Temple and in the eighth year of Chenghua period in the Ming Dynasty (1472), it was named Dalongshan Huguo Temple. In the 61st year (1722), the Mongolian prince Beile renovated the temple to celebrate the birthday of the holy ancestor. He also made major renovations to the temple. The name Huguo Temple, also known as the West Temple, echoes the East Temple Longfu Temple.

The temple faces south and is large in scale.

On the central axis, there are three mountain gates, with single eaves resting on the mountain, simple tile roofs, and the inscription "Dalongshan Huguo Temple" on the forehead of the stone gate; the second floor hall is the Diamond Hall; the third floor hall is the Heavenly King Hall; the fourth floor hall is Yanshou Hall, the east side hall is called Manjusri Hall, and the west side hall is called Secret Hall; the fifth floor hall is Chongshou Hall, the east side hall is called Jialan Hall, and the west side hall is called Wuliang Hall; the sixth floor hall is Thousand Buddha Hall, and the east side hall is called Dabei Hall. The west side hall is called Ksitigarbha Hall; behind the hanging flower door is the seventh floor hall, which is the Dharma Protector Hall; the eighth floor hall is the Merit Hall; the ninth floor is three rooms wide with Bodhisattva faces. There is a horizontal passage at the hanging flower door that separates the front and rear parts. Today, only the Vajra Hall, the gallery in the northwest corner (part of which was burned down this time) and the first-floor hall behind the Hanging Flower Gate remain. Many of the original stone monuments in the temple have disappeared.