The reporter learned from the Archaeological Research Institute of the Forbidden City on the 11th that archaeologists have found the largest brick pier known in China at present in the underground of the site where the Forbidden City was built, or will be able to restore a magnificent layout of the Ming Dynasty hall.
The site of the Forbidden City Construction Office is located in the southeast of Cining Palace on the west road outside the Forbidden City and north of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. It is now the office area of the Palace Museum Repair Technology Department. In October, 2020, because the Forbidden City started the environmental renovation project of the former site of the construction office, the investigation and archaeological work of related sites were immediately put on the agenda.
Archaeologists of the Forbidden City have found traces left by the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties in an area of more than 2,300 square meters, including house sites, wall foundations, drainage ditches, earthen stoves and other relics. At present, they have excavated and cleared up the architectural base of the Qing Dynasty construction office and the foundation of large-scale buildings in the early Ming Dynasty. Brick pavements of the Ming Dynasty were also found at the scene. “At that time, the exact date was determined because a drainage ditch built at the same time as the ground was discovered, and the words’ Jiajing Fifteen Years’ were engraved on individual bricks and stones.” Xu Haifeng, director of the Institute of Archaeology of the Forbidden City, said.
It is worth mentioning that the largest known brick pier in China has been excavated in archaeology, which belongs to the remains of early Ming architecture. It is paved with gray bricks of uniform specifications in the shape of “Hui”, with a length of about 4.45 meters, a width of about 4.4 meters and a height of 1.6 meters. Xu Haifeng speculated that this was an architectural relic when the Forbidden City was built in Yongle period of Ming Dynasty. At present, the northern and western edges of the palace have been basically determined. “According to historical records, after Emperor Yongle moved the capital, a group of large palace buildings were built in this area, such as Renzhi Hall, Dashan Hall and Renshou Palace. Due to the unknown records, it is necessary to further demonstrate the identity of this remains. “
Xu Haifeng said that the archaeological project of the construction site has set four “best” since the establishment of the Archaeological Department of the Forbidden City, namely, the largest archaeological excavation area in the museum, the most complete chronological sequence of discovered remains, the richest types of remains and the most important academic value. Next year, archaeological excavations will continue to advance westward, and the research work on the unearthed building components of the Yuan Dynasty will also start. (Reporter Ying Ni)