Tiananmen was the main gate of the imperial city during the Ming and Qing dynasties. It was a leading ceremonial building sequence and part of the court space for entering and exiting the palace city, reflecting the adherence to the ideal capital city planning paradigm of "facing the back market" recorded in "Kaogongji". Tiananmen was also the place where imperial edicts were issued during the Ming and Qing dynasties and major state events were held in modern times. It is the carrier of national etiquette and witnessed the end of more than 2,000 years of dynasty rule and the establishment of the People's Republic of China. Tiananmen is located on the central axis of Beijing, south of Duanmen, surrounded by the Outer Jinshui River on the south side, facing Tiananmen Square. Its city platform is connected to the imperial city wall, together forming the southern boundary of the imperial city. Tiananmen is mainly composed of a tower. On the south and north sides of the tower, the Outer Jinshui Bridge and stone lions and huabiao are built symmetrically on the left and right sides of the tower along the central axis of Beijing. Tiananmen faces south and consists of two parts: the tower and the tower. There are five arch gates under the tower, and the size of the arch gates symmetrically decreases from the center to the sides. The tower is built on a white marble pedestal, surrounded by white marble railings. It is nine bays wide and five bays deep, reflecting the "Nine Fives System". It has a double-eaved hip roof and is covered with yellow glazed tiles. Tiananmen was the main gate of the imperial city of the Ming and Qing dynasties, and ordinary people were not allowed to enter. Tiananmen also has important ceremonial functions, and is the venue for ceremonial activities such as the Golden Phoenix Edict and the Golden Hall Announcing the Imperial Ceremony. On October 1, 1949, the founding ceremony of the People's Republic of China was held in Tiananmen, marking the birth of the People's Republic of China. To this day, Tiananmen is still the venue for major national celebrations. Tiananmen was built in the 15th year of Yongle in the Ming Dynasty (1417) and has undergone several repairs. In 1949, the founding ceremony of the People's Republic of China was held here. The Tiananmen Tower was opened to the public after 1988.
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Philosophical interpretation of Tiananmen: Eastern philosophy perspective: In Eastern philosophy, Tiananmen is not only a building, but also a symbol, carrying profound cultural and historical significance. From the perspective of Feng Shui, Tiananmen is located on the central axis of Beijing, reflecting the philosophical idea of "harmony between man and nature", that is, the harmonious unity of man, nature and society. The careful selection of its location aims to utilize the aura of the natural environment to achieve the ideal state of peace and prosperity, and political harmony. At the same time, the architectural style and layout of Tiananmen, such as its symmetrical structure and grand scale, reflect the Confucian concepts of "the doctrine of the mean" and "ritual", emphasizing order, harmony and balance. Western philosophy perspective: From the perspective of Western philosophy, Tiananmen can be regarded as a symbol of power and history. It witnessed China's transformation from a feudal monarchy to a modern country, and is a witness to the change of national power and the historical process. In Western political philosophy, every major event at Tiananmen, such as the founding ceremony and important celebrations, reflects the authority of the state and the recognition of the people, and reflects the relationship between the government and the people in the social contract theory. At the same time, the openness and closure of Tiananmen also symbolize the country's openness and political transparency, which echoes the concepts of transparent government and civil rights in Western liberal philosophy. Whether it is harmony and order in Eastern philosophy or power and history in Western philosophy, Tiananmen, with its unique existence, connects the past and the future, carries the depth of culture and the thickness of history, and becomes an important window for interpreting Chinese and even world history and philosophy.