Drum Tower of Xi'an

Drum Tower of Xi'an
西安鼓楼
Drum Tower with the plaque Wenwu Shengdi (Chinese: 文武盛地, a place of prosperous literary and military)
Interactive map of the Drum Tower of Xi'an area
General information
LocationXi'an, Shaanxi, China
Coordinates34°15′42″N 108°56′19″E / 34.26167°N 108.93861°E / 34.26167; 108.93861
Completed
1380

The Drum Tower of Xi'an (Chinese: 西安鼓楼) is a Ming-dynasty civic building in central Xi'an, Shaanxi, China. It was erected in 1380 during the reign of the Hongwu Emperor and later repaired during the Qing dynasty.[1]

The tower stands west of the Bell Tower, near the entrance to the Muslim Quarter. Its brick base supports a timber pavilion with multiple tiers of eaves. Together with the Bell Tower, it regulated daily life in the walled city: bells announced the morning and drums the evening. The building is now open to visitors and displays drums and material on the city's timekeeping traditions.[2]

A horizontal view of five large ceremonial drums displayed in a covered gallery at Xi'an's Drum Tower. Each drum features a crimson lacquered barrel body with brass ring hardware, topped with a circular white drumhead inscribed with Chinese calligraphic characters in dark red. The drums are mounted on matching red wooden stands with ornate railings. Dark wooden pillars support the structure above, and a vertical black banner with gold Chinese characters hangs on the right side. Small informational placards are visible at the base of the drums, with one readable text mentioning 'Beginning of Spring'
Outward-facing small Drums from the Tower, with Traditional Chinese inscriptions for Each Solar Term

Drums

On the outer terrace of the first floor of the tower, there are 24 "small" drums on the North and South sides of the tower. These drums are inscribed with Traditional Chinese characters for the 24 Solar Terms of the traditional Chinese lunisolar calendar Besides these drums, the Hall also houses the so-called Wentian Drum (north side) made in 1996, claimed then as the largest cowhide drum in the world. These drums are played as part of a daily bell and drum symphony.[3]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Mazzeo, Rocco; Cam, Darinn; Chiavari, Giuseppe; Fabbri, Daniele; Ling, He; Prati, Silvia (2004-07-01). "Analytical study of traditional decorative materials and techniques used in Ming Dynasty wooden architecture. The case of the Drum Tower in Xi'an, P.R. of China". Journal of Cultural Heritage. 5 (3): 273–283. doi:10.1016/j.culher.2004.06.001. ISSN 1296-2074.
  2. ↑ Fludd, Derrick (2016-04-23). Xi'an. Global Image Books. pp. 9–14.
  3. ↑ "This is Shaanxi: Bell Tower & Drum Tower". Shaanxi China Official Government. 2020-09-08. Retrieved 2025-12-16.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
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