Nine-dragon Screen, Chinese: 九龙壁
Photo of Nine-dragon Screen
Brief Introduction of Nine-dragon Screen
At the entrance to the outer Eastern palaces, there is a Nine-dragon Screen, erected in 1773 during the reign of Emperor Qianlong as a decoration. In china, there are altogether three Nine-dragon Screens. The biggest one is in Beihai Park, and a third one is in Datong, shanxi province.
Photo of Nine-dragon Screen
Legends of Nine-dragon Screen
If one watches carefully, a piece of wood will be found at the bottom of the third dragon from the left. The legend goes like this: after the Nine-dragon screen was completed a workman carelessly broke a tile just before the inspection by Emperor Qianlong. He was so frightened, because, if found by the emperor, he was bound to be executed. The carpenter had to make a wooden part to replace it so that nobody could see the flaw. That is why this piece of the Nine-dragon Screen is made of wood.
Photo of Nine-dragon Screen