Why is the doornail of the Forbidden City No.9 instead of No.8?

The doornail on the door of the Forbidden City is actually of practical significance in architecture. The doornail is actually the top hat of the nail, and it also has a decorative effect. In ancient times, the use of doornails was very particular.

The use of door nails at the royal gate began in the Ming Dynasty, when there were clear regulations on the use of door nails.

Most of the doornails in the Forbidden City are 9 doornails, each with 9, and * * * has 8 1, which is a multiple of 9. Nine is considered to be the largest positive number in ancient China, and the 9-way doornail on the door of the Forbidden City also shows that this is the place where a powerful person lives, which indicates the supremacy of imperial power.

For example, the number and arrangement of doornails vary with the status and level, such as Wang Mi, Wang Fu County, temples and so on. General prince Mi vertical nine horizontal seven; Pro-Wangfu is vertical seven horizontal five; The Duke's Mansion has seven vertical and horizontal directions, from Marquis to Baron to five or five. Except for the palace gate, all others can only use iron gate nails, and ordinary people can't use door nails at all.

But there is one exception, that is, the doornail of Donghua Gate. According to Feng Shui theory, the east belongs to wood, the south to fire, the west to gold, the north to water and the center to earth. The Forbidden City, where the emperor lived, showed the ninth five-year plan of the emperor. Nine is the highest number of yang. Yang belongs to fire, and oriental wood is like grams. Therefore, Donghuamen in the east will reduce the number of doornails and avoid rushing to themselves. Moreover, too much fire and soil is not good for imperial power, and reducing the doornail symbolizing the door of oriental wood can also alleviate the collision within the court.

In addition to the number of doornails, many people have heard a saying: the doornails on the Forbidden City door can't be touched. Why?

In fact, this is to protect cultural relics. In the past, it was said that touching the doornail on the palace door would bring good luck and cure all diseases. Some people even associate the doornail with "people", thinking that touching the doornail on the door of the Forbidden City will make the family "prosperous", so many people will think about touching it when they go to the Forbidden City, which will undoubtedly cause damage to cultural relics. In order to protect cultural relics from being destroyed, the Forbidden City also installed a transparent cover in the lower part of some palace doors, and an iron railing was also enclosed outside the Hall of Supreme Harmony.