Hand-coloured 19th-Century
engraving of the Porcelain Tower of Nanking (public domain)
Most people can name at least some
of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Far less familiar, conversely, is
the list that designates the Seven Wonders of the Middle Ages. Chronologically
speaking, its medieval time-scale is interpreted very loosely, bearing in mind
that among those monuments included in this list are Stonehenge, the Colosseum of Rome, and the Great Wall of China.
Even so, the term 'wonder' is
undeniably appropriate, not only to those three already named here, but also to
their four fellow marvels. Namely, the Mosque of St Sophia in Constantinople,
the Catacombs of Alexandria, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, and - perhaps most
incredible of all - a now all-but-forgotten but incomparably exquisite pagoda
known as the Porcelain Tower of Nanking (now Nanjing).
Beginning in the year 1413 AD
during the Ming Dynasty, this ethereal edifice's creation was commissioned by
the Emperor Yung-Loh, as a peerless monument to the memory of his late mother.
Indeed, as one bygone chronicler eloquently wrote:
"He determined
that its beauty should as far outshine that of any similar memorial, as the
transcendent virtues of the parent, in her son's eyes, surpassed those of the
rest of her sex."
Porcelain Tower of Nanking, from Olfert
Dapper's Gedenkwaerdig Bedryf der Nederlandsche Oost-Indische Maetschappye,
1670 (public domain)
Almost 20 years, and a fabulous
sum of money (the equivalent of over a million pounds today) later, the
emperor's Porcelain Tower was complete, and its
magnificence surpassed even his own grandiose expectations. Standing 260 ft high, octagonal in shape, containing
an inner staircase spiralling upwards for 184 steps, and consisting of nine
storeys topped by a lofty spire, it was faced from base to apex with the finest
glazed, coloured porcelain, bearing designs of animals, plants, and landscapes.
It was also adorned with many Buddhist images. But that was not all.
At the summit of the tower's spire
was a richly gilt pineapple-shaped sphere of brass, from which, like the
tentacles of a gleaming metallic octopus, eight long iron chains extended to
eight projecting points upon the roof - and from each chain a small bell was
suspended, which hung over the tower's face. The same format was duplicated on
each storey, yielding a uniquely delicate, fragile aspect contrasting
pleasingly with the more formal upright outline of the tower itself.
This fairytale effect was
heightened further by the presence of 140 lanterns in several specially-carved
apertures round each storey's outer face. Quoting from the description penned
by a long-demised Chinese chronicler, when these lanterns were lit each night:
"...their light
illuminated the entire heavens, shining into the hearts of men, and eternally
removing human misery!"
And as an act of veneration to the
deities of Heaven, as well as a charm for warding away evil, two large brass
vessels and a bowl were placed on top of the tower, and filled with priceless
articles of countless kinds. Glittering precious gems, multicoloured pearls
reputedly empowered with miraculous properties, quantities of gold and silver,
and even a selection of silken wares, copies of ancient Chinese writings, and a
box of the finest tea - all were present.
Porcelain Tower of Nanking, from Fischer von
Erlach's Plan of Civil and Historical Architecture, 1721 (public domain)
The spectacular result was a
radiant beacon of porcelain, emitting a dulcet paean of joy whenever the gentle
breezes stirred its bright company of bells, and proffering a myriad of treasures beyond
estimation in decorous obeisance to the deities in exchange for their divine
benevolence. How richly indeed did this dream-like monument in memory of a dear
mother deserve its worldwide renown as an architectural wonder too.
Tragically, however, like all
dreams and fairytales, it could not last forever. Four centuries passed by
without incident, but in March 1853 the
city of Nanking was captured by the Taiping Rebellion - a major uprising
against the Qing dynasty. Even so, such was its spectacular, awe-inspiring
beauty that for three years the Porcelain Tower quelled even the rebels'
destructive impulses, as they single-mindedly annihilated everything else
appertaining to Nanking's imperial heritage. By 1856, however, their anti-Imperialist fervour
had at last focused its impassioned attention upon the final symbol of this
city's historic past - the Porcelain Tower.
Having been created by an emperor,
the tower was doomed. And so it was that this glorious triumph of inspirational
human achievement was demolished - felled like a mighty oak tree, shattering
its porcelain visage into an infinity of glinting fragments, stilling forever
the tinkling laughter of its bells, and strewing its venerable offerings far
and wide like cheap, discarded trinkets.
The victims of War have been many
and multifarious, and one was the Porcelain Tower of Nanking. Truly a thing of
beauty and a joy, if not forever, then certainly for several centuries - and
perhaps even longer too, if we are able to recall and recapture its peaceful,
timeless memory for a brief moment amid this hectic modern world.
Moreover, in 2010 Wang Jianlin, a
Chinese businessman, donated the stupendous sum of 1 billion yuan (equivalent to
156 million US dollars) to Nanking to pay for this lost national (and
international) wonder's complete reconstruction. So who knows – perhaps one day
this city's magnificent Porcelain Tower may rise like a veritable phoenix from
the ashes and rubble of erstwhile rebellion, restored to its former glory and
destined to delight future generations right across the globe. May it indeed be
so.
A second
hand-coloured 19th-Century engraving depicting the Porcelain Tower of Nanking (public domain)
