These drums are in the drum tower, appropriately enough. It, along with the nearby bell tower, was where time was marked for all and sundry...minions and courtiers alike, back in the day. The towers are on a straight line north of the Forbidden City. Proper Feng Shue or something.
This is the remains of one of the original drums...huge. The current 24 are replicas.
There is a thrilling but brief "performance" every 24 minutes. It's sorta like Taiko drumming but not nearly so spectacular nor so long. Below is the biggest drum. The woman in the company played it. There were 5 other drummers (olden times, all 24 were drummed at once!)
we aren't sure if this was ever played as a true drum, but it sure looked cool.
big drums. lots of them.
This is the remains of one of the original drums...huge. The current 24 are replicas.
There is a thrilling but brief "performance" every 24 minutes. It's sorta like Taiko drumming but not nearly so spectacular nor so long. Below is the biggest drum. The woman in the company played it. There were 5 other drummers (olden times, all 24 were drummed at once!)
we aren't sure if this was ever played as a true drum, but it sure looked cool.
big drums. lots of them.
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