(字形广场)

1.“T”Square(“T”字形广场)

In Ming and Qing Dynasties，Tian'anmen Square was“T”shaped and was surrounded by a red wall.Left Chang'an Gate stood on the east，while Right Chang'an Gate on the west.At the southern end of the square stood the Gate of Great Ming and at the northern end the Gate of Heavenly Succession.In the south of the Outer Golden Water River，the area between the Left Chang'an Gate and Right Chang'an Gate，was“Heavenly Street”，which was about 370 meters long from east to west，80 meters wide from south to north paved with stone slabs.The place was for officials to kneel down and to listen to imperial edicts.The middle part of the“Heavenly Street”was connected with Central Imperial Way.Their walls were linked together with the wall of the Imperial City.“T”shaped square was the forerunner of the Imperial City.

In the Qing crosstalk there was not so much change of the square，except for the name of the Gate of Great Ming changed into the Gate of the Great Qing and the Gate of Heavenly Succession into Gate of Heavenly Peace.In 1754(the 19^thof Qing Emperor Qianlong)，“Three Eastern Gates”(on the East Chang'an Avenue)and“Three Western Gates”(on the West Chang'an Avenue)were added outside the Left Chang'an Gate and Right Chang'an Gate.

Tian'anmen Square during Ming Dynasty(明朝时期的天安门广场)