Refrigerator Magnet Resembling Tiangong Caisson from Beijing Ancient Architecture Museum
Crafted with meticulous attention to detail, this refrigerator magnet is a replica of the Tiangong Caisson, a prized artifact from the Ming Dynasty housed in the Beijing Ancient Architecture Museum. Modeled after a 600-year-old celestial ceiling, this magnet features multiple layers that mirror the actual structure of the caisson ceiling, allowing for both individual display and a full-form reassembly.
Crown Jewels
Originally part of the Longfu Temple, the caisson ceiling was carefully removed post the 1976 Tangshan earthquake to prevent damage. In 1989, it was relocated and meticulously restored within the Taisui Hall of the Beijing Ancient Architecture Museum, standing as a testament to China's rich architectural legacy and the exquisite craftsmanship of the Ming era.
Embodied in the symbolic "Round Heaven and Square Earth" philosophy, the caisson ceiling captures the traditional Chinese cosmological beliefs.
"The caisson is more than an aesthetic representation; it carries cultural significance reflecting the ancient Chinese understanding of time and space within the context of an agrarian society. It is a prime exemplar of the wisdom of Chinese agricultural civilization," says Zhang Min, Deputy Head of the Museum, in an interview with the Global Times.
The caisson's structure features a square well enclosing a round well, with another square well nested within. The round well was initially a six-layered construction, with five layers remaining. Some layers are adorned with heavenly palaces, intricately carved with celestial beings and maidens, displaying remarkable delicacy in expression and posture.
At the center of the caisson, a large astronomical map set against a deep blue backdrop displays over 1,400 gold stars.
"The deep blue image of the caisson, visible to the naked eye, is a star map drawn by ancient people around 850 AD, based on the sky as it appeared at that time," Zhang explains.