Our master designer was inspired by the magnificent history of the ancient Beijing gates. A truly wondrous story, the ancient city of Beijing is composed of four sub-cities: the inner city, the outer city, the Imperial City and the Forbidden City. Construction of the Forbidden City started in 1406, at the 4th year of the Yongle reign of the third emperor of the Ming Dynasty, and was completed in 1420 which was during 14 years. It was said that a million workers including 100,000 artisans worked to create the masterpiece of architectural engineering and superlative beauty.
Each sub-city was built within the city walls. These were merged within a number of gate towers of immense fortification that sat atop rectangular platforms, 39 to 42 feet high. Each gate entrance structure was centered upon a tower platform, and had two giant red wooden gates that opened outwards. Massive copper doornails were fitted on both the exterior and the interior sides of the gates. When the gates were closed they were locked with giant tree-trunk-sized wooden beams. This was a highly efficient security system of ancient times.
The Imperial City has four gates. Each gate has eighty-one metal studs with nine placed horizontally and nine placed vertically. Nine is the most auspicious number in ancient China, representing the supreme power of the emperor. The two door knockers of the gate are ferocious beasts heads, safeguarding the gate from evil spirits and bringing happiness and good luck to all those who enter.
Motivated by the awe inspiring fortified gates of Beijing, our designer then added the auspicious beast, Pi Xiu, who is known as the divine accumulator of wealth to this incredible design. Security and prosperity are the symbolic focus of this remarkable handbag collection.