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<Evolving Reflections>

Originally we chose this topic, the Brandenburg Gate, since it was one of the few places that we had both been in the four days before our first blog was due. We traveled together, all 15 of us, to this monument that we did not know much about, except for the fact that it is famous and that you have to see it when you travel to Berlin. We were shocked at its structure and beauty and soon found ourselves taking an endless amount of pictures trying to capture its everlasting beauty. In the three short days that we had arrived in Berlin we had already fallen in love with the city because of the Brandenburg Gate. The Gate is a great symbol of the beauty that can be found all over Berlin and Germany and it helps prove that strength an d peace are timeless. The history that makes Berlin what it is today can be studied through the Brandenburg Gate since it has withstood two wars, the Berlin Wall, and decomposition often found in nature. One of the main parts of the Gate that we really enjoy is the Quadriga which is a sign of both strength and peace that the Germans are trying to achieve. We believe that the Germans are doing a great job of trying to live this lesson since they are always accepting refugees in need and have a strong presence in today’s world with foreign politics.

By completing this assignment we have learned a lot about the Brandenburg Gate. When the gate was designed and built it was a sign of peace and strength, something that we feel has continued to be a sign throughout history. The gate was built by one of Germany’s king, King Kaiser Wilhelms, in the year 1791 once they defeated the Greeks. We thought that this fact was interesting because it means that the gate was built for the people of Berlin, as a entrance to the city. The Brandenburg Gate was created for the people and it has continued to be a symbol for the people as time went on, which is why we believe many people flocked to the gate when the Berlin Wall was finally coming down. We also thought that the fact that Brandenburg Gate was something that both the East and West came together to fix. This is a beautiful movement of peace between the two different sides of Berlin, which is what the Gate is a symbol of. The Brandenburg gate is a historic monument in the populous city of Berlin and will continue to be one for the rest of time.

Overall we really enjoyed learning about the Brandenburg Gate and learning about many aspects of it. It is really interesting to piece together the history of a national figure for Germany and to learn more about the culture of Berlin and Germany along the way. We are extremely thankful for this opportunity to learn about another culture and history that is still evolving today, we will never forget the experience that we have had on this trip and the memories that were made. Over the course of our time in Berlin and this assignment, we have developed a new found respect for the Brandenburg Gate and the people of Germany who made this monument what it is today.

<Berlin, Germany VS. Beijing, China: Similarities, differences, and interconnections through the lens of architectures>

Brandenburg Gate is an 18th-century neoclassical monument in Berlin, which has witnessed all those ups and downs within Berlin and German history; Brandenburg Gate is undoubtedly the symbol of Berlin and Germany. The Forbidden City in Beijing is the very symbol of China, which has seen rise and fall within ancient Chinese empires and also the contemporary China.

Chinese: The Forbidden City

 The Forbidden City was the Chinese imperial palace from which twenty-four emperors of the Ming and Qing Dynasties ruled China for over 500 years —— from 1420 to 1911. The Ming Emperor Yong Le, who usurped the throne from his nephew and made Beijing the capital, ordered its construction, on which approximately 10,000 artists and a million workmen toiled for 14 years from 1406 to 1420. At present, the Palace is an elaborate museum that presents the largest and most complete ensemble of traditional architecture complex and more than 900,000 pieces of court treasures in all dynasties in China. Located in the center of Beijing, the entire palace area, rectangular in shape and 72 hectares in size, is surrounded by walls ten meters high and a moat 52 meters wide. At each corner of the wall stands a watchtower with a double-eave roof covered with yellow glazed tiles.

Through observing the major landmark of Germany and China, it is not hard to find out lots of similarities, differences, and interconnections. The biggest difference is that Brandenburg Gate features a western mythology figure riding horses on the top while in Chinese culture, people figures are barely used on architectures; instead, we use lots of dragons and phoenixes to symbolize strength and power. What is more, Chinese focus a lot on the number of decorations, as numbers in Chinese usually mean lots of things and also Chinese is a high-context language. For example, nine sets of decorations in a row are used a lot, which means long life. Also, based on my observation on the Forbidden City and Brandenburg Gate, Forbidden City is much more colorful and both red and yellow colors are very dominant while there is not many colors on the Gate, which proves that German loves using simple pure colors and the grand structure to symbolize power and strength while Chinese focus more on the content and colors.

The first biggest similarity that I have found out is that both of those monuments have been used for many different meanings through different times. For example, Brandenburg Gate was built up for the victory and unity of Prussia. Later on, it stood for the separation and division of Germany. In fact, the meaning behind Forbidden City has gone through the same shifts. The reason that the name is “Forbidden City” is that during Ming Dynasty no one but the royal can enter this palace because this palace was served as the home of emperors and their households as well as the ceremonial and political center of Chinese government. In other words, this palace was the symbol of division of hierarchy and separation of Chinese people, just as the Brandenburg Gate was served as the separation for the West and East Berlin and also Nazi and anti-Nazi party back then. However nowadays, Brandenburg Gate is the symbol of strength and peace while the Forbidden City is entirely open for every one, carrying out the sense of peace and reunion in Chinese nation. I am really amazed that sometimes, architectures can actually carry this many meanings and divide the people into separated parties and communities, which is the biggest similarity that I have discovered between German and Chinese culture.

In terms of the interconnections, I strongly believe that the same architecture can have different meanings in different times for different people while witnessing and carrying on the significant culture and history of that nation, and this interconnection will never change even if in different country. Especially, during the contemporary times, Brandenburg Gate and Forbidden City have built up the bridge to connect individuals from all over the world together who will be able to appreciate the history and look forward to the future. Now the Forbidden City and Brandenburg Gate are no longer forbidding, but inviting and welcoming. A visit to those sites will enrich the visitors’ knowledge of history, economy, politics, arts as well as architectures in Germany and China.

Written by Tower Zhou and Brittany Hegeman

<♔Brittany♔>

The Brandenburg Gate is a symbol of everlasting peace and strength for the people of Germany and as for me as well. It was not until I arrived in Germany did I hear and learn about the Brandenburg Gate. After I did learn about this fantastic monument did I truly appreciate German strength and ethics.

The first time I went to the Gate I was amazed by its beauty and height, I had almost felt like I had traveled back in time to when the gate was actually in use. I was not surprised when I first arrived at the Brandenburg Gate that it was a central point for the city and a lot of businesses were surrounding it. I feel that this gate is still a central point still for Berliners and the city as a whole. I have also had the opportunity of seeing this historic monument at night and the area surrounding it was still active and moving even at night. I believe that since coming to Berlin, Germany and witnessing for myself the beauty and knowing the history of this landmark helps me to better understand the significance of the Brandenburg Gate. I feel like a true Berliner when I am at this monument.

The significance of the Brandenburg Gate is that it is a representation of all the strength that the people of Berlin have. I am starting to realize now that the Gate is helping to describe the people as well. The people are strong for what they are having to go through throughout the history of Germany: World War I, World War II, the Berlin Wall, etc. The German people are also represented through this monument with the symbol of peace. The Brandenburg Gate was a sign of peace when it was first created and I believe that that same symbol can be applied to its people as well. The German people are nice and peaceful especially in today’s society. The country of Germany is, currently, taking in numerous refugees with their open door policy and keeping them safe. Also, in my opinion, Germany seems like a very expressive and accepting country since I see people of different races, jobs, and hair colors come together in Berlin and coexist peacefully.

I am forever grateful for the opportunity to study abroad in Berlin and learn and see its history and culture. The Brandenburg Gate is a beautiful symbol of Germany and now whenever I see pictures of the Gate I will remember the wonderful times I had in the magical city of Berlin. ♡

05/19/2016 PC: Brittany 

<♕The Travel Journey of Tower♕>

☁05/10/2016

It was my first time visiting the Brandenburg Gate. During this night, my German friend and one of my Chinese friends who has studied in Berlin for two years took me there. We walked all the way from Museum Island through the Unter den Linden to the Gate. As soon as we arrived there, I felt extremely shocked by witnessing this masterpiece in the real life. Even though it was 9:30PM, there were a great number of people hanging out over there while appreciating the lighting gradually covered this beautiful architecture while gentlly brightening the dark night. I was totally amazed by its beauty. Prior to this visit, I always felt a strong sense of desire of seeing Brandenburg Gate because it is one of the best-known and most significant landmarks in Berlin and every tourist is supposed to see it when paying a visit to Germany.

☀05/11/2016

After being impressed by the Gate, I decided to come back during the day-time and wanted to find out if it would bring me a different visualizations and feelings. Therefore, I went there again with our eleven-people OSU group. This time, I was shocked by its strength. We made an O-H-I-O over there; another funny story came up right after the O-H-I-O. Some South Korean tourists copied our gestures and eventually took a picture with us while making the Buckeye tradition O-H-I-O. In addition, to my surprise, I used my Korean to talk with them for several minutes and learnt about their side of stories of visiting this Gate and Berlin. That was the time when I felt strong connected with the world in Berlin since countless individuals from all over the world have come to this same place to embrace the historical and the peace. Somehow, this Gate has progressively united individuals and opened up a new page of story for its single visitor.

☀05/18/2016

After two-week studying the culture and history of Berlin, I seemed to have better understanding in Brandenburg Gate and also in a series of historical events that have occurred there. On this day, I took my friend who studied in Cologne and recently were visiting Berlin to this landmark, which was my third time touring the same site. However, this time was way different; this time, I felt that I was more like a citizen living in the city for a long time, and I started to explain to her how important this gate was then and now.

I would say Brandenburg Gate has witnessed my growth in Berlin. There used to be no difference at all between common tourist and me, and I was appreciating this Gate simply on account of its fame without knowing the real stories. As I came back again and again, I have discovered more and even built up my own feelings and meanings towards this Gate and this city. Brandenburg Gate is so significant that each generation can pass along different messages to the next generation, but the meaning of peace and reunion will never fade off.

<The birth of Brandenburg Gate: The symbol of victory>

Originally the Brandenburg Gate was built, around 1791, by the Prussian King Kaiser Wilhelms for the purpose of it being an entrance into the city of Berlin after the Prussian Army defeated the Greeks. Only the King was allowed to enter through the big opening in the center of the Gate, while the others were used by ordinary citizens in order to enter Berlin. In this era, the tower was built as a tool for entering the city, however, it affected the German society in this time because it is also seen as a new everlasting symbol of peace and victory for the German people.

<The symbol of division>

Throughout history, the Brandenburg Gate has been the very place of numerous marches and parades. For instance, at the start of World War I, German soldiers marched through the Brandenburg Gate. More importantly, on January 30th during 1933 (World War II), there was a significant historical march that has changed the course of world history: the leader of the Nazi Party, Adolf Hitler, used the Brandenburg Gate as a place to rally citizens to support the war and the belief that the Aryan race was superior to others. Once Hitler was elected as Chancellor of Germany, he walked through the Brandenburg Gate to the presidential palace in Berlin, Germany, as a way to celebrate his rise to power and also the start of a new era he is leading. Under this circumstance, the German society was apparently split by this action. Those in support of Hitler’s rise to power thought that the action was appropriate since the Gate was a sign of victory. However, the other part of society was disapproving of this action since they did not support Hitler’s motives and beliefs, so it was a dishonoring measure to take since the Gate also represents peace. The German society in this era was rather split in their opinions about Hitler so every propaganda message that was given at the Brandenburg Gate was rather important since it could either help or hurt people’s belief in the Nazi Party. For many others, it became a monument of destruction and turmoil, even though the Brandenburg Gate was created for peace at the first place.

Moreover, during the Cold War, as soon as the Berlin Wall was built up and Berlin was divided into two parts known as East Berlin and West Berlin, Brandenburg Gate automatically belonged to the east side. According to some historian studies, there exists much speculation as to precisely when a shift in the symbolism of Brandenburg Gate actually exists. It is commonly agreed that after 1945, and even after the fall of the Berlin Wall, the Brandenburg Gate became a symbol of Germany’s separation. Apparently, it is very true that since the construction of Berlin Wall in 1961 August and also during the existence of Berlin Wall, the Brandenburg Gate became the sad symbol of a divided Berlin.

<The symbol of unity and peace>

Brandenburg Gate instantly remade itself into the New Berlin’s symbol of utility, as soon as the Berlin Wall came down and both West and East Berlin were reunified. In addition, the Brandenburg Gate was officially opened to traffic on December 22, 1989, and over 100,000 individuals all over the world came to celebrate the special occasion.

“Growing up in post-war Germany, the Gate was a symbol of peace and unity, yet was inaccessible to many until the fall of the Berlin Wall. Everyone deserves equal access to the ideas and artifacts of our history, regardless of geographic and economic barriers”, says Hans-Günter Börgmann.

In today’s society many people visit the Brandenburg Gate as a tourist destination when they are on vacation. This monument still represents the original message of victory and peace that it was intended for. The visitors that go to this historic piece of architecture will continue to be amazed by the beautiful architecture that was created over 200 years ago and was able to withstand time. This German monument continues to invite millions of people from around the world everyday to vast in its glory. Local businesses and citizens are also affected by the monument because of the amount of tourists that visit the Gate. The monument helps local businesses grow and prosper from the tourists, such as tours, restaurants, and local stores. The Brandenburg Gate has created a peaceful and celebratory environment that Berliners and people from all over the world can experience today. The Gate has truly withstood time and is able to signify all the struggles and all the victories that the Germans went through throughout time. When created the Brandenburg Gate was only a sign of strength for Berliners, but now it is an international sign for all.

Written by: Tower Zhou and Brittany Hegeman

<History and background>

The Brandenburg Gate was created as a gate to the city of Berlin for the King during the Prussian Empire. The Gate, which was completed in 1791 by Karl Gotthard Langhans, has a statue on top of it called the “Quadriga.” The Quadriga is made up of a goddess riding with four horses, thus depicting an image of strength and victory for the Prussians. Only the royal family of Prussia was allowed to walk through the center of the gates, anyone else had to walk around or on the other sides of the main opening.

During the rise of the Nazi party in Germany, the Brandenburg Gate became a sign of fascism since the dictator Adolf Hitler, often held propaganda events there for local Berliners. However, during this time period, the Brandenburg Gate was damaged severely so after World War II had ended, and before the Berlin Wall was created, both East and West Berlin helped restore the Gate to its formal glory. After the Berlin Wall was created the historic Gate was on the side of the German Democratic Republic, East side of Berlin. This allowed the GDR government to remove the iron cross and the Prussian Eagle from the Brandenburg Gate because the government believed that these were a symbol for the Germany military that no longer existed. However after the Berlin Wall fell thousands of Berliners flocked to the Gate to celebrate the reunification of the city. Throughout history the Brandenburg Gate conveys a message of: strength, unification, and peace; and it continues to share this message today with Germans and millions of tourists every year.

<Personal Experience>

On the afternoon of May 11^th after the Berlin Wall Tour, some of us went to the Brandenburg Gate where Berlin Wall used to stand behind it to divide Berlin into the West and the East. When we got there and started to make the “OHIO” sign for the group picture, a couple of visitors from South Korea spotted us doing so and they thought that it was something very significant in Germany while people were taking pictures, so they automatically copied the “OHIO” in their pictures. Later on, when we chatted with them, we found out that they were from Seoul, South Korea, and this whole family was traveling around Europe for an anniversary; additionally, Berlin was their very first stop. At the Pariser Platz where the Brandenburg Gate locates, we have noticed that there were a great number of people from different countries speaking so many diverse languages, and it is amazing to witness that every since the Berlin Wall was taken down, it has not only connected those individuals from West Berlin and East Berlin, but has also connected numerous citizens from the world at this magical place. We are thankful for the chance to visit and admire this significant and historic piece of architecture and are able to admire its strength to stand against time.

Written by: Tower Zhou and Brittany Hegeman