The Yingtian Gate , Yingtianmen or Ying Tian Men (Traditional Chinese: 應天門; Simplified Chinese: 应天门) was the main southern gate of the imperial palace in the city of Luoyang during the Sui and Tang dynasties, and it may have been the largest city gate in ancient China. It was originally built in 605 AD, the first year of the Daye era of the Sui dynasty, and was initially named the Zetian Gate(則天門). In 705 AD, the first year of the Shenlong era, the gate's name was changed to Yingtian Gate to avoid the naming taboo of Empress Wu Zetian. The gate was destroyed during the Northern Song dynasty and was reconstructed at its original site in 2016.
The Yingtian Gate served as a ceremonial and celebratory venue for the Sui, Tang, and Wuzhou dynasties under Empress Wu Zetian's rule. Emperor Gaozong of Tang once issued an edict here to release King Uija of Baekje, and Empress Wu Zetian ascended to the throne and declared herself emperor at this location. The emperors also received foreign envoys, such as the Japanese envoys to Sui and Tang, at the Yingtian Gate.[1]