Asia Beauty Spot – Asia Scenery

10. Palace of Earthly Tranquility (Kunninggong)

The Palace of Earthly Tranquility (Palace of Terrestrial Tranquility or Kunninggong) is the last of the three main palaces in the Inner Court of the Forbidden City, standing behind the Hall of Celestial and Terrestrial Union. The palace was first built in 1420, and rebuilt in 1605 due to two fires in 1514 and 1596. In later years, it underwent three other restoration works. Facing south, the palace is 9 bays wide and 3 bays deep. Twenty-two meters high, the Palace of Earthly Tranquility has a double-eaved roof with side buildings just like the Palace of Heavenly Purity but smaller.

The palace was where the empress lived in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). However, after reconstruction in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), it served as the nuptial chamber of the emperor and empress and the altar for worshipping the deities of Shamanism.

The Qing emperor and empresses and the imperial household were Manchu people who were rather superstitious and respected divinity very much, thus, religious sacrifices were critical for them. In line with the customs of the Manchu, the four west side rooms of the Palace of Earthly Tranquility were alternated into an altar for offering sacrifices to the deities of Shamanism. In the third room from the east pierced two facing doors, inside which three caldrons were set to cook meat. Sacrifices were offered twice a day, one in the morning and the other in the evening. Grand occasions will be held here on Spring Festival, the first and the fifteenth day of each month, which both the emperor and empress would attend.

11. Hall of Mental Cultivation (Yangxindian)

Yangxindian, the Hall of Mental Cultivation, is particularly significant in history of the Forbidden City. Built originally in the Ming dynasty and rebuilt during the Qing dynasty, it was here that from the time of Emperor Yongzheng the Qing Emperors lived and ruled the Empire. Also, three emperors died here. The building has a front and a rear hall, which served as the emperor’s bedroom.

The emperor would summon his ministers to consult with him on state affairs in the central part of the front hall. Books containing instructions for a new emperor on how to rule over his empire would be placed in a bookcase behind the throne.

In the East Warmth Chamber, the notorious Empress Dowager Cixi, attended to state affairs sitting behind a curtain. The chamber is displayed as it was in her time. From behind this yellow curtain she corruptly ruled China for forty-eight years. Firstly as regent and domineering mother of her son and subsequently as regent to her adoptive nephew. In the West Warmth Chamber, emperors from Yongzheng to Xianfeng held private audiences with their ministers either for consultation or the issue of secret orders. The small house in the west end is named Sanxitang (Hall of Three Rare Treasures), so called because Emperor Qianlong collected and held three outstanding calligraphy masterpieces by Wang Xizhi, Wang Xianzhi, and Wang Xun, three masters in Chinese calligraphy. Plaques written by Emperor Qianlong are still displayed here.

12. Six Western Palaces (Xiliugong)

The Six Western Palaces and Six Eastern Palaces accommodated the emperor’s wives and concubines. From the Emperor Yongzheng (reign time 1722-1735) of the Qing Dynasty (1644-11), the empress no long lived in the Palace of Earthly Tranquility, but chose one of the twelve palaces as her abode. Comparatively, the palaces in the Eastern Six Palaces are neat and keep their original layout basically as they were first built in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Xiliugong, (The Six Western Palaces), lies to the north of Yangxindian (The Hall of Mental Cultivation). They form a group with three palaces on either side of an alley that runs from north to south. Emperor Dowager Cixi spent most of her life in the Six Western Palaces, so, she made many alterations to the buildings in this region.

The six palaces are: Palace of Eternal Longevity (Yongshougong), Palace of the Queen Consort (Yikungong), Palace for Gathering Elegance (Chuxiugong), Hall of the Supreme Pole (Taijidian), Palace of Eternal Spring (Changchungong) and Palace of Universal Happiness (Xianfugong). Each palace has its own courtyard, a front hall, a rear hall and annexes. Most of them are displayed to the public with their untouched and original settings.

In fact, the Palace for Gathering Elegance was for ordinary concubines of the Ming emperors. Qing Emperor Jiaqing’s two empresses lived here successively. Its status rose in importance especially due to Cixi. Cixi exercised power from behind the throne by her dominating influence over a weak emperor. She spent a huge amount of money upon the refurbishment and decoration of the palace, making it the most luxurious for the celebration of her 50th birthday in 1884. The last owner of the palace was the last empress of the Qing Dynasty, Wan Rong. She moved there after her marriage to Emperor Xuantong (also known as Puyi). In an autumn day of 1924 when Wan Rong and Puyi were quietly conversing here, they were driven from the Forbidden City by the National Revolutionary Army. Visitors can see Puyi’s life exhibition here now. The back hall, Lijingxuan, has an opera stage where Puyi once held western style banquets.

13. Hall for Ancestry Worship (Fengxiandian)

Located on the east side of the Inner Court in the Forbidden City, the Hall for Ancestry Worship (Fengxiandian) was the place where the imperial household worshiped their ancestors in the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties. The hall was constructed in the Ming Dynasty, rebuilt in 1657, the fourteenth year of the reign of Qing Shunzhi (1644-1661), and restored many times since. Surrounded by lofty walls, the Hall for Ancestry Worship is an 工-shaped structure with a white base of Buddhist style. It has both a front and a rear hall connected by a lobby. The front hall is the main hall, 9 bays wide and 4 bays deep, covering an area of 122,500 square meters. It has a double-eaved roof and glazed facing tile. The door opened in the front fifth bay and the back fifth bay meets the lobby. The rear hall is the bed chamber, 9 bays wide and 2 bays deep, covering an area of 75,500 square meters. It has a single-eaved roof and glazed facing tile. The front fifth bay of the rear hall connects to the lobby. The interior floor is paved with gilded bricks and the ceiling carved with a gilded pattern of canary-creeper and float flower. The Hall for Ancestry Worship has no annex buildings around it. In the south outside the Gate for Ancestry Worship stands a cluster of rooms, serving as Sacred Warehouse and Sacred Kitchen. In the east outside the Gate for Ancestry Worship is a small part to itself, including 3 small halls, set up for the Emperor Jiajing (1522-1566) of the Ming Dynasty Ming Dynasty to worship his father.

In the Qing Dynasty, on the first and fifteenth day of the lunar month, the birthday of the emperor, the New Year’s Day, the Winter Solstice every year and other grand occasions, hecatombs would be held in the front hall. On an ancestor’s birthday, deathday, the Lantern Festival, the Tomb-Sweeping Day and the Mid-Autumn Day, the imperial family would worship their ancestors in the rear hall.

14. Six Eastern Palaces (Dongliugong)

The Six Eastern Palaces, (Dongliugong), comprises six palaces in the same styles located on the east side of the axis in the Inner Court. The six palaces are Palace of Great Benevolence (Jingrengong), Palace of Celestial Favour (Chengqiangong), Palace of Eternal Harmony (Yonghegong), Palace of Great Brilliance (Jingyanggong), Palace of Purity (Zhongcuigong) and Palace of Lasting Happiness (Yanxigong). First built in 1420, these buildings provided living quarters for the imperial concubines. Most were restored during the 17th century and now most have been turned into exhibition halls to display Chinese treasures collected by the imperial family.

The Palace of Great Benevolence faces south. There is a stone screen inside the main entrance, which was said to have dated from the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368). The palace has two layers of courtyard with the main building in each yard having penthouses and side halls. The palace has a pavilion built above a well which was used to wash offerings before they were processed in the Sacred Kitchen. This palace was the residence for the emperors’ concubines in the Ming Dynasty (1368-144). In the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), Emperor Kangxi (reign time 1661-1722) was born and lived here temporarily. After that time, the palace was used by the emperors’ wives.

The Palace of Celestial Favour was named Yongning Gong (Palace of Eternal Tranquility) when it was first built and then given its present name in 1630. It also has two layers of courtyard. The palace was the residence for high ranked imperial concubines in the Ming Dynasty. In Qing, Emperor Shunzhi’s most favorite wife and Emperor Daoguang’s empress lived here.

The Palace of Eternal Harmony was initially called the Palace of Eternal Peace and then changed its name in 1535. It was the residence for imperial concubines in both Ming and Qing Dynasties. Emperor Kangxi’s empress lived here for a long time. It has a well pavilion in the southwest corner. Palace of Eternal Harmony and Palace of Celestial Favour are now the exhibition halls for more than 15,000 bronze articles, nearly 1,600 of which date from before the Qin Dynasty (221BC-206BC).

15. Palace of Tranquil Longevity (Ningshougong)

• Layout of Palace of Tranquil Longevity AreaIn the northeast of the Forbidden City, there stands a cluster of buildings forming their own composite. This is the Palace of Tranquil Longevity or the Outer Eastern Palace. Covering an area of 46,000 sq m, the whole area is surrounded by lofty, red perimeter walls.This complex can be divided into three parts: the eastern, the central and the western parts. The central part includes the Hall of Imperial Supremacy (Huangjidian), the Palace of Tranquil Longevity (Ningshougong), the three exhibition halls of Treasure Gallery: Hall of Spiritual Cultivation (Yangxingdian), Hall of Joyful Longevity (Leshoutang), Belvedere of Well-nourished Harmony (Yihexuan), and Jingqi Chamber. The eastern part includes the Pavilion of Pleasant Sounds (Changyinge), the Hall for Viewing Opera (Yueshilou), and the Palace of Scenery and Happiness (Jingfugong). The western part is the Qianlong Garden (Ningshougong Garden), including buildings such as the Pavilion of Ancient Flower (Guhuaxuan), the Hall of Wish Fulfillment (Suichutang), the Pavilion of Expecting Good Omen (Fuwangge) and the Well of Concubine Zhen (Zhenfeijing).

• Building Story of this ComplexThe idea of building the Palace of the Tranquil Longevity Complex was brought up by Emperor Qianlong (1736-1795). He planned to move to this area to meditate and pray after resignation and began to build the palace in 1772, the 37th year of his reign. After being emperor for 60 years, he resigned from the throne to show his respect for his grandfather Emperor Kangxi (1662-1722) who ruled for 61 years by ruling one year less. However, he still attended to state affairs under the pretext of “giving family instruction” in his own throne in the Hall of Mental Cultivation (yangxindian) of the Forbidden City. Actually Emperor Qianlong never lived in this area for his retirement; he just went for a visit or two in his spare time.

• Palace of Tranquil Longevity & Hall of Imperial SupremacyThe Palace of Tranquil Longevity and the Hall of Imperial Supremacy stand on the north-south axis of the front central part of the complex. To get to these two buildings, one has to pass through two gates on the same line with them, firstly the Gate of Imperial Supremacy (Huangjimen) and then the Gate of Tranquil Longevity (Ningshoumen). The Palace of Tranquil Longevity is a seven-bay-wide and three-bay-deep structure with single-eaved roof. The preparation of the sacrificial rites was done in the rooms at its western end. To the south of the Palace of Tranquil Longevity is the Hall of Imperial Supremacy, a nine-bay-wide building with double-eaved roof. It is the place where the Imperial Regent, the father of the emperor, received ministers and officials. Today, the Palace of Tranquil Longevity and the Hall of Imperial Supremacy have been turned into the Exhibition Hall of Fine Arts of the Palace Museum, housing more than 100,000 paintings dating from the Jin Dynasty (265-420) to the end of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Every year, selected paintings from the collection are exhibited. Among those exhibited ones are some masterpieces such as Spring Outing (Youchuntu), The Imperial Carriage (Buniantu) and Riverside Scene at the Tomb-Sweeping Day (Qingmingshanghetu).

• Nine Dragon Screen (Jiulongbi)To the south of the Gate of Imperial Supremacy, there stands a high glazed screen wall named the Nine Dragon Screen, which is the largest and best of the three famous Nine Dragon Screens in China. Facing north, it is 29.4 m long and 3.5 m high. Built in 1772 during the reign of Emperor Qianlong, the whole scene on the wall depicts nine writhing dragons playing with pearls against a background of the sea and clouds. Figured in high relief, the dragons were painted yellow, blue, white and purple. Yet the one in the center is in yellow and purple, and yellow was a royal color. The Chinese dragon, represented yang, the principle of heaven, activity and maleness in the yin-yang of Chinese cosmology and from ancient times was the emblem of the imperial family. The illustration therefore can be interpreted as representing the emperor as the Son of Heaven.The wall is composed of 270 glazed tiles. The number 270 can be divided by both nine and five. Nine is the largest odd number, while five is right in the middle of the odd numbers. In ancient China nine and five symbolized the supremacy of the emperor. It is said that the center of the third white dragon was broke when fired in the kiln, which meant a death penalty for the people responsible. In the risk of death, a carpenter volunteered to replace the original with wood and did the carving and painting overnight. At last it passed and saved those involved. One may still find the traces of repair on the third dragon from the left.

16. Treasure Gallery (Zhenbaoguan)

The famous Treasure Gallery lies on the north-south axis of the Palace of Tranquil Longevity Area in the northeast of the Palace Museum. Get through the Gate of Spiritual Cultivation (Yangxingmen), to the north of the Palace of Tranquil Longevity (Ningshougong), one can easily find the Treasure Gallery consisting of three exhibition halls: the Hall of Spiritual Cultivation (Yangxingdian), the Hall of Joyful Longevity (Leshoutang), which were living quarters for the Imperial Regent, the consorts and concubines, and the Belvedere of Well-Nourished Harmony (Yihexuan). These three halls now house gold, silver, pearls, jade, utensils, tea services, imperial robe, phoenix crown, daily necessities as well as furnishings of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) imperial family. To the north of the gallery lies the Jingqi Chamber.

17. Qianlong Garden & Pavilion of Pleasant Sounds

• West Part of Palace — Qianlong GardenThe west part of the Palace of Tranquil Longevity Area is Qianlong Garden, also called Garden of Palace of Tranquil Longevity (Ningshougong Garden). The garden was designed to include four scenes in four areas. In the first area stands the Pavilion of Ancient Flower (Guhuaxuan) surrounded by rocky hills and tall ancient trees; in the second area the Hall of Wish Fulfillment (Suichutang), a closed compound with buildings on three sides, a main building facing south and side chambers on the east and west. In the third area, one can enjoy much hill scenery. Going further north, one comes to the fourth area with the Pavilion of Expecting Good Omen (Fuwangge), a labyrinth-like structure as the main architecture. Apart from that, there are also other buildings such as the Building for Viewing Beautiful Scenery (Cuishanglou), the Studio of Exhaustion from Diligent Service (Juanqinzhai), as well as the Well of Concubine Zhen (Zhengfeijing).

• Pavilion of Pleasant Sounds (Changyinge)To the east of the Hall of Spiritual Cultivation lies the Pavilion of Pleasant Sounds (Changyinge), the biggest theater inside the Forbidden City. The Pavilion of Pleasant Sounds, together with Deheyuan Theater in the Garden of Virtue and Harmony of Summer Palace and Qingyin Pavilion in the Chengde Imperial Summer Resort, are considered the three big theaters of the Qing Dynasty (1616-1911). The construction of the pavilion started from 1772 to 1776 and the pavilion is maintained in 1802 and 1891. The present look is what it was after restoration during the reign of Jiaqing. With a 1.2 meters (3.94 ft.) high stone base, the total height of the Pavilion of Pleasant Sounds is 20.71 meters (67.95 ft.) and the total area is 685.94 square meters. All together the pavilion has three storeys, the upper one “Stage of Happiness (Fulou)”, the middle one “Stage of Wealth (Lulou)” and the lower one “Stage of Longevity (Shoulou)”.In ancient China, theatergoing was the main entertainment activity in the Imperial Palace. Operas were staged on all kinds of festivals, such as the lunar New Year, the Spring Begins, the Dragon-Boat Festival, the Double Seventh Festival (the seventh day of the lunar July), the Mid-Autumn Day, the Double Ninth Festival, the Winter Solstice, and the eve of Spring Festival as well as other important occasions, such as the emperor’s accession to the throne, and the birthdays of emperors and empresses. It is documented that at the end of the Qing Dynasty, when Dowager Cixi was in power, she went to enjoy operas in this pavilion whenever there was a festival. On her fiftieth birthday in 1884, the costumes and properties of the celebration opera cost as much as 110,000 taels of silvers.

18. Imperial Garden (Yuhuayuan)

Outside of the Gate of Terrestrial Tranquility is Yuhuayuan, the Imperial Garden. Constructed during the Ming dynasty in 1417, it is rectangular in shape and covers approximately 12,000 square meters. This was a private retreat for the imperial family and is the most typical of the Chinese imperial garden design. There are some twenty structures, each of a different style, and the ways in which they harmonise with the trees, rockeries, flower beds and sculptural objects such as the bronze incense burners both delight and astonish visitors. It is a worthy tribute to the art of the designers that so much can be achieved in so small a space.

Qin’andian, the Hall of Imperial Peace is the dominant building in the garden and occupies the central position. Surrounded by a wall, it dates from the 15th Century. Growing in front of the hall is a four hundred year old pine tree. Known as the Consort Pine, it symbolises the harmony between the Emperor and Empress. The door to the hall is protected from evil spirits by two gilded unicorns. Inside the hall prayers were offered up to the Taoist God of Water, Zhenwudadi, for the protection of the Forbidden City from destruction by fire.

At each of the four corners of the garden there is a pavilion. These symbolise the four seasons. The Pavilion of Myriad Springs is the most famous and occupies the eastern corner. Built in 1535 and restored during the Qing dynasty, as its name implies, it is this pavilion that symbolizes spring.

Located in the north-east is Duixiushan, Gathering Beauty Hill is a little artificial mountain with a cave. Yujingyuan (Pavilion of Imperial View) sits on top of the mountain. Emperors would climb up to the pavilion on the Double Ninth Festival to enjoy the scenery with the royal family.

19. Moat, Corner Towers and Gates of Forbidden City

• Moat of the Forbidden CityEstablished in 1420, the eighteenth year of the reign of Emperor Yongle (1403-1424) of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), the Moat is 3800 m long and 52 m wide. The moat was built for security purposes, so both sides of it have steep embankments, making it impossible to cross without some means of bridging it. The moat water comes from the northwest and goes to the southeast. The moat enjoys a history of 580 years. In 1999, the moat was harnessed, the embankment renewed, the moat bed paved with quadrels and the watercourse firmer.

• Corner Towers of the Forbidden CityCorner towers on the four coigns of lofty walls of the Forbidden City were established in 1420, rebuilt in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). As one part of the Forbidden City, they served as the defense facility just as the lofty walls, the gate towers and the moat. The corner towers rest on the base with Buddist-style building surrounded with stone columns. There goes a tale about the construction of the Corner Tower. Zhudi, Emperor Yongle of the Ming Dynasty, ordered the chief project commander to build four fine corner towers, each with 9 girders, 18 posts and 72 ridges. The chief project commander gathered all the formans and carpenters together and gave them three months to fulfill the mission. This was really a bitter pill to swallow as nobody had ever seen such complicated yet delicate corner tower. Deep in worry, a carpenter met an old man selling grasshoppers and bought a grasshopper cage for relief. To his surprise, the delicate grasshopper cage with layer upon layer had just 9 girders, 18 posts and 72 ridges. Thereafter the design of the corner tower was brought out. It is said that the old man was the father of the builders, Luban. This is definitely nothing but a tale. However, the four corner towers of the Forbidden City inherited the flexibility of the traditional wood structure construction and the skillful combination of the function and decoration indicated the superb and excellent craftsmanship of ancient Chinese craftsman.

• Four Gates of the Forbidden City

• Western Flowery Gate
  Built also in 1420, the Western Flowery Gate (Western Prosperity Gate, Xihuamen) is the west gate of the Forbidden City, echoing to the Eastern Flowery Gate (Donghuamen). As mentioned above, the Eastern and Western Flowery Gate share the same structure.The Western Flowery Gate is close to the Meridian Gate rather than in the center of the west city wall of the Forbidden City, as it conforms to the general layout of the Imperial Palace. The Forbidden City is divided into two parts: the Outer Court and the Inner Court. The Hall of Martial Valor (Wuyingdian), the Hall of Supreme Harmony, and the Hall of Literary Glory (Wenhuadian) form the horizontal axis of the Outer Court with the Eastern and Western Flowery Gate at two ends of the axis. Such layout benefited the Outer Court activities and allayed the disturbance to the Inner Court living. Extend the axis further to the east and west and there appear the Dong’anmen and Xi’an men. It’s obvious that the Eastern and Western Flowery Gate were important junctions between the Imperial Palace and the capital city.

Courtesy of China Tourism Board