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The Forbidden City
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Beijing, China
• The Forbidden City is the
best preserved imperial
palace in China
• The Forbidden City, situated
in the very heart of Beijing,
was home to 24 emperors of
the Ming and Qing Dynasties.
• Such a divine place was
certainly forbidden to
ordinary people and that is
why the Forbidden City is so
named.
• The Forbidden City falls into
two parts: the outer court
and the inner palaces.
The Outer Court
• The outer court is made
up of three main
buildings
• Hall of Supreme
Harmony (Taihedian)
• Hall of Central Harmony
(Zhonghedian)
• Hall of Preserving
Harmony (Baohedian).
Hall of Supreme Harmony
• It is the grandest and the
most important building in
the nation.
• Known as the "Hall of Gold
Throne".
• Was used for grand
ceremonies such as the
Emperor's enthronement
ceremony, the Emperor's
wedding and the ceremony
for conferring the Empress.
• No building in Beijing was
allowed to be taller that this
hall during the Ming & Qing
Dynasties.
The Hall of Central Harmony
• It served as the resting
place for the emperor
before presenting the
grand occasions held in
the Taihe Hall.
• The Hall was first
Constructed in 1420 but
was destroyed by fire.
• Inside the hall, on each
side of the golden
throne, stand two
unicorns, symbolizing
the emperors' talent
and wisdom.
Hall of Preserving Harmony
• Imperial Palace Exams were
held in this hall every three
years.
• The Emperor presided over
the exam.
• During the Qing Dynasty the
Emperors held grand
banquets to entertain the
nobles from minority ethnic
groups such as the
Mongolians on the first and
fifteenth day of the first
month of the lunar year.
Inner Court
• Palace of Heavenly
Peace
• Palace of Union and
Peace
• Hall of Terrestrial
Tranquility
• Mental Cultivation
Hall
Palace of Heavenly Peace
• Palace of Heavenly
Peace is the largest
building of the three
rear palaces.
• It was the palace where
the Emperor slept
• The hall was also used
as a place for the
Emperor's body to lie in
State after his death
Palace of Union and Peace
• This was the place where the
empress held the important
ceremonies for the New Year
Day and her birthday.
• Emperor Qianlong kept 25
imperial seals in this hall in
the hope of his empire
lasting 25 reigns to surpass
the East Zhou Dynasty, the
longest dynasty in China.
• Now the 25 imperial seals
are displayed in the Treasure
House of the Forbidden City.
Hall of Terrestrial Tranquility
•
•
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•
Built during the Ming Dynasty
The sleeping place for the
Empresses
It was in this palace that the
last Ming Empress hanged
herself after the Peasant
Rebellion ransacked the capital.
The two chambers at the
eastern end were used as the
Emperor's wedding rooms during
the Qing Dynasty and
generations of Qing emperors
lived there for a few days after
their wedding. The chambers
were painted in red, embodiment
of happiness and good luck.
Mental Cultivation Hall
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•
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It served as the emperor's
sleeping place from the time of
Emperor Yongzheng.
From the time of the third
emperor Yongzhen, all the Qing
emperors: 8 in total resided
there.
The emperor also conducted
the state affairs and held
private audiences in the hall.
The first Emperor of the Qing
Dynasty-Shunzhi died there.
At the end of the complex are
five bedrooms. The biggest
middle room was for the
Emperor and the four
surrounding rooms were used by
the Empresses and concubines
who were ready to be summoned
to attend the emperor.
Imperial Garden
• The garden offers an
aesthetic change from
the crimson or gray
building complex to a
colorful and luxuriant
atmosphere.
• The Garden contains
more than 20 different
buildings in different
styles: pavilions,
terraces, towers and
rockeries.
Which building is known as the "Hall of
Gold Throne“ ?
Hall of Supreme Harmony
Hall of Terrestrial Tranquility
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Forbidden City Tour
Answer the following questions
1)
Which hall is the largest structure in the Forbidden City?
2)
How many buildings are in the outer court?
3)
How many emperors lived in the Forbidden City?
4)
Which Hall has the throne with two unicorns, symbolizing the emperors'
talent and wisdom?
5)
The Imperial Palace Exams were held in this hall every three years?
6)
It was the palace where the Emperor slept?
7)
List the names of the outer and inner courts.
8)
How many buildings are in the Imperial Gardens?
Side Trip
http://www.beijingtrip.com/attractions/forbidden/
Interactive Map
http://www.thebeijingguide.com/forbidden_city/index.html