故宫

Synopsis

Overview

The Forbidden City, formerly known as the Purple Forbidden City, is located in the center of Beijing, China. It served as the imperial palace during the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1912 AD). It is not only one of the largest and most completely preserved ancient wooden structural complexes in the world, but also an outstanding representative of ancient Chinese palatial architecture, concentrating...

Overview

The Forbidden City, formerly known as the Purple Forbidden City, is located in the center of Beijing, China. It served as the imperial palace during the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1912 AD). It is not only one of the largest and most completely preserved ancient wooden structural complexes in the world but also an outstanding representative of ancient Chinese palatial architecture, embodying the culmination of Chinese architectural art, historical culture, and political systems. The Forbidden City was listed among the first group of Major Historical and Cultural Sites Protected at the National Level in 1961 and was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1987. Today, as the Palace Museum, it is open to the public, serving as a vital window showcasing China's five-thousand-year civilization and attracting tens of millions of visitors annually.

History

The construction of the Forbidden City began in the fourth year of the Yongle reign of the Ming dynasty (1406 AD), modeled after the Nanjing Imperial Palace. It took 14 years and was largely completed in the eighteenth year of the Yongle reign (1420 AD). The founding emperor of the Ming dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang, established his capital in Nanjing. His son, Zhu Di (the Yongle Emperor), seized the throne through the "Jingnan Campaign" and decided to move the capital to Beijing, ordering the construction of the Forbidden City. From then on, from the Ming Emperor Chengzu Zhu Di to the last emperor of the Qing dynasty, Puyi, a total of 24 emperors resided here and exercised supreme power, ruling China for 491 years.

After the Qing dynasty (1644-1912 AD) replaced the Ming, it continued to use the Forbidden City as the imperial palace, undertaking numerous renovations, reconstructions, and expansions, especially during the Qianlong period, which added many buildings and formed the basic layout seen today. After the fall of the Qing dynasty in 1912, according to the "Articles of Favorable Treatment of the Qing Court," Puyi temporarily resided in the Inner Court. On October 10, 1925, the Palace Museum was formally established in the Inner Court section and opened to the public. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, the government carried out large-scale protection and restoration of the Forbidden City, ensuring its excellent preservation.

Main Features

The architectural layout of the Forbidden City is rigorous, symmetrical, and functionally distinct, centrally reflecting the ideology of supreme imperial authority and a strict hierarchical system.

1. Architectural Layout: The Forbidden City is 961 meters long from north to south and 753 meters wide from east to west. It is surrounded by a 10-meter-high wall and a 52-meter-wide moat. The overall layout unfolds along a central north-south axis, with the main buildings located on this line and structures symmetrically distributed on both sides. The entire palace is divided into two main parts: the "Outer Court" and the "Inner Court." The Outer Court, centered on the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the Hall of Central Harmony, and the Hall of Preserving Harmony, was where the emperor held grand ceremonies and court audiences. The Inner Court, centered on the Palace of Heavenly Purity, the Hall of Union, and the Palace of Earthly Tranquility, with the Six Eastern and Six Western Palaces as wings, was the residential area for the emperor, empress, and concubines.

2. Architectural Art: The architecture of the Forbidden City adheres to a strict hierarchical system, manifested in roof forms, the number of bays, decorative colors (with yellow being the most prestigious), and the number of ridge ornaments. Its wooden structures, glazed tile roofs, white marble platforms, magnificent painted decorations (such as Hexi Caihua and Xuanzi Caihua), and rich carvings (wood, stone, and brick) together create a grand, splendid, and resplendent imperial style.

3. Cultural Relics Collection: The Palace Museum houses over 1.8 million precious cultural relics, covering almost all categories including paintings, ceramics, bronzes, jades, lacquerware, clocks, ancient books, and archives. Many of these are unique national treasures, systematically showcasing the historical脉络 and glorious achievements of Chinese civilization.

Cultural Significance

The cultural significance of the Forbidden City far exceeds its existence as a physical structure. Firstly, it is a tangible symbol of ancient China's political system; its layout and design perfectly interpret the ritualistic ideology and imperial cosmology of feudal society. Secondly, as a material and spiritual treasure trove of Chinese civilization, the millions of cultural relics it preserves are invaluable for studying Chinese history, art, science, technology, and daily life. Thirdly, the Forbidden City is an important symbol of traditional Chinese culture; its architectural aesthetics and philosophical ideas (such as the harmony between heaven and humanity, and the balance of yin and yang) have profoundly influenced later generations. Finally, in contemporary times, the Palace Museum, through digitization, cultural and creative product development, and innovative exhibitions, has revitalized this ancient cultural heritage, making it an important cultural bridge connecting the past and present, and facilitating communication between China and the world, greatly enhancing national cultural confidence and identity.

References

1. Palace Museum Official Website - Overview: https://www.dpm.org.cn/About.html
2. UNESCO World Heritage Centre - Forbidden City Entry: https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/439
3. Chinese Government Website - Introduction to the Forbidden City (紫禁城): http://www.gov.cn/test/2005-07/01/content_10703.htm