A Glimpse into the Forbidden City

One of the most important landmarks that the world identifies with Beijing is Zijin Cheng (the Forbidden City). The mere mention of the name conjures visions of the exotic and the unattainable. After all, for almost 500 years, this exclusive realm of the Imperial Family was off-limits to outsiders. Gugong (Palace Museum), as it is now called, was first opened to the public in 1925. Today, about eight million tourists come every year to experience for themselves the complexity of the once Forbidden City.

Zijin Cheng is listed by UNESCO as the largest collection of preserved ancient wooden structures in the world. It covers an area of 720,000 sq m containing 800 buildings with 9,999 rooms. Until the last emperor, Pu Yi, was driven out of the Inner Court, the Forbidden City was home to 24 emperors ― fourteen from the Ming dynasty and ten from the Qing.

Construction of the complex began in 1406, during the reign of the third Ming emperor, and lasted fourteen years. It was said that construction required a million workers, including 100,000 artisans. Stones needed were quarried from Fangshan, a suburb about 70 km from Beijing. Huge amount of timber and other materials were transported from faraway provinces. The bricks used for the walls are made from white lime and glutinous rice while the cement is made from glutinous rice and egg whites. Because yellow is symbolic of the royal family, it is the color that dominates. Rooftops have yellow glazed tiles; palace decorations are painted yellow; even the ground uses bricks dyed yellow by a special process. The one exception is Wenyuange (royal library), which has a black roof. The color black symbolizes water and it was thought that this color would protect the building from fire.

The City itself is rectangular in shape and is encircled by a 52 m wide, 6 m deep moat and a 10 m high 3,400 m long city wall, bounded by a gate on either side. The individual buildings within the Forbidden City were home to many important members of the aristocracy. The famous national civil service exam was given and taken here. This was truly and magnificently the political center of the empire.

Wumen (Meridian Gate) is the southern entrance to the Forbidden City. It was named so because the meridian line, which was thought to mark the center of the universe, went through the Forbidden City. This was in keeping with the belief that the Chinese emperors, as sons of Heaven, should live in the center of the universe. There were strict rules to follow when entering the Forbidden City through this main gate. Only the emperor was allowed to go through the central entrance, although the empress was allowed the same privilege once on her wedding day. Those who garnered the top three highest scores in the civil service examinations were honored the same way. The gate's east opening was reserved for ministers and ordinary people were, of course, not allowed into the premises.

Outer Court

The Forbidden City remains one of the most popular destinations for Chinese and foreigners alike. (Image: Radio86)Beyond Wumen lies Taihemen (Gate of Supreme Harmony), which is flanked by two bronze lions. This gate marks the entrance to the outer court. The Outer Court has three main halls. The first and grandest, Taihedian (Hall of Supreme Harmony), is the main ceremonial hall where the emperor granted official interviews and held important celebrations. Zhonghedian (Hall of Central Harmony) was where the emperor rested on his way to Taihedian. This hall was used for rehearsals for ceremonies. Baohedian (Hall of Preserved Harmony) is the banquet hall and the place where the emperor presided over the final stage of the national examinations.

Qianqingmen (Gate of Celestial Harmony) marks the boundary between the Inner Court and the Outer Court. Inside the gate are the royal chambers, where the emperor and his family reside. In the Qing dynasty, it was the place where the emperor, sitting on the throne set in the middle of the gate, made decisions and heard reports from officials.

Inner Court

Qianqinggong (Palace of Celestial Purity) housed the emperor's bedroom and office. Although it is smaller than Taihedian, it is still the biggest structure in the inner court. Behind it lies Jiaotaidian (Hall of Celestial and Terrestrial Union), where the empress received formal birthday greetings, as well as inspected preparations for ceremonies dedicated to the silkworm god. Kunninggong (Palace of Terrestrial Tranquility) was the empress' bedroom.

Yangxindian (Hall of Mental Cultivation) was an important part of the Forbidden City because from Emperor Yongzheng, most emperors lived and attended to state affairs here. Xiliugong (Six Western Palaces) and Dongliugong (Six Eastern Palaces) were residences for the emperor's concubines. Every palace has its own courtyard, front and rear hall plus annexes. Not surprising at all, considering that feudal emperors were said to have 3,000 wives.

In the Fengxiandian (Hall for Ancestral Worship), the emperor conducted grand sacrifices to honor the imperial ancestors.

North of the Inner Court lies Yuhuayuan (Imperial Garden), which was built in 1417 in the Ming Dynasty. It is the Imperial Family's private garden and it covers an area of about 12,000 sq m. Inside the garden are about 20 structures, the most important of which is Qin'andian (Hall of Imperial Peace). This was a place of worship to Zhenwudadi, the Taoist god of water, who was supposed to keep the Forbidden City safe from fire.

Just behind the garden is Shenwumen (Gate of Divine Might), the rear gate of the Forbidden City. On the gate was a drum and a bell. In the mornings, the bell would toll 108 times to announce the coming of a new day; while at night, the drumbeats signaled the time.