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The Forbidden City
In the heart of Beijing, the Imperial Palace
remained the residence of the emperors for nearly five hundred
years, from the 15th century to the early 20th century,
and was the actual and symbolic seat of imperial power.
Popularly known as the Forbidden City, it was built in the
Ming Dynasty between the 4th and the 18th years of the Yongle
period
(1406 - 1420 AD). Many of the buildings
of the Palace have been repaired and rebuilt, but their
basic form and layout remain in their original state.
This magnificent, palatial architectural
complex covers an area of over 2,350,000 square feet and
contains 9,999 rooms. The largest complex of its kind in
the world, it is surrounded by ten-foot-high walls that
are crowned by four observation towers and flanked by a
deep moat. The walls are pierced by four large gates, each
with three openings and a broad crowning pavilion.
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The layout of the Forbidden City is based
on a Chinese cosmic diagram of the universe that clearly
defines the north-south and east-west axes. The buildings
represent the largest and best-preserved examples of Chinese
traditional architecture found today. The overall layout
is centered on the three primary Halls of State: The Hall
of Supreme Harmony (Taihedian), The Hall of Middle Harmony
(Zhonghedian) and The Hall of Preserving Harmony (Baohedian).
State ceremonies were held in the Outer Court (Wai Chao)
of the Forbidden City. Here the emperors governed from their
thrones, holding court sessions with their ministers, issuing
imperial edicts and initiating military expeditions. The
Outer Court was also the site for important ceremonies:
the accession of a new emperor to the throne, birthdays
and weddings. The Inner Court (Nei Ting) was the residential
area of the emperor and the imperial household, as well
as the place where the emperor dealt with routine state
affairs.
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The Forbidden City was the scene of many
significant events affecting the course of Chinese history.
Secret World of the Forbidden City: Splendors from China's
Imperial Palace explores the objects housed in this important
complex, lending insight into the mysteries of the imperial
court under the Qing Dynasty, from the entry into the city
of Manchurian troops led by Li Sicheng to the pinnacle of
artistic creativity under Qianlong to the decline of the
dynasty and the abdication of the last Emperor Xuantong
in 1912.
Today, the Forbidden City is one of the
world's foremost museums of Chinese art. Its palaces and
halls are filled with innumerable works of art and cultural
artifacts, including gifts of state, military campaign loot
and furnishings and possessions of members of the imperial
households. A great number of these treasures represent
the peak of artistic and inventive genius exhibited by the
countless artisans who worked exclusively for the imperial
court.
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