the forbidden city

By Paul Wiesner

THE FORBIDDEN CITY

EVERYONE SHOULD SEE THE FORBIDDEN CITY

593 Years of history

7,750,016 Square feet in size

 8,707 Rooms

THE FORBIDDEN CITY IS A MAGNIFICENT PALACE.

Constructed by the Yongle emperor

Construction began in the year 1406

Completed in 1420.

THE FORBIDDEN CITY IS A MAGNIFICENT PALACE.

Home to 24 emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties.

Remained a residence until 1924

Designed by a eunuch named Nguyen An

THE FORBIDDEN CITY IS A MAGNIFICENT PALACE.

The Forbidden City is aligned with the Polar Star along a north-south axis

Ceremonial halls are arranged with southern exposures

Outer Court was for imperial business

Inner Court was imperial living quarters

THE OUTER COURT & THE INNER COURT

The Meridian Gate

The Gate of Supreme Harmony

The Hall of Supreme Harmony

The Hall of Central Harmony

The Hall of Preserved Harmony

The Gate of Heavenly Purity

OUTER COURT

Main entrance to the Forbidden City

Tallest structure

Spanning a height of 98.5 feet.

No building was permitted to be taller.

Used for the palace rituals

The central archway was reserved for the Emperor

THE MERIDIAN GATE

GATE OF SUPREME HARMONY

Most important building in the palace complex

Emperors were enthroned

Formal rituals were conducted here

THE HALL OF SUPREME HARMONY

Added in 1765

Central throne

Where the Emperor would rest before reigning over

major events taking place in the Hall of Supreme

Harmony

THE HALL OF CENTRAL HARMONY

Used for rehearsing rituals

Hosting banquets during the Qing Dynasty

Sits on a three-tiered marble terrace

Hosts the most elaborate throne in the complex

THE HALL OF PRESERVED HARMONY

Entrance to the Inner Court

THE GATE OF HEAVENLY PURITY

Hall of Heavenly Purity

The Hall of Union and Peace

The Hall of Earthly Tranquility

The Imperial Garden

INNER COURT

Living quarters of the Ming emperors

Considered to be a masculine building

Emperors hosted New Year’s Eve banquets

Most the Ming emperors died hear

Site for Imperial funerals

Thirteen Ming emperors made this palace their residence

HALL OF HEAVENLY PURITY

The empress’s throne room

Where the ladies of the court would gather

THE HALL OF UNION AND PEACE

Living quarters for the empress

Was considered to have feminine virtues

Served as a sacrificial hall

THE HALL OF EARTHLY TRANQUILITY

Covers three acres

In the four corners of the garden there are pavilions

This garden was where the emperor, empress and

concubines relaxed and were entertained by the

Chinese opera.

THE IMPERIAL GARDEN

THE END