If you listen to mythological stories, even the longest chapters have a beginning and an end. But if you want to ask about the history of the Forbidden City, it really can't be said for a few days and nights.
From the Ming Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty, how many emperors have changed in the Forbidden City?Between the change of dynasties, what turmoil has the Forbidden City experienced?How much time did it take to build such a majestic Forbidden City?Why is the huge Forbidden City all symmetrical structures, and what is the deep meaning of this?The Forbidden City, but there are too many secrets waiting for us to explore, let us walk into this mysterious Forbidden City today!
History of the Forbidden City
The Forbidden City, a palace with a heavy history, has quietly risen since the middle of the 14th century, and has witnessed the grandeur of history like a silent watchman of history.
The construction of the Forbidden City began in the fourth year of Yongle (1406), when Zhu Di, the emperor of the Ming Dynasty, issued an edict to start building a new imperial palace and city walls in Beijing, based on the Nanjing Imperial Palace. As a result, a huge construction project began on this land. Craftsmen worked their way to make the palace one of the most magnificent complexes in the world at the time.
In 1644, with the end of the Ming Dynasty, the Qing Dynasty's iron cavalry stepped into the Central Plains, and the Forbidden City ushered in its new ruler. This imperial city, which has witnessed countless historical changes, once again ushered in a new ruler and began a new era. The Qing Dynasty emperors carried out large-scale repairs and expansions of the Forbidden City, making it even more ornate and magnificent. Here, emperors such as Kangxi, Yongzheng, and Qianlong displayed their political wisdom and wrote their glorious chapters.
However, the glory of the Forbidden City is not eternal. At the end of the 19th century, with the outbreak of the Opium War, the iron hooves of the great powers began to trample on this sacred land. The invasion of the Eight-Nation Alliance caused the Forbidden City to suffer unprecedented disasters. The former royal palace became the trophy of the great powers.
The cannon sound of the Xinhai Revolution announced the end of the feudal dynasty. The Forbidden City was no longer the residence of the emperor, but became a witness to history. It wasn't until 1925, when the Palace Museum was officially inaugurated, that the historic palace opened a new chapter in showcasing its rich cultural heritage to the public. Today, the Palace Museum is a World Heritage Site and attracts millions of visitors every year.
The 24 emperors in the Forbidden City
The Forbidden City, this ancient palace, has been the residence of emperors since the Yongle period of the Ming Dynasty, and until the end of the Qing Dynasty, a total of 24 emperors ruled the world here.
During the Ming Dynasty, the Forbidden City witnessed the reign of 14 emperors. Ming Chengzu Zhu Di, the emperor who seized the throne with the Battle of Jingjing, not only moved the capital to Beijing, but also personally presided over the construction of the Forbidden City, laying the cornerstone of the palace. During his reign, the country was politically stable, the economy was prosperous, and culture and art reached unprecedented heights.
After that, the famous one was Zhu Zhanji, who was known for his love of culture and art. During his reign, the creation of artworks in the Forbidden City reached new heights, especially in the art of painting and calligraphy, and many of the masterpieces were born during this period. His cultural policies made the Forbidden City a temple of art.
Mingshenzong Zhu Yijun, the longest-reigning emperor of the Ming Dynasty, his reign is known as the "Wanli Prosperous Era". However, as time passed, the country's finances gradually tightened, and social contradictions became increasingly acute, and the Forbidden City witnessed the process of an empire turning from prosperity to decline.
During the Qing Dynasty, the Forbidden City welcomed 10 emperors. During his reign, the Qing Dynasty began to consolidate its rule over the country, and the Forbidden City became a symbol of the integration of Manchu and Han cultures.
Kangxi Emperor Xuanye, the emperor known as the "Emperor of the Ages", during his reign, the country's territory expanded, the economy prospered, and culture and art reached its peak. Under his rule, the Forbidden City became a world-famous royal palace.
As we are more familiar with Emperor Qianlong, whose real name is Hongli, under his rule, the empire experienced a period of prosperity that was praised by later generations. During his reign, the Forbidden City was heavily constructed, and many magnificent buildings were built, such as Ningshou Palace and Summer Palace, which made the Forbidden City reach the extreme in scale and decorative arts.
Emperor Guangxu Zaiyan, the last emperor of the Qing Dynasty, during his reign, the country was troubled internally and externally, and finally after the Xinhai Revolution, the Qing Dynasty collapsed, and the history of the Forbidden City also opened a new page. His life was full of tragedy, and the Forbidden City witnessed the end of an era.
The story of each emperor is full of drama, and their reign not only affected the fate of the Forbidden City, but also profoundly changed the course of history in China and the world.
The construction of the Forbidden City
Part of what makes the Forbidden City such a majestic imperial palace is that it was built as an epic that spanned centuries. From the laying of the foundation stone in the Yongle period of the Ming Dynasty to the repair and expansion of the Qing Dynasty, it is unimaginable that the completion of this Forbidden City embodies the wisdom and sweat of countless craftsmen.
In the fourth year of Yongle in the Ming Dynasty (1406), Zhu Di, the ancestor of the Ming Dynasty, decided to move the capital to Beijing and began to plan and build a new imperial palace. He ordered the recruitment of skilled craftsmen from all over the country to bring in precious building materials from all over the country, such as nanmu, bluestone, glazed tiles, etc., and began the plan to build this one-of-a-kind palace, which took 14 years to complete. It covers an area of 720,000 square meters, with a construction area of about 150,000 square meters, and has more than 70 palace complexes and more than 900 large and small palaces.
During the construction process, the craftsmen used exquisite timber framing techniques, and every beam, column, and brick was carefully carved and polished. The roof of the Forbidden City is covered with golden glazed tiles, which shine in the sun, showing the royal dignity. The palace's paintings and carvings are exquisite, with traditional motifs such as dragon patterns, cloud patterns, and lotus flowers, implying auspiciousness and prosperity.
During the Qing Dynasty, the Forbidden City underwent many repairs and expansions. The Kangxi, Yongzheng and Qianlong dynasties carried out large-scale renovation and decoration of the Forbidden City to make it more gorgeous and magnificent. During the reign of Emperor Qianlong, the Forbidden City was greatly expanded and decorated, including the construction of buildings such as Ningshou Palace and Summer Palace, which greatly enhanced the scale and artistic achievements of the Forbidden City.
Why is the Forbidden City symmetrical
Many friends who have been to the Forbidden City may know that the planning and construction of the Forbidden City vividly demonstrate the lofty praise of the "center", that is, follow the aesthetic principle of symmetry of the central axis of ancient Chinese architecture.
Standing on the central axis of the Forbidden City, we can see that starting from the Wumen Gate, passing through the Taihe Gate, the Taihe Palace, the Zhonghe Palace, the Baohe Palace, and the Qianqing Gate, this series of buildings constitutes the main body of the Forbidden City, and they are arranged along a straight line in the north-south direction, forming a clear central axis. This central axis is not only the center of the physical space, but also the spiritual core of the entire complex.
The Taihe Palace, as the core building of the Forbidden City, is located in the center of the central axis, and it is the place where the emperor holds major ceremonies, symbolizing the supreme imperial power. The roof of the Taihe Hall is covered with golden glazed tiles, which shine in the sun, showing the dignity of the emperor. On both sides of the Taihe Palace, the Zhonghe Hall and the Baohe Hall are symmetrically distributed, which are used for the emperor's rest and banquet respectively, and this symmetrical layout is not only beautiful, but also reflects the harmony and balance of ancient architecture.
On both sides of the central axis, the east and west six palaces and the east and west side halls, as well as the last three palaces (Qianqing Palace, Jiaotai Palace, Kunning Palace) and other building complexes, are also laid out in strict accordance with the principle of symmetry, forming a solemn and harmonious visual effect. This symmetry is not only reflected in the layout of the building, but also in the decoration and details of the building, such as the carving of doors and windows, the decoration of the ridge, etc., all follow the aesthetic principle of symmetry.
In fact, the symmetrical layout of the central axis of the Forbidden City is not only a display of architectural art, but also the embodiment of ancient Chinese philosophical thoughts. In ancient China, the golden mean was regarded as the highest morality and wisdom, and the character "zhong" itself contains the meaning of balance, harmony and stability, and the architectural layout of the Forbidden City is the embodiment of this idea.
In addition, many people do not know that the design of the Forbidden City conveys the idea of cosmic order and human order, that is, all things in heaven and earth should follow a law of balance and harmony. The whole palace complex is in a rectangular layout, long from north to south and narrow from east to west, symbolizing the order of heaven and earth. The design of the central axis, which runs through the entire palace from south to north, symbolizes the axis between heaven and earth, and is the embodiment of the cosmic order in the world. As the central point on this axis, the Taihe Hall symbolizes the authority of the emperor and is also a bridge between heaven and earth. When we walk along the central axis of the Forbidden City, we may be able to have a deeper understanding of "China".
That's all for today's article, but the veil of the Forbidden City has just been lifted a little bitInterested partners choose to travel to CITS InternationalA professional guide will take you on an hour-long in-depth cultural tour of the Forbidden City, allowing you to hear about the Forbidden City that you have never known before!Looking forward to seeing you!