The Hall of Supreme Harmony ( Taihe' dian ) and Harmony Square. The Hall and Dragon Throne (LongYi') were considered the Administrative and Political Center of the Chinese Empire.
The Symbolical Center of China however is not here , but at the TianTan or Temple of Heaven where the Emperor communicated with the heavenly Powers during extensive Buddhist and Manchu Lamaist Rituals.
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Looking South and out over Harmony Square from the Hall of Supreme Harmony. Across the Square the Gate of Supreme Harmony, behind which our entering point - The Wu Men, or Gate of the Meridian of the Central Line.
Around the Square are the Official Courts and "meeting rooms" of the Emperor and his vast Administrative and Logistical Staff needed to stay in control of his Empire.
The East Wall of the Forbidden City with in the South- East-corner one of Four Big Watchtowers. This Wall separated the Inhabitants of the Royal Palace from the busy Life in the Hutong of Beijing's Inner City.
Unfortunatly the , for their relation to the History of the Imperial Palace equally interesting Hutong , are progressively being torn down to be replaced by Modern Highrise and Development for the 2008 Olympics. Fewer and fewer remnants of traditional Hutong buildings and Narrow Streets outside the Forbidden City can be found today. Untill recently a vast area remained in and around Qianmen ( Chien Men ) and the Xuanwu District, but in the year 2005 many of these hutong have also been destroyed.
Impression of the Forbidden City , Gugong , or
The Palace Museum
Our starting point is the square between Duan Men (in background) and Wu Men, the South gate to the Forbidden City, tourist Arrival and Starting Point of an Official
Forbidden City Tour. We are at the exact South Side of The Imperial Palace (Gugong) , better know as The Forbidden City, in front of Wu Men - the Gate of the Meridian, with its 5 "phoenix" pavilions on top of its High Platform. Many of the Emperors of the Ming and Ching Dynasty had the habit of receiving audience here at dawn. Important ceremonies were held at Wu Men and official announcements made. Down below, insignificant in the giant square, the Court High Officials would await the Emperors appearance on the high platform and hear his Edicts.
Inside the Wu Men , Or Gate of The Meridian. In ancient and Modern Times the Main Gate for Visitors to enter The Imperial Palace or Forbidden City.
After moving the Capital City of China from Nanjing in the South to Beijing in the North during the early Ming Dynasty , an Imperial Palace was designed and taken into use in 1421 AD after a building period of 7 Years. Its conceiver and first Inhabitant was 3rd Ming Emperor Yongle, who lived there for only 3 short years. This "Forbidden City" designed and built under Yongle, along with Jingshan, Beihai Park and the 13 Ming Tombs Site would be the Royal Residence and indeed Center of the World , untill the Fall of the Last Emperor, Qing Emperor Hsuan Tung (Pu Yi) , in 1911 AD.
The Hall of Medium Harmony is located North of and Behind the Hall of Supreme harmony.
During the heights of the Ming and Ching Dynasties it mainly served as a sort of resting room and a place for The Emperor to change and prepare for Ceremonies and other Official Duties to be performed in The Hall of Supreme Harmony. During the later Ching Dynasty it also served other functions.
Looking out from a plateau behind the Hall of Protective Harmony onto QianQing Men or The Gate of Heavenly Purity and its square. Gate to the Inner Court , NeiTing , the Emperor's private quarters where the Emperor, Empress, Eunuchs and Concubines would Reside. Walk down from here to the courtyard and pass the largest stone ( slab ) sculpture in the Palace depicting a Dragon flying between Clouds. This item is the original thing.
Through this Gate we have moved due North again and onto the Famous Harmony Square. This square is part of the Wai Chao , or outer Court. Here important mass ceremonies for up to 90.000 important dignitaries from across the Chinese Empire would be held , presided over by The Emperor. Of course it was a great honor to be invited. Of course the most important ceremonial building to visit is The Hall of Supreme Harmony.
Harmony Square. With on the Left TaiHedian or the Hall of Supreme Harmony.
The TaiHe Dian holds the Dragon Throne where the Emperor traditionally would be crowned in the Great Ceremony of Enthronement, hold Court and Audience for Important Dignitaries. However, functions of buildings changed through time and through Emperors and Dynasties. Harmony Square and the square inside of Wu Men can hold up to 90.000 people for important ceremonies as for instance the Chinese (lunar) New Year or a Crowning Ceremony. One of the Greatest of Ceremonies was the Imperial Wedding.
The Hall of Supreme Harmony at Harmony Square. Home to the Dragon Throne. This is probably the Most Famous and mythical part of all the Forbidden City. There are however many more legendary places and buildings around this ancient Power Seat. It could take days if not weeks to explore them all.
The Palace of Heavenly Purity was the Emperor's Residence during the Ming and Early Ching (Qing) Dynasty. As the Emperor was a descendant of The Heavens he was of Heavenly Purity. Furthermore , Benevolence and Righteousness were the "Kingly Way". After the third Reign of the Ching Dynasty the Emperors Residential Palace was moved to the Palace of Mental Cultivation at the Inner Court.
