The Northern Gate , Gate of Divine Might would be the Gate Tutor of the Dragon Emperor, (Sir)
Reginal Flemming Johnston would take to enter the Palace and proceed to the Hall of Bringing-
Forth of Blessings for his early afternoon appointment, the teaching of Pu Yi. Every afternoon,
around 1:30 PM he would arrive, most often on horseback at the outer Gate. Tie-ing his horse at one
of the available white marble poles with ritual stepping-off stone, as only the Emperor was allowed to ride on horse-back within the Forbidden City), the Tutor would always be accompanied by one or more courtiers, through the inner ShunZen Gate and Palace Garden, to be taken to the teaching Palace.
It is possible that this was the Gate
nearest Johnstons residence in Beijing,
but at any rate, by that time it would
have been impossible for him to enter
the Palace through the main south gate,
as the Southern End of the Palace was
already occupied by the Forces and
President of the (first) Republic of China.
Besides, as a mandarin of the highest
court and a Ming Dynasty Official it
would be improper for him to have
anything to do with the Republic, nor
enter through that part of the Palace,
if it were at all possible. Johnston would
be Tutor to the Emperor between
1919 AD and 1925 AD. Truly a sort of
latter day Marco Polo, Johnston would
be the only westerner allowed to
witness- and participate in- the
extensive Court Rituals of the Ching
