Gugong - Imperial Palace Museum Full Report -Outer Court- Inner Golden Stream

The Golden River bridges of the Outer Court symbolize the Five Virtues of Confucianism. Naturally, one must conquer temptations and distractions using the Five Virtues in order to vross the Golden River and enter into a more enlightened Realm.

The Five virtues are: Righteousness, Benevolence, Fidelity, xxx, etc...

The River itself is intended

to be a Jade Ribbon ....

The square between Wu Men, the Meridian Gate and Tai He Men, the Gate of Supreme Harmony is the largest Square in the Palace.

The Entrance from WuMen , The Gate of The Meridian

View of white marble Golden River Bridges between Wu Men and TaiHe Men , the Gate of Supreme

Harmony. The distance appears

small.

Tai He Men, the Gate of Supreme Harmony is the Main Ceremonial Gate of the Outer Court. During the Ming Dynasty Officials, who gathered on invitation before dawn outside of Wu Men, were let into the square in front of Tai He Men where they would be audienced by the Emperor from the Gate Platform.

This tradition was continued during the earlier Reigns of the Ching Dynasty, at which times the more arduous Emperors held audience at dawn, and banquets inside the square on other occasions. Later Ching Emperors held audience at the Inner Court.