The-Forbidden-City

TheForbiddenCity紫禁城Content*ABriefIntroduction*MainBuildings*CollectionsABriefIntroduction•WorldHeritageSite•thelargestcollectionofpreservedancientwoodenstructures•themostvisitedMuseum•theheadofworld’stopfivepalacesABriefIntroductionTheForbiddenCitywastheChineseimperialpalacefromtheMingdynastytotheendoftheQingdynasty.ItislocatedinthecentreofBeijing,China,andnowhousesthePalaceMuseum.ItservedasthehomeofemperorsandtheirhouseholdsaswellastheceremonialandpoliticalcentreofChinesegovernmentforalmost500years.OriginofthenameZi,orPurple,referstotheNorthStar,whichinancientChinawascalledtheZiweiStar,andintraditionalChineseastrologywastheheavenlyabodeoftheCelestialEmperor.Jin,orForbidden,referredtothefactthatnoonecouldenterorleavethepalacewithouttheemperor'spermission.Chengmeansacity.紫禁城？？？MainBuildingsTheForbiddenCitywasdesignedtobethecentreoftheancient,walledcityofBeijing.Itisenclosedinalarger,walledareacalledtheImperialCity.TheImperialCityis,inturn,enclosedbytheInnerCity(内朝);toitssouthliestheOuterCity（外廷）.ApproximatedividinglinebetweenInner(north)andOuter(south)CourtsGatesTheMeridianGate午门GateofDivineMight神武门EastGloriousGate东华门WestGloriousGate西华门MainBuildingsTheOuterCourt(外朝)orFrontCourt(前朝)includesthesouthernsections,andwasusedforceremonialpurposes.TheInnerCourt(内廷)orBackPalace(后宫)includesthenorthernsections,andwastheresidenceoftheEmperorandhisfamily,andwasusedforday-to-dayaffairsofstate.OuterCourtTheHallofSupremeHarmony太和殿•largesthallwithintheForbiddenCity•thelocationwheretheemperorsoftheMingandQingdynastieshostedtheirenthronementandweddingceremonies•ThenameoftheHallwaschangedfromFengtianDian(奉天殿)tothecurrentonebytheShunzhiEmperoroftheQingdynasty.OuterCourtTheHallofCentralHarmony中和殿ItwasusedbytheEmperortoprepareandrestbeforeandduringceremonies.TheHallofPreservingHarmony保和殿Itwasusedforrehearsingceremonies,andwasalsothesiteofthefinalstageoftheImperialexaminationInnerCourtThePalaceofHeavenlyPurity(乾清宫)isadouble-eavedbuilding,andsetonasingle-levelwhitemarbleplatform.Acaissonissetintotheroof,featuringacoileddragon.Abovethethronehangsatabletreading“JusticeandHonour“.(正大光明)InnerCourtTheHallofUnion交泰殿ThePalaceofEarthlyTranquility坤宁宫InnerCourttheImperialGarden御花园SixEasternPalaces&SixWesternPalacesThePalaceofEarthlyHonor翊坤宫SixEasternPalaces&SixWesternPalacesThePalaceofEternalLongevity永寿宫SixEasternPalaces&SixWesternPalacesThePalaceofGreatBenevolence景仁宫ThePalaceofUniversalHappiness咸福宫TheHallofProlongingHappiness延禧宫CollectionsToday,thereareoveramillionrareandvaluableworksofartinthepermanentcollectionofthePalaceMuseum,includingpaintings,ceramics,seals,sculptures,inscribedwares,bronzewares,enamelobjects,etc.Collections:CeramicsAblueandwhiteporcelainvasewithcloudanddragondesigns,markedwiththewordLongevity(寿),JiajingperiodofMingdynastyPale-pinkCeramicVasePeriod:Yongzhengreign(1723-1735),QingDynasty(1644-1911)Glazetype:palepinkglazeCollections:TimepiecesClockwithaWritingFigurePeriod:18thcenturyMedium:gildedcopperDate:1770Origin:EnglandClockwithFourElephantsandStar-shapedFlowerCollections:PaintingsBathingHorses(section)byZhaoMengfu(1254–1322)TheQianlongEmperorEnjoyingHimselfonLanternFestivalPeriod:Qianlongreign(1736-1795),Qingdynasty(1644-1911)Medium:inkandcoloronsilkCollections:JadesGreenJadeCupwithDouble-ChildrenEarsPaleGreenJadeBrushWasherintheFormofaLotusLeaf