Forbidden City

The Forbidden City is the largest palace in the world (Yang Jan 30^th, 2002). The courtyards and halls of the Forbidden City cover 180 acres, and they are surrounded by a wall measuring 3,149 feet by 2,493 feet (Glancey 102).

Figure 1.1: Meridian Gate (Click on the image to enlarge it)

The south entrance of the Forbidden City is the Gate of China, which was known as the Gate of Ming in the Ming Dynasty and the Gate of Great Ching in the Ching Dynasty. A long narrow courtyard connects the Gate of Great China and the Gate of Heavenly Peace, which is called Tian An Men today and was known as the Gate of Receiving Mandate of Heaven in the Ming Dynasty. The Gate of Heavenly Peace leads to the Gate of Correct Demeanor, which is known as Duan Men. The Imperial Ancestral Temple and the Altar of Land and Grain are located on the east and the west side of this area respectively. The Meridian Gate, as shown in figure 1.1 on the left, is the front entrance of the Forbidden City. Inside the Meridian Gate, the Forbidden City is divided into two parts, the Outer Court and the Inner Court.

The Inner Court

The Inner Court is the “residential building” and “gardens for the imperial family” (Ru 118). It contains the Palace of Heavenly Purity (as shown in figure 1.2 on the bottom), where the Chinese emperor conducted state affairs, the Hall of Union (as shown in figure 1.3), and the Palace of Earthly Tranquility (as shown in figure 1.4) where the empress lived. On the east and the west, six palaces were built on each side (Ru 118).

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Figure 1.2: Palace of Heavenly Purity	Figure 1.3: Hall of Union
Figure 1.4: Palace of Earthly Tranquility

The Outer Court

The Outer Court is for “holding court” and “performing ceremonies” (Ru 118). The Gate of Supreme Harmony is the south gate of the Outer Court. Inside the Gate of Supreme Harmony, there are three great halls: the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the Hall of Complete Harmony, and the Hall of Preserving Harmony, as shown in figure 1.5 to figure 1.7. The north gate of the Outer Court is the Gate of Heavenly Purity as shown in figure 1.8, which separates the Outer Court and the Inner Court.

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Figure 1.5: Hall of Supreme Harmony	Figure 1.6: Hall of Complete Harmony
Figure 1.7: Hall of Preserving Harmony	Figure 1.8: Gate of Heavenly Purity