The Imperial City May 28, 2010

The Imperial City in Beijing is a complex of palaces that served as home to the imperial family between the years 1420- 1922 A.D., through the Ming and Qing dynasties. Built during the reign of Yongle, when first constructed it was said to contain 999 buildings, and 9,999 rooms and courtyards. Entering by way of Tiananmen Gate, there are three gates one must pass through before reaching the city itself. The last gate, Meridian gate, is the only of these three that is part of the city wall itself, beyond which no commoner was ever allowed to enter. Hence how the nickname "Forbidden City" was given. The Outer Court, the center of administration, is marked by three main buildings: the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the Hall of Middle Harmony, and the Hall of Preserving Harmony. The Inner Court is also marked by three main buildings. The Palace of Heavenly Purity was traditionally the home of the Emperor. The Hall of Union was the Empress' break room and where her birthday would be celebrated. And finally The Palace of Earthly Tranquility was the traditional home of the Empress. Many of the buildings names make evident their use. The Hall of Literary Glory served as a lecture hall and reading room. The Hall for Worshipping Ancestors was where emperors would go to pay respect to former emperors of their line, and the Hall of Tranquil Longevity was a palace built for Qianlong in the belief he would retire there once ceding the throne to his son.