Forbidden City facts for kids
The Forbidden City viewed from Jingshan Hill
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| Established | 1406–1420 1925 (as public museum) |
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| Location | 4 Jingshan Front St, Dongcheng, Beijing, China |
| Type | Art museum, Imperial palace, Historic site |
| Visitors | 16.7 million |
| Area | 72 hectares |
| Built | 1406–1420 (Ming dynasty) |
| Architect | Kuai Xiang |
| Architectural style(s) | Chinese architecture |
| Website | (English) (Chinese) |
| UNESCO World Heritage Site | |
| Part of | Imperial Palaces of the Ming and Qing Dynasties in Beijing and Shenyang |
| Criteria | Cultural: i, ii, iii, iv |
| Inscription | 1987 (11th Session) |
| Forbidden City | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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"Forbidden City" in Chinese characters
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| Chinese name | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chinese | 紫禁城 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Literal meaning | "Purple Forbidden City" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Manchu name | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Manchu script | ᡩᠠᠪᡴᡡᡵᡳ ᡩᠣᡵᡤᡳ ᡥᠣᡨᠣᠨ |
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| Romanization | dabkūri dorgi hoton 'Former inner city' | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Forbidden City (Chinese: 紫禁城; pinyin: zǐ jìn chéng) is a huge palace complex in Beijing, China. It sits right in the middle of the city. This amazing place is surrounded by beautiful gardens and temples. These include the 54-acre Zhongshan Park and the 57-acre Jingshan Park. Today, the Palace Museum manages the Forbidden City.
Construction of the Forbidden City began in 1406 and finished in 1420. For over 500 years, from 1420 to 1924, it was the home of the Emperor of China. It served as the main political and ceremonial center for the Chinese government. After 1925, it became the Palace Museum. This museum has a huge collection of art and artifacts from the old imperial families. In 1987, the Forbidden City was named a World Heritage Site.
The complex is said to have 9,999.5 buildings, but experts say there are actually 8,704 buildings. These buildings contain 9,999 rooms and cover 178 acres (720,000 square meters). The palace shows off the amazing traditional Chinese architecture. It has influenced building styles across East Asia. UNESCO calls it the largest collection of old wooden structures in the world. Millions of people visit the Forbidden City every year. In 2019, over 19 million visitors came to see it.
Contents
What's in a Name?
The English name "Forbidden City" comes from its Chinese name, Zijin Cheng (Chinese: 紫禁城; pinyin: Zǐjìnchéng). This name means "Purple Forbidden City." The name first appeared officially in 1576.
The word Zi, or "Purple," refers to the North Star. Ancient Chinese people called it the Ziwei Star. They believed it was the home of the Celestial Emperor in the sky. Since the Forbidden City was the home of the earthly emperor, it was like the North Star's counterpart on Earth.
Jin means "forbidden" or "taboo." This shows that ordinary people were not allowed to enter the palace without permission. Cheng means "city." So, it was a "Purple Forbidden City."
Today, many Chinese people call it Gùgōng (故宮), which means "Former Palace." The museum inside is called the "Palace Museum" (Chinese: 故宮博物院; pinyin: Gùgōng Bówùyùan).
A Look Back in Time
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The Forbidden City's story began when Hongwu Emperor's son, Zhu Di, became the Yongle Emperor. He decided to move the capital city from Nanjing to Beijing. Construction of the Forbidden City started in 1406.
Building this huge palace took 14 years. More than a million workers helped to build it. They used special wood called Phoebe zhennan from jungles in southwestern China. Large marble blocks came from quarries near Beijing. The floors of the main halls were made of "golden bricks." These were special paving bricks from Suzhou.
From 1420 to 1644, the Forbidden City was the center of the Ming dynasty. In 1644, rebel forces took over the city. They set fire to parts of the Forbidden City. Soon after, the Manchu forces took control of northern China. A ceremony was held in the Forbidden City to declare the young Shunzhi Emperor as the new ruler. This began the Qing dynasty.
The Qing rulers changed some building names to focus on "Harmony." They also made the name plates bilingual, in Chinese and Manchu. They added some Shamanist traditions to the palace.
In 1860, during a conflict, Anglo-French forces occupied the Forbidden City. They stayed until the war ended. In 1900, Empress Dowager Cixi left the Forbidden City during the Boxer Rebellion. Other forces then occupied it for a year.
The Forbidden City was home to 24 emperors. Fourteen were from the Ming dynasty and ten from the Qing dynasty. In 1912, Puyi, the last Emperor of China, gave up his throne. This meant the Forbidden City was no longer China's political center. Puyi was allowed to stay in the Inner Court for a while. The Outer Court was opened to the public. In 1924, Puyi was asked to leave.
The Palace Museum officially opened in the Forbidden City in 1925. In 1933, during the Japanese invasion, many treasures from the Forbidden City had to be moved for safety. Some were returned after World War II. However, many were sent to Taiwan in 1948 during the Chinese Civil War. These treasures are now part of the National Palace Museum in Taipei.
After the People's Republic of China was formed in 1949, some parts of the Forbidden City were damaged. But during the Cultural Revolution, Premier Zhou Enlai sent an army to protect the city. This prevented further destruction.
In 1987, UNESCO named the Forbidden City a World Heritage Site. This was because of its important role in Chinese architecture and culture. Today, the Palace Museum continues to manage and care for it.
In the early 2000s, the Palace Museum started a big project. They wanted to restore all the buildings to how they looked before 1911. By 2020, they aimed to open 76% of the palace to the public. Many parts have already been opened, like the Shoukang Palace in 2013.
How the Palace is Built
| A. Meridian Gate B. Gate of Divine Might C. West Glorious Gate D. East Glorious Gate E. Corner towers F. Gate of Supreme Harmony G. Hall of Supreme Harmony |
H. Hall of Military Eminence J. Hall of Literary Glory K. Southern Three Places L. Palace of Heavenly Purity M. Imperial garden N. Hall of Mental Cultivation O. Palace of Tranquil Longevity |
The Forbidden City is a huge rectangle. It is 961 meters (3,153 feet) long from north to south. It is 753 meters (2,470 feet) wide from east to west. It has 980 buildings with 8,886 rooms. The design of the Forbidden City helped protect the ancient rules and traditions of the empire. It was built to be the center of old Beijing. It is part of a larger area called the Imperial City.
The Forbidden City is still important to Beijing's layout. Its main north-south line is the central axis of Beijing. This line goes through Tiananmen Square to the south. To the north, it goes through Jingshan Hill to the Bell and Drum Towers.
Walls and Gates
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The Forbidden City is surrounded by a 7.9-meter (26-foot) high wall. There is also a 6-meter (20-foot) deep and 52-meter (171-foot) wide moat around it. The walls are very strong, built with rammed earth and special bricks.
At each of the four corners of the wall are beautiful towers (E). These towers have amazing roofs with 72 ridges. They are the most visible parts of the palace from outside. Many old stories are told about them.
There is a gate on each side of the wall. The main entrance is the Meridian Gate (A) on the south side. To the north is the Gate of Divine Might (B). The east and west gates are called the "East Glorious Gate" (D) and "West Glorious Gate" (C). All gates have golden door nails in a nine-by-nine pattern. Only the East Glorious Gate has eight rows.
The Meridian Gate has two parts that stick out, forming a square. This gate has five doorways. The central doorway is part of the Imperial Way. This is a special stone path that runs through the center of the Forbidden City and old Beijing. Only the Emperor could walk or ride on this path. The Empress could use it on her wedding day. Successful students could also use it after passing special exams.
Outer Court: Ceremonial Center
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The Forbidden City is split into two main parts. The Outer Court, or Southern Section, was used for important ceremonies. The Inner Court, or Northern Section, was where the Emperor and his family lived. It was also used for daily government work.
After entering the Meridian Gate, you find a large square. A winding river, the Inner Golden Water River, flows through it. Five bridges cross this river. Beyond the square is the Gate of Supreme Harmony (F). Behind that is another large square.
On a three-tiered white marble terrace, three important halls stand. These are the main buildings of the palace. From the south, they are the Hall of Supreme Harmony (太和殿), the Hall of Central Harmony (中和殿), and the Hall of Preserving Harmony (保和殿).
The Hall of Supreme Harmony (G) is the largest hall. It stands about 30 meters (98 feet) above the square. It was the ceremonial heart of the Emperor's power. It is the biggest wooden structure still standing in China. It has nine bays wide and five bays deep. The numbers 9 and 5 were special and linked to the Emperor's power. Inside, the ceiling has a coiled dragon. From its mouth hangs a chandelier-like set of metal balls called the "Xuanyuan Mirror." In the Ming dynasty, the Emperor met with officials here. Later, in the Qing dynasty, it was only used for very special events. These included coronations, important ceremonies, and imperial weddings.
The Hall of Central Harmony is a smaller, square hall. The Emperor used it to get ready and rest before ceremonies. Behind it is the Hall of Preserving Harmony. This hall was used for practicing ceremonies. It was also where the final stage of the Imperial examination took place. All three halls have imperial thrones. The one in the Hall of Supreme Harmony is the biggest and most fancy.
Large stone ramps lead up to these terraces. They are part of the Imperial Way. These ramps have detailed carvings. The northern ramp, behind the Hall of Preserving Harmony, is carved from a single stone. It is 16.57 meters (54 feet) long and weighs about 200 tons. It is the largest carving of its kind in China.
To the southwest and southeast of the Outer Court are the halls of Military Eminence (H) and Literary Glory (J). The Hall of Military Eminence was used for the Emperor to meet with ministers. The Hall of Literary Glory was used for special lectures by scholars. It later became the office for important government officials.
Inner Court: Home of the Emperor
The Inner Court is separated from the Outer Court by a long courtyard. This was the home of the Emperor and his family. In the Qing dynasty, the Emperor mostly lived and worked here. The Outer Court was only for ceremonies.
Back Three Palaces
In the center of the Inner Court are three more halls (L). From the south, they are:
These halls are smaller than those in the Outer Court. They were the official homes of the Emperor and Empress. The Emperor, representing the Heavens, lived in the Palace of Heavenly Purity. The Empress, representing the Earth, lived in the Palace of Earthly Tranquility. The Hall of Union in the middle symbolized harmony.
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The Palace of Heavenly Purity has a double roof. In the Ming dynasty, the Emperor lived here. But from the Qing dynasty's Yongzheng Emperor onwards, the Emperor lived in the smaller Hall of Mental Cultivation (N) to the west. The Palace of Heavenly Purity then became a hall where the Emperor met with officials. A coiled dragon carving is on the ceiling. Above the throne, a tablet reads "Justice and Honour."
The Palace of Earthly Tranquility (坤寧宮) also has a double roof. In the Ming dynasty, it was the Empress's home. In the Qing dynasty, parts of it were used for Manchu Shamanist ceremonies. Later, the Empress moved out, but two rooms were kept for the Emperor's wedding night.
Between these two palaces is the Hall of Union. It is square with a pyramid-shaped roof. Here, the 25 Imperial Seals of the Qing dynasty were kept.
Behind these three halls is the Imperial Garden (M). It is small but has many beautiful features. To the north of the garden is the Gate of Divine Might.
To the west is the Hall of Mental Cultivation (N). This palace became the Emperor's main residence and office from the Yongzheng Emperor's time. In the late Qing dynasty, empresses, like Cixi, held court here. Important government offices were also located around this hall.
The northeastern part of the Inner Court has the Palace of Tranquil Longevity (寧壽宮) (O). The Qianlong Emperor built this complex for his retirement. It looks like a smaller version of the Forbidden City itself, with its own courts, gardens, and temples. A beautiful glazed-tile Nine Dragons Screen marks its entrance.
Western and Eastern Palaces
To the west and east of the main Inner Court halls are the Western Palaces (Xiliugong) and Eastern Palaces (Dongliugong). These were the homes of the Emperor's consorts (wives and concubines). There were six palaces on each side, making 12 in total. They are all connected by passages.
Each palace had its own courtyards and halls. The main halls were in the middle, and side halls were on the east and west. The front part was for receiving guests. The back part was for living.
Higher-ranking consorts lived in the main sections of a palace and managed it. Lower-ranking consorts lived in the side halls. Many Qing emperors were born and grew up in these 12 palaces. They were central to the daily life of the imperial family.
In the late Qing era, Empress Dowager Cixi lived in one of the Western Palaces. She was known as the "Western empress." Her co-ruler, Empress Dowager Ci'an, lived in an Eastern Palace and was called the "Eastern empress."
The names of some of these palaces include:
- Palace of Eternal Longevity
- Hall of the Supreme Principle
- Palace of Eternal Spring
- Palace of Great Benevolence
- Palace of Heavenly Grace
- Palace of Accumulated Purity
Cining Palace and Shoukang Palace
To the west of the Hall of Mental Cultivation (N) are Cining Palace (Palace of Compassion and Tranquility) and Shoukang Palace (Palace of Longevity and Good Health). These palaces were where widowed consorts of past emperors lived. Emperors did not live with the wives of previous emperors. So, these palaces were in a separate area of the Inner Court. Cining Palace is older and larger than Shoukang Palace. South of Cining Palace is Cining Garden.
Religion in the Palace
Religion was very important to the imperial court. In the Qing dynasty, the Palace of Earthly Harmony was used for Manchu Shamanist ceremonies. Also, the Chinese Taoist religion was important throughout the Ming and Qing dynasties. There were two Taoist shrines in the palace.
Buddhism was also popular in the Qing dynasty palace. Many temples and shrines were found throughout the Inner Court. This included Tibetan Buddhism or Lamaism. Buddhist symbols were also used in the decorations of many buildings. The Pavilion of the Rain of Flowers is one of the most important Buddhist sites. It held many Buddhist statues, symbols, and mandalas.
What's Around the Forbidden City?
The Forbidden City is surrounded by imperial gardens on three sides. To the north is Jingshan Park, also called Prospect Hill. This is a man-made hill. It was created from the soil dug out to build the moat and nearby lakes.
To the west is Zhongnanhai. This was once a royal garden with two connected lakes. Today, it is the main headquarters for the Chinese Communist Party. To the northwest is Beihai Park, another popular royal park with a lake.
South of the Forbidden City were two important shrines. These were the Imperial Shrine of Family (the Imperial Ancestral Temple) and the Imperial Shrine of State (Beijing Shejitan). Here, the Emperor honored his ancestors and the spirit of the nation. Today, these are public parks: the Beijing Labouring People's Cultural Hall and Zhongshan Park.
To the south, two similar gatehouses stand along the main axis. They are the Upright Gate and the famous Tiananmen Gate. The Tiananmen Gate has a portrait of Mao Zedong in the center. It also has two signs that say: "Long Live the People's Republic of China" and "Long live the Great Unity of the World's Peoples." Tiananmen Gate connects the Forbidden City to Tiananmen Square. This square is a modern symbol of the Chinese state.
Today, new building around the Forbidden City is carefully controlled. But in the past, some old buildings were torn down or rebuilt. Since 2000, the Beijing government has worked to protect the historical buildings. They have also created a park around the remaining parts of the Imperial City wall.
Amazing Architecture
Symbolism in Design
The Forbidden City's design was very carefully planned. Every detail, from the overall layout to the smallest decoration, showed Chinese ideas about philosophy and religion. Most importantly, it showed the power of the Emperor. Here are some examples of these symbolic designs:
- Yellow is the Emperor's Color: Almost all roofs in the Forbidden City have yellow glazed tiles. This color was special to the Emperor. There are only two exceptions. The library had black tiles because black was linked to water, which was thought to prevent fires. The Crown Prince's homes had green tiles. Green was linked to wood and growth.
- Groups of Three and Six: The main halls of the Outer and Inner courts are often in groups of three. This shape represents Heaven. The homes in the Inner Court are in groups of six. This shape represents the Earth.
- Roof Decorations: The sloped roofs of buildings have small statues. These are led by a man riding a phoenix and followed by an imperial dragon. The number of statues shows how important the building is. A small building might have three or five. The Hall of Supreme Harmony has ten statues. This was the only building in China allowed to have so many in imperial times.
The way buildings are arranged also follows old customs. For example, ancestral temples are in front of the palace. Storage areas are in the front part, and homes are in the back.
Palace Collections
The Palace Museum has a huge collection of art. It comes from the old Qing imperial collection. This includes paintings, ceramics, seals, sculptures, bronze items, and more. According to the latest count, it has 1,862,690 pieces of art. The imperial libraries also had many rare books and historical documents.
In 1933, to protect them from invasion, many important parts of the collection were moved. After World War II, some were returned. But during the Chinese Civil War, many valuable items were sent to Taiwan. About 2,972 boxes of artifacts are now in the National Palace Museum in Taipei. More than 8,000 boxes came back to Beijing.
The Palace Museum has 340,000 pieces of ceramics and porcelain. This includes imperial collections from the Tang and Song dynasties. It has almost 50,000 paintings. Over 400 of these are from before the Yuan dynasty (1271–1368), which is the largest collection in China. Its bronze collection dates back to the early Shang dynasty. Of nearly 10,000 bronze pieces, about 1,600 have inscriptions from before the Qin dynasty (to 221 BC).
The museum also has one of the world's largest collections of old mechanical timepieces. There are over 1,000 pieces from the 18th and 19th centuries. These include both Chinese-made and foreign-made clocks and watches. Foreign pieces came from countries like Britain, France, and Switzerland.
Jade is very special in Chinese culture. The museum's collection has about 30,000 jade pieces. The oldest pieces are from the Neolithic period. Besides art, a large part of the collection includes items used by the imperial family in their daily lives. This collection helps us understand the daily routines and ceremonies of the imperial era.
Images for kids
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Inside the East Glorious Gate.
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Inside the West Wing of the Meridian Gate.
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Influence on Design
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The Forbidden City has had a big impact on how Chinese architecture developed. It has also inspired many works of art.
See also
- Imperial City of Huế
