Forbidden City

Forbidden City

The Forbidden City is a palace complex in central Beijing, China. It houses the Palace Museum, and was the former Chinese imperial palace from the Ming Dynasty to the end of the Qing Dynasty (the years 1420 to 1912). The Forbidden City served as the home of emperors and their households and was the ceremonial and political center of Chinese government for almost 500 years.

Constructed from 1406 to 1420, the complex consists of 980 surviving buildings with 8,704 rooms. It covers 72 hectares (over 180 acres). The palace exemplifies traditional Chinese palatial architecture, and has influenced cultural and architectural developments in East Asia and elsewhere. The Forbidden City was declared a World Heritage Site in 1987 by UNESCO, and is listed by UNESCO as the largest collection of preserved ancient wooden structures in the world.

History

The Forbidden City was commissioned by Emperor Yongle, who moved the Chinese capital from Nanjing to Beijing. Following his ascension to the throne, Emperor Yongle ordered the construction of a new city. The construction lasted 14 years and required more than a million workers.

Architecture

The architecture of the Forbidden City, from its overall layout to the smallest detail, was meticulously planned to reflect philosophical and religious principles, and above all to symbolise the majesty of Imperial power. Some noted examples of symbolic designs include:

• Yellow is the color of the Emperor. Thus almost all roofs in the Forbidden City bear yellow glazed tiles. There are only two exceptions. The library at the Pavilion of Literary Profundity had black tiles because black was associated with water, and thus fire-prevention. Similarly, the Crown Prince's residences have green tiles because green was associated with wood, and thus growth.
• The main halls of the Outer and Inner courts are all arranged in groups of three – the shape of the Qilin character (an auspicious symbol), which also represents the Emperor’s supremacy.

Today

Today, the Forbidden City is a public museum and one of the most popular tourist attractions worldwide. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage site, and is recognized for its significant place in the development of Chinese architecture and culture.