The Four Seasons of the Forbidden City

Kang Hwa-hyun · Ewha Womans University

The Forbidden City, which I was in charge of,

was originally scheduled to be the first place we visited on this trip.

(紫禁城)

However, we were so captivated by the charm of the staff performing Chinese hot pot (huoguo) and the noodle performance that accompanied it, that we spent longer than scheduled on lunch. The Forbidden City was postponed to January 4th, the following day, after visiting the National Museum. My tension and excitement, which I thought would end on the first day, ultimately continued until the morning of the second day. Thus, I will introduce the Forbidden City, which kept me awake on my first night in Beijing, as Emperor Yongle's spring, Emperor Kangxi's summer, Emperor Qianlong's autumn, and Puyi's winter.

Entering the Forbidden City: Meridian Gate, Golden Water River Bridge

As its name, the Forbidden City of Purple (Zijin) implies, it is a place of secrets, immense scale, and luxurious decorations that have captivated generations for over 500 years. Built by Emperor Yongle of the Ming Dynasty, the Forbidden City holds many dramatic stories along with its ancient history.

History has graciously allowed us, living today, the freedom to enter and exit the forbidden city at will, leaving us an almost perfectly preserved Forbidden City. Today, the Forbidden City has lost the powerful authority it once held with the emperor and the awe-inspiring presence that made officials and commoners kneel. Nevertheless, we were overwhelmed by the Forbidden City before our eyes. Its immense scale and the countless relics displayed in the Palace Museum allow us to feel the presence of the past rulers of this palace.

The reason for dividing the Forbidden City by season

▼The reason for dividing the Forbidden City by season is that the Forbidden City was strictly an imperial palace. The idea that the emperor was heaven was reflected even in its architecture. For example, let's look at the Meridian Gate (午門) after passing through the Duanmen (端門). The entrance of the Meridian Gate is square, while the side facing the palace is round. This is said to reflect the East Asian concept of Tian Yuan Di Fang (天圓地方), which posits that heaven is round and the earth is square. Inside the palace, where the emperor lived, was made round, and outside the palace, where the commoners lived, was made square. Also, between the Gate of Supreme Harmony and the Meridian Gate are five bridges made of white jade, the Golden Water River Bridges (金水橋).

The concept of Tian Yuan Di Fang

(天圓地方)

symbolizes the five virtues of the Doctrine of the Mean: benevolence (仁), righteousness (義), propriety (禮), wisdom (智), and trustworthiness (信). It is said that only the emperor could cross the central bridge (Lee Hyun-guk 2008). Emperor Yongle of the Ming Dynasty's Spring: Hall of Supreme Harmony, Hall of Central Harmony, Hall of Preserving Harmony

and

benevolence (仁)

righteousness

propriety

wisdom

trustworthiness

symbolize.

(仁)

(義)

(禮)

(智)

(信)

appear after passing through the grand Gate of Supreme Harmony (太和門). We discussed Emperor Yongle (永樂帝), who built the Forbidden City and ushered in its spring, in front of the Gate of Supreme Harmony before seeing the three great halls of the Forbidden City.

Emperor Yongle

Emperor Yongle usurped the throne from his nephew, Emperor Jianwen, through the Jingnan Campaign. As he had many enemies due to his usurpation, Emperor Yongle decided to move the capital to Beijing, where he had been the Prince of Yan before ascending the throne, instead of Nanjing, which was the base of his opponents. Despite strong opposition from officials based in Nanjing, Emperor Yongle secretly planned the relocation (Lee Geun-myeong 2002, 225-228).

(永樂帝)

While continuing our discussion, we walked past the Gate of Supreme Harmony towards the Hall of Supreme Harmony. The Hall of Supreme Harmony is the most expansive and magnificent palace within the Forbidden City, where the emperor received distinguished guests from his throne. In front of the Hall of Supreme Harmony are statues of cranes and turtles, symbolizing the emperor's long life. Behind the Hall of Supreme Harmony are the Hall of Central Harmony and the Hall of Preserving Harmony; these three halls constitute the outer court where official ceremonies were held.

As we continued our discussion, we walked past the Gate of Supreme Harmony towards the Hall of Supreme Harmony. The Hall of Supreme Harmony is the most expansive and magnificent palace within the Forbidden City, where the emperor received distinguished guests from his throne. In front of the Hall of Supreme Harmony are statues of cranes and turtles, symbolizing the emperor's long life. Behind the Hall of Supreme Harmony are the Hall of Central Harmony and the Hall of Preserving Harmony; these three halls constitute the outer court where official ceremonies were held.

(Outer

Court)

and the inner court

where the emperor and empress resided. The outer court has three paths, which emphasize the central axis and connect the three great halls. The central path was reserved for the emperor alone (Silberg, 2001, 15-17).

(Inner Court)

emphasize the central axis and connect the three great halls. The central path was reserved for the emperor alone (Silberg, 2001, 15-17).

During the controversy over the relocation of the capital to Beijing, Empress Xiaoxian, whom Emperor Yongle favored greatly, died. Emperor Yongle searched for her burial site near Beijing. Reading Emperor Yongle's firm resolve to move the capital from this, his officials proposed the construction of a new palace in Beijing. Emperor Yongle rejoiced and issued an imperial decree ordering the procurement of necessary materials from all over the country for the palace's construction. The emperor sent his most loyal officials to the treacherous mountains of Sichuan and other regions to fell nanmu trees. Nanmu has been used for royal coffins since ancient times, and its harvesting was so dangerous due to frequent encounters with tigers and other wild beasts that one had to risk their life. The pillars of the Hall of Supreme Harmony were built from this nanmu. This demonstrates the emperor's authority, which could compel the felling of nanmu, where out of a thousand men who entered the mountain, only five hundred returned (KBS 2007a).1

Behind the Hall of Supreme Harmony is the Hall of Central Harmony. The Hall of Central Harmony was where the emperor rested before holding ceremonies in the Hall of Supreme Harmony. It is also where Empress Dowager Cixi exiled her nephew, Emperor Guangxu. Behind that is the Hall of Preserving Harmony, the last of the outer court halls. The stone steps behind the Hall of Preserving Harmony are made of marble. To quarry the marble, over 10,000 laborers and 6,000 soldiers were mobilized. To transport the marble, large wells were dug every 500 meters along the road. It is said that in the harsh cold, water was drawn from the wells to create ice rinks on the road for transporting the marble. It took a total of 28 days to transport the marble to Beijing (KBS 2007a). The Forbidden City, which took over 10 years just to prepare the construction materials, was built over 15 years from 1406 and completed in 1421 (Park Han-je et al. 2007, 132).

The Forbidden City in Beijing became the center of China from the Ming Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty. Under Emperor Yongle, spring arrived in Beijing and the Forbidden City, and based on this, the Forbidden City moved towards the season of growth, summer. Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty's Summer: Gate of Heavenly Purity, Palace of Heavenly Purity, Hall of Union, Palace of Earthly Tranquility Spring is a season of sprouting, while summer is a season of lush forests under a hot sun. The Forbidden City endured the heat of the Ming Dynasty's fall and the Qing Dynasty's founding, enjoying the prosperous era of Emperor Kangxi (康熙帝). Emperor Kangxi implemented policies to harmonize the Han and Manchu peoples, transforming the instability of the new nation into national stability.

Emperor Kangxi

(康熙帝)

transformed the instability of the new nation into national stability.

Emperor Kangxi's Forbidden City experienced Western influences. The adoption of Western culture, which began with Matteo Ricci at the end of the Ming Dynasty, was consolidated during Emperor Kangxi's reign. Matteo Ricci first entered the Forbidden City by offering a clock as a tribute; his story will be discussed in more detail later in the 'Autumn' section.

After passing the outer court, one encounters the Gate of Heavenly Purity (乾淸門).

The Gate of Heavenly Purity separates the outer court from the inner court.

(乾淸門)

Beyond the Gate of Heavenly Purity are three palaces: the Palace of Heavenly Purity (乾淸宮), the Hall of Union (交泰殿), and the Palace of Earthly Tranquility (坤寧宮). The Palace of Heavenly Purity served as the imperial couple's sleeping quarters during the Ming and early Qing dynasties, and sometimes the emperor received officials or handled daily affairs there. Emperor Kangxi also handled daily affairs in the Palace of Heavenly Purity.

On November 28, 1688, six French scientists were granted an audience with Emperor Kangxi in the Palace of Heavenly Purity. They brought measuring instruments and scientific books from France as gifts for the emperor. Emperor Kangxi was delighted and appointed them as his tutors. From then on, foreign scientists stayed in the Qing court and conducted scientific research for decades. Emperor Kangxi's particular interest in Western science was also due to political reasons. As Emperor Kangxi became emperor at a young age, there was a period when he was a puppet emperor controlled by the regents. In 1669, Emperor Kangxi faced a confrontation between Ferdinand Verbiest, Adam Schall von Bell's assistant, and Oboi, who held real power at the time. The subject of the dispute was the calculation of the length of the noon shadow.

(鰲拜)

Imperial

(欽天監)

Observatory followed the traditional calendar for calculation, while Verbiest solved the problem using Western science. Ultimately, the Imperial Observatory's calculation had a larger error, and Verbiest, who was more accurate, won the contest. This led the young emperor to entrust the Imperial Observatory to Verbiest and curb the power of the regents. Witnessing the calendar debate he presided over, Emperor Kangxi developed a strong interest in geometry and mathematics. Calculators he used and abacus tables he used for studying mathematics still remain in the Forbidden City (KBS 2007b). It is well-known that he not only loved traditional Chinese scholarship but also embraced Western learning spread by Jesuit missionaries, and commissioned these missionaries to create the "Complete Map of the Imperial Realm" (皇輿全覽圖), a detailed map of the entire country (Lee Myeong-geun 2003, 319).

Behind the Palace of Heavenly Purity is the Hall of Union, where the empress received congratulations from the imperial family. The innermost palace, the Palace of Earthly Tranquility, was divided into eastern and western sections during the Qing Dynasty. The eastern section was where the emperor and empress spent their wedding night (Silberg, 2001, 16).

During the Kangxi Emperor's reign, China experienced very active exchanges between East and West. The French Sun King Louis XIV even sent him letters, referring to him as a close friend. The Forbidden City during the Kangxi era was stable enough to accept Western culture from the outside, and by embracing that culture, it was a summer with infinite possibilities, heading towards autumn, the season of harvest. 3. The Four Seasons of the Forbidden City

Autumn of the Qing Dynasty's Qianlong Emperor_ Hall of Clocks, Hall of Imperial Ancestors

The most prosperous period encompassing both the Ming and Qing dynasties was during the reign of Emperor Qianlong.

reign

(乾隆帝). Just as the sweat shed through spring and summer bears fruit in autumn, building upon the foundations laid by Emperor Kangxi and Emperor Yongzheng,

Emperor Qianlong became the master of a splendid and brilliant era.

(雍正帝)

The Forbidden City was also most active and dynamic during this period.

What best showcases the splendor of the Forbidden City are the clocks

in the

(鐘表館)

Hall of Clocks. In September 2004, the Hall of Clocks, which had exhibited clocks from various countries, was moved to the Hall of Imperial Ancestors

around 200 imperial clocks are also on display here.

(奉先殿)

It is a place that requires an additional fee to enter, referred to as the "Hall of Clocks," so it is not on the usual path for many visitors. However, the clocks displayed here truly represent the brilliance of China's golden age. Before examining the clocks of the Qianlong era, let us discuss the significance of clocks in the Forbidden City. As mentioned in the summer section, the acceptance of Western culture in the Forbidden City began with Matteo Ricci. Matteo Ricci, as a Catholic missionary, believed that to spread Catholicism in China,

it would be most effective to convert the then-Emperor Wanli into a Catholic believer. To gain an audience with the Emperor, Matteo Ricci offered various tribute gifts, and it was the clocks that caught Emperor Wanli's attention. Emperor Wanli was delighted upon seeing the alarm clock

and frequently ordered Matteo Ricci to visit the palace and repair the clocks. Thus, clocks, which served as the initial reason for a Westerner to enter the palace, became Emperor Qianlong's favorite tribute. China began manufacturing clocks in the late Ming Dynasty, and by the Kangxi era, clock manufacturing had flourished significantly. Clocks were not just timekeeping devices; they were fascinating mechanical devices that played music and moved on their own, as well as luxurious decorative items (KBS 2007b).

into a Catholic believer

(萬曆帝)

and regularly ordered Matteo Ricci to visit the palace and repair the clocks. Thus, clocks, which served as the initial reason for a Westerner to enter the palace, became Emperor Qianlong's favorite tribute. China began manufacturing clocks in the late Ming Dynasty, and by the Kangxi era, clock manufacturing had flourished significantly. Clocks were not just timekeeping devices; they were fascinating mechanical devices that played music and moved on their own, as well as luxurious decorative items (KBS 2007b).

and regularly ordered Matteo Ricci to visit the palace and repair the clocks. Thus, clocks, which served as the initial reason for a Westerner to enter the palace, became Emperor Qianlong's favorite tribute. China began manufacturing clocks in the late Ming Dynasty, and by the Kangxi era, clock manufacturing had flourished significantly. Clocks were not just timekeeping devices; they were fascinating mechanical devices that played music and moved on their own, as well as luxurious decorative items (KBS 2007b).

The oil paintings and clocks from Emperor Qianlong's reign

began to write "Palace Clock" in eight directions on the base of the clock. It is said that Westerners made clocks considering Emperor Qianlong's hobbies when presenting them (KBS 2007b).

kept it by his side as a cherished clock. Looking at the oil paintings and clocks from this period,

We can infer how splendid the Forbidden City was during this time. The ornamentation of the clocks suggests the immense wealth possessed to mobilize Western artisans and achieve such intricate craftsmanship.

During the early Qing Dynasty, when Western culture was widely adopted in the Forbidden City, Emperor Kangxi, while accepting clocks, also showed interest in the principles that made them work. Emperor Kangxi desired to adopt Western science and technology for national strength and prosperity. However, unfortunately, by the time of Emperor Qianlong's reign, Western artifacts like clocks had largely devolved into mere objects of appreciation. Although Western clocks continued to arrive, they could not keep pace with the advancing scientific technology.

Even in the late Qing Dynasty, electric lights and telephones continuously entered the Forbidden City. However, the Chinese imperial court at this time viewed Western artifacts solely as tools for pleasure. Ultimately, with the scientific technology used to create various clocks, the West began to invade China with warships and other vessels. The Forbidden City became both a museum exhibiting tribute from the West and a prison (KBS 2007b). During this period, the Forbidden City was filled with more luxurious items than ever before, but it was an autumn with nothing planted in the snow-covered fields after the harvest, heading towards winter.

Winter, Puyi, the Last Emperor_ Hall of Mental Cultivation, Imperial Garden

The master of the Forbidden City's fading winter, after its splendor, would be the last emperor, Puyi. Due to time constraints during the field trip, we discussed the Hall of Mental Cultivation

after passing through the Gate of Heavenly Purity, but we did not actually visit the Hall of Mental Cultivation. However, the Hall of Mental Cultivation

(養心殿) 3. The Four Seasons of the Forbidden City and the Imperial Garden

were places where Puyi spent his winters in the Forbidden City. The Hall of Mental Cultivation

(御和園)

had been used as the emperor's residence since 1723 (Jebens 2001, 17). China's 2,000-year imperial system came to an end in this Hall of Mental Cultivation. It was the place where Empress Dowager Longyu, under duress, issued the abdication declaration on October 10, 1911.3

3 Refer to the search term "Puyi" on Naver Encyclopedia (Search date: 2013.12.30). The source from Naver Encyclopedia is confirmed to be Doosan Encyclopedia.

Beyond the Gate of Heavenly Purity, following the Three Palaces, at the very back of the inner court lies a beautiful garden called the Imperial Garden. The Imperial Garden is the only place within the Forbidden City with trees. Upon reaching this point, one would find it difficult to spot a single tree within the Forbidden City. Trees were absent within the Forbidden City due to the risk of assassins hiding among them. The Imperial Garden is where Puyi played in the movie "The Last Emperor."

For him, who had been the master of the immense Forbidden City, his later years as a cleaner must have been an unbearable time. Like the last master of the Forbidden City, the winter of the Forbidden City was also extremely harsh. During this severe winter, the various relics held by the Forbidden City were scattered. After the Opium Wars, foreign powers took turns pilfering relics from the Forbidden City, and eunuchs who had turned their backs on the imperial court were no different from external thieves. In his later years, the last emperor Puyi himself smuggled out relics from the Forbidden City, and due to successive wars such as the Sino-Japanese War and the Chinese Civil War, the Forbidden City, along with the authority of the Chinese imperial family, was brutally fallen and trampled upon. During this period, the Forbidden City experienced the winter of China.

Exiting the Forbidden City_ Mound of Accumulated Views, Gate of Divine Might

In the Imperial Garden, there is a mountain called the Mound of Accumulated Views

originating from the Taihu Lake region of China.

(堆秀山)

It is an artificial mountain, 10 meters high, constructed from "Taihu stones." Looking at this artificial mountain, as one exits through the northern back gate of the Forbidden City, the Gate of Divine Might,

(神武門)

a canal flows, and opposite it, one can see Jingshan Park, an artificial mountain built by piling up the earth excavated from Beihai Lake.

and opposite it, Gyeongsan Park, an artificial hill created by piling up soil excavated from the North Sea.

contrasting with Puyi's humiliating experience in the Forbidden City, this demonstrates the capabilities of a great nation, China. One can only admire China's unique drive to create mountains or lakes as needed.

(景山公園)

After the last emperor departed in 1925, this vast palace was converted into a museum. Numerous imperial collections were scattered amidst China's complex modern history, but many relics were returned to the Forbidden City, the Palace Museum, thanks to the life-risking efforts of the Palace Museum staff. Although Chiang Kai-shek took valuable items to Taiwan, after peace returned to mainland China, the Chinese government recovered a significant number of artifacts, packing over 10,000 boxes. The contributions of private donors, who strived to protect the nation's cultural heritage, were also immense (KBS 2007c). 3. The Four Seasons of the Forbidden City

There are no longer emperors in the Forbidden City. However, the history of the former Chinese Empire has filled the role of the Forbidden City's master, making it still a symbol of China and a source of pride for the Chinese people. ■

The emperor no longer resides in the Forbidden City. However, because the main seat of the Forbidden City is occupied not by an emperor but by a historian of the former Chinese Empire, the Forbidden City remains a symbol of China and an object of pride for the Chinese people. ■

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August 17.

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