China - The Middle Kingdom 

The Forbidden City

The Gate of Heavenly Peace (Tiananmen) - Probably one of China's most famous buildings with the portrait of the Great Helmsman, Mao Tse-Tung. This borders the north end of Tiananmen Square and is the southern entrance to the Forbidden City. The Forbidden City was constructed ironically by the Mongols. Genghis Khan captured Beijing in 1241. By 1264 Genghis Khan's grandson,  Kublai Khan became the Great Khan and moved the Mongolian capital to Beijing. Tired of raping and pillaging China Kublai Khan decided to rule it. He became the Emperor of China and started the Yuan Dynasty. They designed the walled city as a Mongolian cultural haven from Chinese culture. From the safety of the walls, the Mongols would rule China through dictating orders to Chinese Imperial officials to implement.  A hundred years later a Chinese peasant, Chu Yuan-Chan created a very large bandit army and evicted the Yuan, declared himself the new Emperor of China. He moved into the Forbidden City and started the Ming Dynasty.  Three hundred years later, the Manchurians conquered China and became the last residents of the Forbidden City.  The Qing Dynasty lasted until 1911, when Dr. Sun Yat-Sen ended Imperial rule with the formation of the Chinese Republic. In 1949, Mao Tse-Tung declared the People's republic of China from the Gate.  Now his portrait is placed there to commemorate that historic event.  Long live Chairman Mao!

  

Meridian Gate - At the southern end of the Forbidden City.  This is where the Ming Emperor would address his armies with a motivational speech before they go into battle against the raging mogul hordes.  Unfortunate for the Ming, they forgot about the Manchus. 
  
The Gate of Great Harmony - Picture is taken from one of the 5 marble bridges that cross the Golden River.   Copper Lion - close up of one of the large copper lion statues, it looks small but it is 20 feet tall on a 6 foot pedestal. 
The Outer Courtyard - Marble walkway that goes to the Hall of Great Harmony.

 

Stairway to Harmony - This is the main marble stairway to the Hall of Great Harmony which leads to the outer court..
The Outer Court - The Hall of Middle Harmony, this is where the emperor would meet with his ministers and conduct imperial business. The Hall of Preserving Harmony is where the official exams were held to select the few scholar elites that passed to become Imperial officials.  It also became one of the main banquet halls where 100 course banquets would be the norm.  Notice the nice marble terraces that surround the outer court. 
  
Dragonheads - Ornate marble terraces that borders the Halls of Middle Harmony and Preserving Harmony.   Water Dragon - A very impressive sight when it rains as the dragons act as eaves for the runoff rain water.

Imperial Throne Room - One of the many thrones where the emperor would address the Imperial ministers.
Mosiac of the Nine Dragons (Jiu Long Bi) - Built in 1773, this ceramic tile mosaic is 30m by 3.6m represents the symbol of the emperor, the dragon in nine different forms.  There is a replica in a mall in Mississauga's Chinatown.
  
The Inner Court - Here is where the Emperor, Empress, family members, and concubines would live with up to 1500 eunuchs serving them, sometimes controlling them.

© 2002-2005 Stanley Yee