故宫英文介绍

FORBIDDENCITY(紫禁城)

(Infrontofthemeridiangate)

LadiesandGentlemen:

Iampleadtorveasyourguidetoday.

Thisisthepalacemuum;alsoknowasthePurpleForbidden

elargestandmostwellrervedimperial

ingEmperorYongle,

14yearstobuildthe

strulerwhoactuallylivedherewasMing

ecenturiesthereafter,itcontinuedto

betheresidenceof23successiveemperorsuntil1911whenQing

1987,the

UnitedNationsEducational,ScientificandCultural

OrganizationrecognizedtheForbiddenCitywasaworldcultural

legacy.

ItisbelievedthatthePalaceMuum,orZiJinCheng(Purple

ForbiddenCity),gotitsnamefromastronomyfolklore,The

ancientastronomersdividedtheconstellationsintogroupsand

centeredthemaroundtheZiweiYuan(NorthStar).The

constellationcontainingtheNorthStarwascalledthe

ConstellationofHeavenlyGodandstaritlfwascalledthe

etheemperorwassuppodlythesonof

theheavenlygods,hiscentralanddominantpositionwouldbe

furtherhighlightedtheuofthewordpurpleinthenameof

lore,theterm“aneasternpurplecloud

isdrifting”becameametaphorforauspiciouventsaftera

purplecloudwasendriftingeastwardimmediatelybeforethe

arrivalofanancientphilosopher,LaoZi,totheHanghuPass.

Here,

wordjin(forbidden)islf-explanatoryastheimperialpalace

washeavilyguardedandoff-explanatoryastheimperialpalace

washeavilyguardedandoff-limitstoordinarypeople.

Theredandyellowudonthepalacewallsandroofsarealso

rentshappiness,goodfortuneandwealth.

YellowisthecoloroftheearthontheLoessPlateau,the

becameanimperial

colorduringtheTangdynasty,whenonlymembersoftheroyal

familywereallowedtowearitanduitintheirarchitecture.

960meters

has9,900roomsunderatotalroofarea150,000squaremeters.

A52-meter-wide-moatencirclesa9.9-meter—highwallwhich

n—shapedturretsrestonthefour

refourentrancesintothecity:

theMeridianGatetothesouth,theShenwuGate(Gateof

MilitaryProwess)tothenorth,andtheXihuaGate(Gateof

militaryProwess)tothenorth,andtheXihuaGate(Western

FloweryGate)tothewest,theDonghua(EasternFloweryGate)

totheeast.

Manpowerandmaterialsthroughoutthecountrywereudto

of230,000artisansandone

wasquarriedfrom

fangshanCountryMountPaninJixianCountyinHebeiProvince.

andscarletpigmentationudonthepalatialwallscamefrom

wascut,procesdand

hauledfromthenorthwesternandsouthernregions.

ThePalaceMuumhasrvedastheroyalresidenceduringthe

erethatatotalof24monarchs

PalaceMuum,asthemostbeautifulspotofinterest

throughoutBeijing,isuniqueforitslocation:tothe

northwestisBeihai(NorthSea)Park,famousforitswhite

pagodaandripplinglake;tothewestistheZhongnahai(central

andsoutha);totheeastliesthetheWangfujingShopping

Street;nginthe

Wanchun(EverlastingSpring)Pavilionatthetopof

Jingshan(CharcoalHill)Park,youoverlooktheskylineofthe

outhernendofthepalaceisTian`anmen

(GateofHeavenlyPeace)andthefamoussquarenamedafterit.

ThisisthesymbolofthePeople`sRepublicofChina.

Aworld-famoushistoricalsite,thePalaceMuumisonthe

WorldHeritageListofUNESCOandisanembodimentoforiental

civilization.

ThePalaceMuumisrectangularinshape,960meterslongfrom

northtosouthand750meterswidefromeasttowest,covering

aspaceof720,000squaremetersofwhich150,000isbuilding

ingtolegendthere

lecompoundinclod

bya10-meter-hignwallandisaccesdthroughfourentrances,

namely,themeridianGateinthesouth,theGateofMilitary

Prowessinthenorth,Donghua(EasternFlowery)Gateinthe

north,Donghua(EasternFlowery)Gateintheeastand

Xihua(WesternFlowery)cornerthere

isaturretconsistedof9roofbeams,18pillarsand72ridge.

Encirclingthecompoundthereisa3,800-meter-longand52

meter-widemoat,makingthePalaceMuumalf-defensive

city-within-acity.

ThePalaceMuumwasmadeacenterofruleduringtheMing

DynastybyZhunDi,Thefourthsonofthefoundingemperor

lecomplexstraddlesonan

8-kilometers-longcentralaxisthatstretchesfromYongding

(ForeverStable)GateinthesouthtoGulou(DrumTower)inthe

encewasgiventotheroyalpowerbyputtingthe

"threemainfronthalls"and"threebackhalls"ontheaxis

constructionofthePalaceMuuminvolvedmanpowerand

mple,thebrickslaidinthe

halls,knownas"goldbrick,"underwentcomplex,two-dozen

inaltouch,thefiredbricksweredippedin

ingcomplicatedprocessandhighcost,

thebrickarecalled"goldenbricks."ThePalaceMuum

rvesasalivingembodimentofgoodtraditionandstyles

uniquetoChina`ectstothefull

theingenuityandcreativityoftheChineworkingpeople.A

carefullyprervedandcompletegroupofroyalresidences,the

PalaceMuumisaprominenthistoricalandtouristsite.

WhatwearenowapproachingisthemainentrancetothePalace

Muum-theMeridianGate,whichischaracterizedbyredwalls,

fthis

walls,f

thismagnificentbuilding,therestandfiveloftyhallswith

nhallisroofedbymultiple

ankedbytwo

gsaresquareinshape,completewith

he

ethehalls

rembleasoaringbird,itwasalsoknowaswufenglou

(Five-phoenixTower).Insidethemainhallthereisathrone.

ertheemperor

presidedovergrandceremoniesorobrvedritesintheHall

ofUpremeHarmony,drums,bellsandgongswouldbestruckto

marktheoccasion.

Asthelegendgoes,theMeridianGateudtobeaplacewhere

ttrue.

However,floggingwascarriedoutherebytheMingemperors,If

acourtierfallsafouloftheemperor,hewouldbestrippedof

ointthe

punishmentbecamesoharshthatatotalof11peoplediedfrom

therhand,this

buildingwasalsoudtoobrveimportantoccasionslikethe

traditionalChineLanternFestival(15thdayofthefirst

lunarmonth).Ontheoccasions,Chinelanternswouldbe

hangedandsumptuousbanquetswouldbegiveninhonourofthe

wholecourtofministersandotherrankingofficials.

UponenteringtheMeridianGatewebeganourtourofthePalace

erfoowinginfrontofusisknownasJinShui

He(GoldenWaterRiver)andthefivemarblesbridgesspanning

nthe

middlewasudexclusivebytheemperoranditsbanisterswere

dgesflanking

theimperialonewererervedforprincesandotherroyal

romdecoration,

thegoldenWaterRiverwasalsodugasprecautionagainstfire.

MostofthestructureswithinthepalaceMuumaremadeofwood.

Whatismore,accordingtoancientChinecosmology,theSouth

istheabodeoffire,sothisbrookwasdugonthesoutherntip

way,thePalaceMuumreflects

traditionalChineculture.

bodytellwhichis

maleandwhichisfemaleTheoneontheeastplayingwithaball

ismale,eron

thewestwithacubcuddlingunderneathitsclawisfemaleThe

oneontheeastplayingwithaballismale,symbolizingpower

eronthewestwithacubcuddling

underneathitsclawisfemale,reprentingprosperitythe

tofthePalaceMuumispostedby

,youcanethatthePalaceMuumhas

twomainparts:ee

mainhallsconstitutethemainstayoftheforecourt,anditwas

herethattheemperorannounceddecisionsandobrvedrites.

Behindtheforecourtthereistheinnercourt,consistingof

heretheemperor

attendedstateaffairs,livedandenjoyedhisluxuriouslife.

TheexhibitionsystemofthePalaceMuuminvolveshistorical

ace

Muumhousnearlyonemillionarticlesofraretreasure,or

onesixthofthetotalnumberinallofChina`

arethethreemainhallsofthePalacemuum,builtonatriple

ostofChina`sarchitectureismade

ofwood,theheight

ofthearchitecture,ingeniousancientartisansbuiltthehall

sotothindthatnot

rwaysoftriple

andahis

flankedbybronzetortoisandcranes,whichrvedassymbols

astisasundial,anancienttimepiece.

Onthewestthereisagrainmeasuresuggestingthattheemperor

wasjustandequitable.

Inthefrontandoneachflank,thereisapairofgiltbronze

vats(caldrons)moldedduringthereignofEmperorQianlong

theweights2tonsandisfilled

ucture

intheverymiddleistheHallofSupremeHarmony,alsoknown

64metersinwidthandis38meters

rraceexclusive,thehallis26.92

ngandareaof

2,377squaremeters,theHallofSupremeHarmonyisChina`s

lissupportedby6

thick,

theholiestplaceinthehall,theceilingandcoloredpatterns

thronewasplacedonaterraceandisflankedbystatuesof

elephants,Luduan(aunicornwhichcouldtravel18,000

kilometersadayandunderstandalllanguages),cranesand

ethronethereisthecaisson,or

coveredceiling,whichconsistsofacoilingdragonplaying

llisknownasXuanyuan

Mirror,andwassuppodlymadebyaChineemperorofremote

timestorveasareminderthattheerulerstofollowwere

oneismadeofnanmuandpainted

icentlybuiltandluxuriouslydecorated,this

halldidnotrveasaplaceinwhichtheemperorattendedto

hishallformajoreventssuchashis

birthday,conferraloftitleofempressordispatchofgenerals

towar.

BehindtheHallofSupremeHarmony,theresitstheHallof

de

stheplacewheretheemperorrelaxed

andgreetedhiscourtiersbeforeproceedingtothehallof

salsotheplacewhere

theemperorpreparedprayersorexaminededsandsowers

beforeheattendedancestralsacrificesorparticipatedin

ceremonywasalsoheldhereonce

every10yearsfortheemperortogenealogizetheroyalblood.

the

HallofCompleteHarmony,youwilletheHallofPrerving

Harmony,whichwasudasaplacewhereimperialexaminations

erialexaminationwasthehignestlevelof

competingformeritoriousappointmentunderthefeudalsystem

`slastimperial

examinationwasheldin1904duringthereignofEmperorGuangxu

earofhallthereisamarbleramp

carvedwithcloudanddragondesigns,thelargestofitskind

16.57metersinlength,3.07meters

inwidth,uarried

gthisgiant

pieceofstonetoBeijingpeoplepouredwaterontotheroadand

appliedrollingblocksduringtheprocess.

WearenowstandingbeforethesquareoftheHallofHeaven

edasadivideparatingtheforecourtfromthe

ildingisknownastheGateofHeavenly

dingfurther

north,youcanfindthreemainrearhalls,lof

lofunionandpeaceandpalaceof

lofheavenlypurityifflankedon

theenclosurethereare12palacesandhallssymbolizing

heotherbuildingsarecenteredaround

thePalaceofHeavenlyPurity,whichwasmeanttosuggestthat

themonarch`ressand

concubineslivedintheinnercourt.

Thehallofheavenlypuritywaswheretheemperorlivedand

heemperormovedtolivein

gupyoucanea

plaquebearingtheChineinscription"beopenand

above-board,"theplaque

astrongboxwasstoredcontainingawillbearingthenameof

proachofcretly

lectingthenextemperorwasadoptedbyEmperorYongzhengof

stashedbytheemperorinperson,theotherwasplacedinside

hedeathoftheemperor,

thetwocopieswouldbecomparedandsuccessorwouldbe

nthiswaythatEmperorQianglongandothers

haveascendedthethrone.

BehindtheHallofheavenlypurityyouwillethehallofunion

andpeace,whichisindenticaltothehallofcompleteharmony.

Itwastherethattheemperorreceivedcongratulationsand

tributesfromimperialofficialsonmajorcalenderoccasions,

all,you

willeaplaquewiththehandwritteninscriptionof"wewei,"

exhortingTaoistdoctrines.

FurthernorthwardisthePalaceofEarthlyTranquillity,which

oncervedasthelivingroomoftheempress`.Thehallwas

hthe

windowpanesontheeasternwallyoucanetheroyalbed

llhasalso

rvedasthebridalchamberofmonarchs.

TheGateofEarthlyTranquilliityleadstotheImperialgarden

(knowntowesternersasQianlong`sGarden),whichwasudby

theemperor,theempress,ficent

lledtheQin`san

(ImperialPeace)eonlybuildinginthePalace

edasashrine

dencoversaspaceof12,000square

meters,andis130metersfromeasttothewestandsome90

readozenhalls,

verandahs,

eachofthefurcornerthereisapaviliondedicatedtothefour

retreesand

exoticrockery,theImperialGardenrvedasamodelforChina`

,atotalof10-strongbuildingstyles

wereapplied.

Thetallbuildingwearenowpassingisthegateofmilitary

prowess,itisnow

drawingtoaconclusionbutthearchitecturesofthePalaceare

thersideoftheroadisthe43-meter-hignCharcoal

Hill,providingnaturalprotectionfortheForbiddenCity.

ThiswasalsoanembodimentofChina`sconstruction

let`sclimbuptoWanchun(EverlastingSprings)Pavillion

wherewe`rikes

onefirstinabird's-eyeviewofBeijingproperisavasttract

ofgoldenroofsflashingbrilliantlyinthesunwithpurple

wallsoccasionallyemergingamidthemandastretchof

theformer

ImperialPalace,popularlyknownastheForbiddenCity,from

whichtwenty-fouremperorsoftheMingandQingDynastiesruled

gEmperor

YongLe,whousurpedthethronefromhisnephewandmadeBeijing

thecapital,ordereditsconstruction,onwhichapproximately

10,000artistsandamillionworkmentoiledfor14yearsfrom

ent,thePalaceisanelaboratemuumthat

prentsthelargestandmostcompleteenmbleoftraditional

architecturecomplexandmorethan900,000piecesofcourt

treasuresinalldynastiesinChina.

LocatedinthecenterofBeijing,theentirepalacearea,

rectangularinshapeand72hectaresinsize,issurroundedby

corner

ofthewallstandsawatchtowerwithadouble-eaveroofcovered

withyellowglazedtiles.

Themainbuildings,thesixgreathalls,onefollowingtheother,

aretfacingsouthalongthecentralnorth-southaxisfrom

theMeridianGate,thesouthentrance,toShenwumen,thegreat

ersideofthepalace

ricallyinthe

northeasternctionliethesixEasternPalacesandinthe

acearea

isdividedintotwoparts:theOuterCourtandtheInnerPalace.

Theformerconsistsofthefirstthreemainhalls,wherethe

emperorreceivedhiscourtiersandconductedgrandceremonies,

whilethelatterwasthelivingquartersfortheimperial

earoftheInnerPalaceistheImperial

Gardenwheretheemperorandhisfamilysoughtrecreation.

ThemainentrancetothePalaceistheMeridianGate(1),which

wassonamedbecautheemperorconsideredhimlfthe"Son

oftheHeaven"andthePalacethecenteroftheuniver,hence

thenorth-southaxisastheMeridian