Gugun forbidden city. Hall of Spiritual Prosperity

One of the most mysterious, vast and famous palace complexes in the world is called “Gugong”, which translated from Chinese means “palace of former rulers”. Better known as " Forbidden City" It was built at the beginning of the 15th century under Emperor Zhu Di (Ming Dynasty), who made Beijing the capital of the Chinese Empire. Gugun, this “city within a city,” was closed to mere mortals for 500 years, as it served as the home of the “celestials” - the emperors.

From here, 24 generations of rulers led the Celestial Empire - from 1421 to 1912. Gugong is the first of China's architectural masterpieces to be classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Debunking the myths about the Forbidden City in Beijing

The full historical name of the modern Gugong museum complex, which occupies a total area of ​​720,000 square meters, is the Purple Forbidden City, as it is fenced off from the rest of Beijing by high 10-meter high bright red walls with a total length of 3,400 meters and 52-meter wide ditches filled with “golden gold”. " with water. And any resident of the country who dared to enter the territory of the palace complex would face the death penalty.

Due to the centuries-old veil of secrecy that reliably surrounded Gugun, many legends were composed about the imperial palace. It is believed that the design of the Forbidden City of China was dreamed of by a hermit monk, who created all the main designs of the buildings. He showed them to Prince Zhu Di and thereby gave the future wen huangdi (“cultural emperor”) the great dream of building a house for the Sons of Heaven.

The third emperor of the Ming dynasty wanted to build a complex consisting of 10,000 rooms, but the Jade Lord Yu Di himself came to him and forbade Zhu Di to build a palace using the sacred number “wan”. Only the Lord of Heaven could afford this. Then it was decided to make 9999.5 rooms. Whether they were actually built is unknown, since the Forbidden City of Gugun burned many times and was rebuilt several times. Now it has 8,707 premises.

It’s curious, but if you spend the night in each room in Forbidden City only once, it would take a person 27 years to sleep in each room. Such a number of rooms also had a practical meaning: no one, except the trusted eunuch, knew which room the emperor would sleep in that day, which reliably protected him from hired killers.

It took almost 16 years to build the future home of the “earthly gods.” According to legend, 1 million people were involved in the construction, 200 million tiles, 100 million bricks and marble were used. In 1421 the last apartments were finished. Construction was carried out in accordance with the strict requirements of Feng Shui: the entrance to the palace and all the main buildings are oriented to the south, and from the north the complex is surrounded by mountains that protect it from cold winds and evil spirits. Each part of the palace corresponded to a specific season so that the emperor could live in constant harmony with nature.

In general, all of Gugun is complex and ingenious system of signs and symbols. For example, together with the city gates located on the south-north line, the complex forms a single hieroglyph zhong (“middle”) - this is one of the main categories of Chinese philosophy and culture.

The true story of the Forbidden City with a hint of fiction

Over five centuries, the owners of Gugong changed 24 times: 14 times representatives of the Ming dynasty ascended the throne and 10 times emperors from the Qing dynasty. During this time, strangers entered the palace territory only a few times. So, in 1644, Zhu Yujian, the last Ming Emperor, imposed such exorbitant taxes on the entire country that it forced the population to revolt. The rebels broke into the Forbidden City and plundered it. But how much the abode of the “earthly gods” suffered then is unknown. But it was thanks to this uprising that the Qing dynasty came to the throne.

Zhu Yujian killed his concubines and daughters, and then hanged himself so that, according to ancient beliefs, he could ascend to heaven riding a dragon. But this was far from the last blood that stained the marble of the imperial palace. During the Qing reign, the general line of power was to completely isolate China from the rest of the world, which led to increased intra-palace intrigues.

It is known that At least 3,000 eunuchs lived in the Forbidden City in China and several thousand concubines. Eunuchs weaved intrigues, concubines were spies, and over several centuries the history of Gugun was replenished with many scandalous stories in which truth cannot be distinguished from fiction. Like the Vatican in Rome, the palace lived its own life, and, of course, the brightest page in the book called “the era of Zinn” was the almost 50-year reign of Cixi. Having made a career from a concubine to an empress, having ruined many lives in her lifetime, this woman became an integral and most secret part of the Forbidden City. Moreover, it was thanks to her, or rather, Cixi’s passion for photography, that the world first saw photographs of the interior of the palace.

The death of the empress (1908) almost coincided with the end of the Qing dynasty. After 3 years, the last ruler, the young Pu-Yi, signed an abdication of the throne. He lived in the palace until 1924, and during his reign the last major fire occurred, destroying many caches and warehouses in the Forbidden City. A number of historians believe that the palace was set on fire by eunuchs who wanted to hide the scale of the theft from the imperial treasuries. This theory is also supported by the fact that in the entire huge complex there is not a single chimney: the heat for the buildings was provided by underground pipes, and in general the entire heating system was designed in such a way that it practically excluded the possibility of spontaneous combustion.

The Birth of a Museum, or the Transformation of the Forbidden City into an Open Temple of Art

The first museum was opened in the Forbidden City in 1914 and was located in the Hall of Military Glory. In 1925, an inventory of the palace property was carried out, which included 1.17 million items. Later, the collection of the Gugun Museum was significantly expanded. In 1933, due to the invasion of China by the Japanese army, a significant number of exhibits were evacuated to the provinces of Guizhou and Sichuan, but the Beijing part of the collection was also preserved. In 1948, nearly 3,000 boxes of imperial treasures arrived in Taiwan, and in 1965, the National Museum opened in Taipei, displaying nearly 700,000 bronze sculptures, paintings, pottery, porcelain, jewelry, books, historical documents, ancient coins, and more. exhibits from Gugun. The Forbidden City Museum in Beijing opened in 1949.

Currently, a significant part of the Forbidden City is closed for major renovations, and Gugun will appear in all its splendor only in 2020. But even the part that is accessible to tourists attracts about 7 million people to the chambers of the emperors every year: at the height of the season there are 70,000-75,000 tourists a day.

The main attractions of Gugun

The main entrance to the mysterious Forbidden City of China is the Gate of Heavenly Peace, located on the south side. A wide road begins immediately behind them, on the left side of it is the luxurious imperial garden, and on the right is the Taiji cypress forest. The road will lead us to the Gate of Right Conduct.

The Forbidden City itself begins behind the Midday Gate. There are always a lot of people on the huge square: some are relaxing, others are just preparing for the trip. Having crossed the bridge over the Golden Water, the tourist sees in front of him the Gate of Supreme Harmony. Passing them, another, truly gigantic square, where military formations were held in previous centuries, spreads out before the amazed gaze. After walking a couple more kilometers you can reach the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

In general, the entire imperial the complex is divided into Outer and Inner Palaces. In the premises of the Outer Palace, the ruler conducted all ceremonies: the main hall was considered to be the Hall of Supreme Harmony, as well as the halls of Preservation of Harmony, where the throne of the emperor was installed, and Complete Harmony. The families of emperors, eunuchs, servants and concubines lived in the Inner Palace. Here are such world-famous halls (thanks to hundreds of photos taken by tourists) as the halls of the Unification of the World, Heavenly Purity and Earthly Tranquility. How to find it - see a special article.

Also installed here is one of the most popular “miracles” of China - a carved marble slab 16.75 meters long and weighing 250 tons. The design on it was carved in 1761: relief images of mountains, foamy seas and cirrus clouds, and dancing dragons holding a huge pearl ball in their mouths invariably delight tourists from all over the world.

In the very center of Beijing there is a large imperial palace complex, nicknamed by the Chinese “Gugong” (故宫 gùgōng, “Former Palace”). Twenty-four emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties lived in it, replacing each other on the throne of the rulers of the Celestial Empire, established here.

The complex was built in 14 years under Emperor Zhu Di (Ming Dynasty, 1368-1644). Ancient Chinese astronomers believed that the purple (Pole) star was located in the center of the heavens, and therefore the Emperor of Heaven lived in a purple-colored palace. Accordingly, the monastery of the earthly emperor was made in the same colors and was called the Purple City. It was forbidden to enter this city without special permission from the emperor himself. Thus, “Forbidden” (紫禁城 zǐjìnchéng, Purple Forbidden City) was also added to the name of the complex, but soon the color faded into the background, only the name remained, which is still known today - “ Forbidden City».

Today it is a famous palace museum north of Tiananmen Square. The austere rectangle of the Forbidden City is the world's largest palace complex and occupies 74 hectares. 8886 rooms are located in 980 palace buildings, surrounded by a 52-meter (wide) moat with water and a 10-meter (high) wall. On each side of the wall there is a gate. The distance between the eastern and western gates is 750 meters. Unique carved towers rise above each of the four corners of the outer wall. The palaces and cityscapes of Beijing are clearly visible from them.

The Forbidden City is divided into two parts. The southern part, or Outer Palace, was the place where the emperor exercised his supreme power over the people. The northern part, or Inner Palace, is where he lived with his family.

The most important hall both in the Outer Palace and in the entire complex is Hall of Supreme Harmony(太和殿 tài hé diàn). It was built in 1420, covers an area of ​​2,400 square meters, and with a height of 36.57 meters, it is the tallest palace in the complex. During the reign of the emperor, no building in Beijing could be taller than the Hall of Supreme Harmony. This palace contains dragon throne- the imperial throne surrounded by elephants symbolizing peace.

Before 1924, when the last emperor of China, Pu Yi, was expelled from the Inner Palace, fourteen emperors of the Ming Dynasty and ten emperors of the Qing Dynasty had already lived in the Forbidden City. Having been the home of the rulers of the Celestial Empire for five centuries, the palace has preserved many rare treasures and legends.

Construction of the palace complex, in which, according to various sources, more than a million workers, including one hundred thousand artisans, worked under difficult conditions, began in 1407 during the Ming Dynasty, and ended fourteen years later. Huge amounts of wood and other materials were brought from distant provinces. The stone for the building was mined in Fangshan District (an area in the southwest of present-day Beijing). To facilitate delivery along the route, wells were dug every 500 meters from which they drew water to flood the road in winter and roll huge blocks of ice over the ice. For example, in the front of the Palace of Supreme Harmony, there is a stone slab called the "Imperial Way" or Yunlong. Its area is more than 50 square meters, weight - 239 tons. Delivery required 20 thousand workers and 28 days.

Wood, including very valuable varieties, was mined in the southern provinces of Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Hunan and Hubei and floated to Beijing by waterways.

The following year, after the construction of the palace complex was completed, the capital of the Chinese Empire, as planned, was moved from Nanjing to Beijing.

The ancient Chinese showed their very extraordinary skills in the construction and design of the palace. Take, for example, the grandiose red city wall. At the base it is 8.6 meters wide, gradually narrowing towards the top, where it reaches 6.66 meters. The angular shape of the wall completely prevents attempts to climb it. The bricks with which it is built are made of white lime and glutinous rice, and the cement is made of glutinous rice and egg whites. These incredible building materials make the wall extremely durable.

The palaces themselves are mainly built of wood, and ancient Chinese engineers, fearing fires, developed for them special heating system, in which heat was supplied under the floor of the room through underground pipes leading from bronze coal furnaces located outside the building. Thus, the palaces of the Forbidden City do not have a single chimney, and the floors are always warm.

Since yellow color became a symbol of the imperial family, he acquired a dominant position in palace architecture. The roofs are built with yellow tiles; decorations in the palace are painted yellow; even the bricks on the ground are made yellow using a special technology. However, there is one exception. Wenyuange, the Imperial Library, has a black roof. The reason is that the ancient Chinese considered the color black to be a symbol of the water element, and therefore a talisman against possible fires. But still, 90% of the roofs of the Forbidden City are lined with yellow or “golden” tiles. This tile is very heavy, when tapped, a clear ringing sound is heard, and tung oil is used to give it a special shine during polishing.

Another symbol: golden lion statues near the imperial palace they have thirteen cone-shaped curls on their heads. This is the largest number, reserved only for imperial house lions. Other high-ranking politicians and officials were ranked by the number of curls: if the official did not deserve more than seven, then lions were not even placed near his house.

The Forbidden City is Beijing's top attraction and, no doubt, deservedly so. Listed by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage Site in 1987, the palace complex has already earned the distinction of being one of the most popular tourist attractions in the world.

In addition, anyone who is interested in the history of China and, in particular, the life of the Forbidden City, we strongly recommend watching the wonderful historical and artistic film by Bernardo Bertolucci “The Last Emperor” (1987), which takes place in the real Forbidden City, including in the throne room and other notable places. The plot is also extremely interesting, even for non-Chinese scholars.

Movie trailer:

- This is the ancient residence of Chinese emperors, today turned into a huge museum. Nowadays the city is simply called Gugun or Former Palace. This is the largest palace complex in the world.

It is located slightly north of Tiananmen Square and is considered the main cultural and historical attraction of everything. Tourists from all over the world come here every year.

The main palace of the Forbidden City became the residence of the emperor from the moment of its construction, i.e. from the beginning of the 15th century. At that time, the Ming Dynasty reigned. And it ceased to be in 1912, when the last emperor of the Qing dynasty was overthrown.

The palace took about 15 years to build. The best architects, builders, masons, artists and millions of simple unknown builders took part in its construction. Construction was carried out from precious trees and expensive materials.

The emperor lived with his family and servants in the Forbidden City. No one else was allowed here under penalty of death. The palace complex is surrounded by thick walls and a wide moat filled with water.

In total, during the entire period of the empire, 24 emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties lived in this city. All significant ceremonies were held here; it was the political center of the Great Ming Empire and the Qing Empire.

In 1912, the last emperor of the Qing Dynasty, Pu Yi, was overthrown but was allowed to continue living in the Inner Palace. And a museum was organized in the Outer Palace. A few years later, Pu Yi was expelled from his palace.

In the 30s of the last century, when Japan attacked China and captured Beijing, the palace’s jewelry had to be hastily removed. A significant part of them was captured by the Japanese, but out of respect for the former emperor they were preserved.

The Cultural Revolution caused the most damage to this site. In the 50-60s of the 20th century, some artifacts were destroyed here. However, the vandalism was stopped and army battalions were deployed near Gugun to protect the cultural heritage.

Over the entire period of its existence before becoming a museum in 1925, the Forbidden City underwent many changes. He was constantly upset and strengthened, huge amounts of money were invested in him.

The entire complex of palaces is an example of Chinese traditional palace architecture. At the end of the 80s of the last century, it was the first in China to be included in the famous UNESCO list as the largest ancient wooden structure.

Forbidden City today

The Forbidden City is the center of ancient Beijing, which is called the Imperial City. Gugun itself is divided into several parts, surrounded by a wall 3.4 km long and almost 8 m high and a ditch, the width of which is more than 50 m.

On three sides there are magnificent imperial gardens and famous parks. To the south of Gugun there is a Sanctuary where all the emperors of China, without exception, worshiped the spirit of the nation and their ancestors.

Also to the south is the Gate of Heavenly Peace with a portrait of the father of the people - Mao Zedong. This gate is the link between ancient Gugong and modern Tiananmen Square.

The entire design of this beautiful architectural masterpiece is filled with symbols of Chinese religion and philosophy, and also emphasizes the greatness of the imperial power and its direct connection with heaven. The layout follows ancient traditions.

This palace complex is a real wonder of the world, which is described in books and films. In 1918, he was featured in one of the first Chinese feature films, a biopic about the last emperor Pu Yi, a TV series about Marco Polo, etc.

Modernity

Currently, the Forbidden City is visited by at least 7 million tourists a year, especially in the summer. This is the most famous Chinese landmark. Xi Jinping recently hosted Donald Trump at the Inner Palace.

Gugong, also known as the Purple or Forbidden City, is located in the very center of Beijing and, undoubtedly, belongs to the greatest monuments of world culture. It was built at the beginning of the 15th century. Emperor Zhu Di. the third ruler of the Ming dynasty. This sovereign moved the capital from Nanjing to Beijing (Beijing) and became concerned about creating a new residence. Over the course of 15 years, from 1405 to 1420, quite quickly at the time, a palace complex was erected, which included many structures - from majestic temples to miniature gazebos and bridges of the ruler of the Celestial Empire, responding to the ideas of the Confucian officials surrounding the throne about the greatness of the Son of Heaven.

It was conceived as an impregnable residence, separated from the rest of the world by a powerful fortress wall and a wide moat. The memory of the wars and unrest that accompanied the fall of the former Yuan dynasty in the second half of the 14th century was still fresh. To emphasize the divine nature of the power of the emperors of China, materials of two colors were used during the construction of the palace - yellow and dark red, which were considered sacred in the Celestial Empire. These colors were achieved by firing tiles and bricks in a special way. This is where the name Purple City - Zijingcheng - comes from. The second name - Gugun - means “palace of former rulers”; it appeared later and over time became the main one.

Plan of the heavenly city

Up to 100 thousand artisans and about a million general workers were employed in the construction of Gugun and its decoration. The palace complex was divided into two parts - the Forbidden City itself and the so-called Imperial City. The latter included government offices, estates of the highest nobility and palace services. There were also parks, temples and minor palaces here.
This grandiose ensemble represents the quintessence of Chinese traditional architecture, which has changed little over two millennia. Its territory is a regular square in plan, surrounded by a 10 m high brick wall and surrounded by a 60 m wide canal. Palaces, gates, courtyards, streams and gardens are symmetrically located behind the walls. The total area of ​​the “city” is 72 hectares, of which buildings occupy 15 hectares.

The imperial city with its thousands of officials, courtiers, slaves, female slaves and eunuchs was essentially a small state within a state with its own hierarchy, finances, laws, courts, and prisons. The southern wall of this city has survived to this day, and its buildings currently serve as the residences of Chinese leaders.

Only the emperor himself and his family lived in the Forbidden City. He rarely left the residence. Only the dignitaries closest to the Son of Heaven were allowed into this part of the complex. For mere mortals, even very noble ones, entry here was closed. The Forbidden City was considered the center of the Celestial Empire, and therefore the whole world. It contained Gugong - the imperial palaces themselves, Taimiao - the Temple of the Ancestors, Shejitan - the Temple of Fertility, the sacred Jinshan Mountain and the sacred Western Park.

Of all the gates of the Forbidden City, the most famous Gate of Heavenly Peace is Tiananmen, leading to the square of the same name. The wooden gate that previously stood here burned down from a lightning strike in 1456, after which the clergy decided to appease the angry spirits with new ones - with a suitable name. In front of the Tiananmen Gate, there are two sacred columns - guabiao - made of white marble, decorated with skillful carvings. To the east stretches a magnificent park of cedars and cypresses, many of which are six centuries old. It houses the Temple of the Ancestors, erected under the Manchu emperors on the site of the destroyed city. Interior. a similar temple from the Ming Dynasty.
To the west of the Tiananmen Gate is the Fertility Temple, where prayers for the harvest were made and the cult of patron spirits was performed! cereals Nearby rises the sacred Mount Jinshan, 60 m high. It has five peaks with gazebos on each and is planted with cypress and pine trees. An old elm tree surrounded by a fence grows on the mountainside. According to legend, the last emperor of the Ming Dynasty hanged himself on it three and a half centuries ago when the Manchus captured the city.

From the Tiananmous Gate. There is a special Imperial Road, rising above the ground thanks to a special embankment and paved with slabs of polished stone. Only the emperor had the right to walk along it on days of celebrations and ritual sacrifices. The road ends at the Midday Gate - U Myn, crowned with a two-tiered roof. This majestic and at the same time elegant structure served as a symbol of the Sun and imperial power. Above the gate was erected the Tower of Five Phoenixes (Wufenglou), or the Tower of Drums. The last name arose because during the emperor’s ceremonial appearances, a gigantic drum was beaten on it.

Contrary to ordinary idea main gate complex is not Tiananmen, namely Wu Myn. Behind them begins the Exactly for nice city. Having passed them, man age of priest gave into the courtyard, crossed ny kana scrap Neijinshui - Golden River. Neijinshui lined with marble and surrounded enclosed with a carved stone balustrade. Through the channel five marble bridges are thrown ticks, s symbolizing the five virtues, them to the inner gate called By the gate Higher Harmony.

Behind them is another large courtyard that can accommodate 20 thousand people. On the opposite side, on a high marble terrace, stands the most significant building of the Forbidden City - Taihedian, or the Hall of Supreme Harmony. Its height is 35 m, length is 63 m, and its area is a quarter of a hectare. The emperor appeared in this huge throne chamber only on especially solemn occasions, which included the most important holidays (Harvest Day, Dragon Day, etc.). Decrees were announced there, commanders were given powers to wage war, and the highest academic titles were personally approved by the monarch. The inside of the chamber is decorated with beautifully preserved paintings. In front of its entrance there are bronze sculptures from the 16th century: lion guards and turtles - a symbol of longevity.
Near the main palace there are two more buildings: Taihedian - the Hall of Middle Harmony, where the most important religious rites with the participation of the emperor were performed, and Baohedian - the Hall of Preservation of Harmony, where Chinese officials held exams for the highest academic titles and positions.

Behind the main buildings of Gugun there are three less significant, so-called Rear Palaces. The first is the Palace of Heavenly Purity (Qianqinggong), where ambassadors and governors were received. It was there, on the Altar of Light and True Greatness, that the emperor's lifetime will was kept, in which he appointed an heir in the event of his death. The second is the Palace of Communication of Heaven and Earth (Jiaotaidan), where the birthdays of the Son of Heaven were celebrated and especially important documents and royal seals were kept. And finally, the Palace of Earthly Tranquility (Quinning Gong), where marriage ceremonies of members of the imperial family took place. These pavilions symbolized the absolute power of the Chinese emperors over all parts of the world. They are placed on terraced pedestals and are reached by long white marble stairs. To the north were the living quarters of the emperors, their families and courtiers.
The roofs of the pavilions of the Forbidden City are lined with golden tiles; pillars, doors, window frames are painted with scarlet varnish; the ceiling beams, lampshades, and walls are entirely covered with fine carvings, paintings and gilding; the front pavilions are surrounded by white marble carved parapets.

The buildings of the Forbidden City are abundantly decorated with images of turtles, deer, cranes, butterflies, and flowers, representing longevity, prosperity, wisdom, happiness and beauty. But most of all, the Chinese loved the dragon - a symbol of the power of the Son of Heaven. The intricately curved eaves of multi-tiered roofs were designed to scare away evil spirits. The roofs and gates of the palace were covered with colored glazed tiles with bas-reliefs and hieroglyphic inscriptions. The buildings were connected by passages, closed courtyards and ceremonial gates.

To the west of the Wu Men Gate rises Wuindian - the Pavilion of Military Valor. During the Ming era, audiences were held here for the highest military officials of the empire. In the room to the south of the pavilion there was a gallery of portraits of ancient emperors and empresses. The portraits survived the storms of wars and revolutions and were among the exhibits exported to Taiwan in 1949. Now they are exhibited in the Taipei Museum, which has received the semi-official name New Gugun.

The entire palace ensemble originally numbered 9999.5 rooms and halls. This number, strange at first glance, has a religious explanation. According to legend, the Heavenly Palace has exactly 10 thousand rooms, and the Son of Heaven did not consider it possible to create a palace superior to the divine chambers. Therefore, one tiny closet was considered half.
The facades of all main buildings face south. Thus, the Forbidden City symbolically “turns its back” to the north, which in Chinese mythology was considered the place of evil demons and hostile forces.

PHOENIX - HERMER OF THE EMPEROR'S WILL

Near the Tiananmen Gate, imperial decrees were announced in a solemn atmosphere.

A special platform for the announcement of decrees was equipped in front of the gate. At the beginning of the ceremony, all the highest civil and military officials of the court lined up facing north near the bridge over the canal and knelt down. Then the minister of ceremonies brought out the text of the decree on a lacquer tray and placed it on a palanquin carried by eunuchs. The palanquin was carried along the line of kneeling officials to the Tiananmen Gate and raised with a special lift to the gate tower, from where the herald solemnly read out the decree. Then the scroll of the decree was placed in the beak of a gilded wooden statue of the Phoenix bird (Fenglu), which was lowered into the square on silk ropes. She was placed on the same palanquin and taken to the Chamber of Ceremonies, where the text of the decree was copied and sent throughout the country. This intricate ceremony was called "Proclamation of the Imperial Will through the Phoenix."

Temple of Heaven and Earth

The Forbidden City museum complex also includes the Temple of Heaven and the Temple of Earth located outside its walls. The Temple of Heaven - Huangqunyu - covers an area of ​​28 hectares and is surrounded by two rows of walls. Its most important part is the Temple of Harvest Prayers, erected in 1420. It is a round building with a three-tiered roof, covered with sacred yellow tiles and topped with a gilded dome. Its height is 38 m, diameter - 30 m. It was erected without the use of rafters and cross beams and even without load-bearing internal walls.

One of the temple buildings, the Altar of Heaven, is a three-stage terrace made of white marble. The three tiers symbolize the three elements of the universe: Heaven, Earth and Humanity. In front of it is the so-called Stone of Triple Echoes. If you stand on the first step of the altar and clap your hands, the echo will be single, from the second step - twice, and from the third - three times. The second structure, the octagonal Hall of the Firmament, reaches a height of 20 m and is surrounded by a skillfully constructed Wall of Echoes. The Wall of Echoes is remarkable in that words spoken in front of it, even in a whisper, are clearly audible from the opposite side of the wall. The third building, Qingyandian, or the Hall of Harvest Prayers, has a height of 27 m. It is built mainly of wood and miraculously survived all the wars and turmoil of the last century and a half. Today, the dark blue glazed roof tiles, elaborate wood carvings and marvelously decorated interior make it one of the most notable attractions.

The architecture of the Forbidden City buildings is distinguished by its diversity and uniqueness of forms and decor. Stucco images of guards - lions and dragons - were placed on the eaves of the roofs of gazebos and memorial arches (pilou), and stone lions were placed at the entrances to palaces and temples.

A BOTTOMLESS PANTRY OF TREASURES

By the middle of the 19th century. As a result of two “Opium Wars” and the Taiping Uprising, which claimed about 20 million lives, China became very weak and became dependent on the European powers, and soon on Japan. In I860, Beijing was captured by Anglo-French troops. After the plunder of the city and the flight of the emperor, the victors burned the Summer Palace, one of the pearls of the Forbidden City, citing the need to finally bring the vanquished to their knees. This magnificent pavilion was never restored. Nowadays its ruins can be seen in the park of Peking University.

After the end of the civil war, the new government made efforts to restore the palace expositions. But already in the early 60s. XX century work stopped due to the infamous Cultural Revolution, when much of China's national heritage was banned by communist authorities. Visitor access to Gugun was closed, and almost all museum workers were dispersed. Fortunately, the Forbidden City did not suffer another destruction, although traditional Chinese art was declared “decadently nationalistic” and “the product of foreign dynasties that oppressed the people.” From the second half of the 70s. Gugun museums resumed full-scale scientific and cultural activities.

In 1900, after the defeat of the Boxer Rebellion, the city was again occupied by the troops of European powers. The interventionists destroyed the palace library), where the rarest ancient manuscripts and books were kept. Entire trainloads of gold, pearls, ivory and porcelain were exported from Beijing. During the Xinhai Revolution of 1911-1913. General Yuan Shikai became the sole owner of Gugong, who uncontrollably disposed of all the wealth of the imperial residence. In 1924, Emperor Pu Yi's family was finally expelled from the Forbidden City. During the civil war, the Kuomintang government paid its foreign allies with imperial treasures.

In 1937, Beijing was captured by Japanese troops. The Chinese managed to evacuate part of the collections, but the lion's share disappeared in the chaos of the retreat or was captured by the invaders. In 1949, by order of Chiang Kai-shek, the surviving exhibits were taken to Taiwan.
Currently, approximately half of the complex is open to visitors. The museum stores about a million exhibits - more than 10% of all museum funds of the People's Republic of China, of which only 18 thousand are on display. At the same time, the exhibition is continuously updated. There is a kind of cycle of rarities going on. Tourists who have already been to Beijing and visited the Forbidden City can see completely new collections on their next visit.

General A.I. Vlasov, who was in the late 30s. XX century a Soviet military adviser in China, upon returning to the USSR at the border, two suitcases of personal gifts from Chiang Kai-shek were seized from the collections of the Forbidden City: antique porcelain, jade, items made of gold and precious stones.

Now the entire museum exhibition consists of two large parts. The first is the palaces and living quarters of the imperial family, in which the previous environment has been recreated. The most significant is the Exhibition Hall of Historical and Artistic Values, where the most important exhibits are presented, including objects from the famous tombs of the 3rd century emperor. BC e. Qin Shi Huang and Emperor Wu Di, who lived in the 2nd century. before i. e. In addition, the complex includes the Exhibition Pavilion of Jewelry, pavilions of painting, art of the Ming and Qin dynasties, ceramics, bronzes, and watches.
In general, the Gugong exhibition provides an opportunity to get acquainted with cultural and artistic relics of various periods of Chinese history - from the semi-mythical Zhou dynasty to the last Qin. It is considered the largest palace museum in the world, surpassing both the Moscow Kremlin and Versailles.

Western and Eastern palaces
Through the southwest gate lies the path from the garden to the Western Palaces, where the second most senior empresses, empress dowager mothers and high-ranking concubines settled. Each of them is a special estate, separated by walls from the rest of the world. Six palaces are arranged in pairs: Focused Beauty, Universal Happiness, Honoring the Earth, Eternal Spring, Longevity and the Supreme Beginning.

In the Palace of Pure Bell RingingexhibitRget comfortable“four treasures of a scientist’s study”: uniquely crafted paper, ink pots and writing brushes made by the best masters of different eras, color woodcuts, early printed books of the 10th-12th centuries.

In the eastern part of the residential quarters there are six Eastern palaces: Pure Bell Ringing, Good Sun, Obedience to Heaven, Eternal Harmony, Honoring Kindness and Eternal Happiness. Externally, they are very similar to Western palaces, but have preserved their interior decoration to a lesser extent, since they house an exhibition of works of art from the imperial collections.
In 1644, when the Ming Dynasty fell as a result of another popular uprising, the country was captured by the Manchus, and the Forbidden City was plundered. But the Manchu rulers, who founded the Qin dynasty, soon restored it to its former splendor. New temples and palaces were erected, gardens and parks were laid out. By the 18th century, Gugun had reached its greatest splendor. Not only masterpieces of Chinese art were concentrated here, but also treasures taken from neighboring countries. According to the chroniclers, in the palaces of Gugun “unspeakable riches from the lands of the barbarians were kept.” French missionaries reported: “It is amazing how many interesting and magnificent things this sovereign has of all kinds from all over the world.” The English Ambassador Lord Macartney, who visited China at the end of the 18th century, recalled the large number of things of European origin that the Emperor had: “Music boxes, globes, watches of such exquisite craftsmanship and in such abundance that our gifts looked more than modest in comparison. And we were told that all these beautiful things are only a small part of what is available.”

A special collection consisted of gifts brought by foreign ambassadors, which in official inventories were called “tribute from barbarian kings to the rightful ruler of the world.” Chinese sources made a clear distinction between "gifts" - items sent on behalf of the emperor, and "tribute", which meant any offerings from foreigners.
Unfortunately, little of its former splendor has survived to this day. Modern exhibitions of the museums of the Forbidden City were mainly created in modern times.

Address: China, Beijing
Main attractions: Gate of Heavenly Peace, Midday Gate, Hall of Supreme Harmony, Hall of Harmony Preservation, Hall of Central Harmony, Palace of Heavenly Purity
Coordinates: 39°54"57.0"N 116°23"26.9"E

Short story

In the center of Beijing, just north of the world's largest square, Tiananmen, lies the Purple Forbidden City, also known as Gugong. This is truly a real city within a city, surrounded by strong walls.

Bird's eye view of the Forbidden City

For almost 500 years, Gugong served as the residence of 24 emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties. Construction of the palace began at the beginning of the 15th century, when the Yongle Emperor moved the capital from Nanjing to Beijing.. A million builders and 100 thousand craftsmen - painters, stone and wood carvers - worked hard to build the Forbidden City. After 15 years, the grandiose construction was completed, and the palace appeared before the emperor in all its splendor. According to legend, the palace had 9,999 rooms, that is, one less than in the residence of the Heavenly Lord.

Gate of Heavenly Peace

The Emperor, considered the son of Heaven, could not exceed this number (10 thousand). Today there are 980 palace buildings and 8,707 rooms in Gugun.

The Forbidden City - “a secret sealed with seven seals”

The city was called forbidden because entry into it was closed to mere mortals. Access for titled persons was opened on special occasions and only to the Hall of Supreme Harmony (“Taihedian”), where the emperor held official ceremonies and negotiated with diplomats.

Noon Gate

In terms of the wealth of decorations, Taihedian had no equal in all of China. The hall is supported by 72 columns. Everywhere: on the columns, on the floor and in the ornaments there are images of dragons. In the northern part of the hall there is an imperial throne carved from sandalwood. Above the throne under the ceiling is the most famous dragon, which holds a pearl in its mouth. The Chinese believed that the dragon protected the power of the emperor - if an impostor ascended the throne, the pearl would fall on his head.

Hall of Supreme Harmony

The Forbidden City is stretched along an axis from north to south and is a rectangle in plan, with gates on each side. The perimeter of the palace ensemble is surrounded by a 3,400 m long wall and a moat with water. There are watchtowers at the corners of the wall. Legend has it that the architect puzzled over the design of these towers for a long time.

But one day, while sitting in a teahouse, he met a merchant selling crickets in reed boxes. The box with a concave roof and ceilings inspired the architect with the outlines of bastions in which guards, like a cricket, should never sleep.

Hall of Harmony Preservation

Apparently, it was impossible to enter Gugun without an invitation. The huge number of rooms served as reliable protection from hired killers: no one except trusted servants knew in which room the emperor would spend the night.

Symbolism of the Forbidden City

The layout of Gugun is subject to the “u-sin” theory, according to which there are five primary elements in the world that give rise to all other things and natural phenomena: wood, fire, earth, metal and water. The facades of the main buildings of the palace face the south: since fire belongs to the south, and fire generates energy containing the masculine active principle, or Yang (Sun), then the empire must be ruled from here.

Hall of Central Harmony

The north, symbolizing water, gives rise to “Yin” (the feminine essence, the Moon), so the living quarters are located in the northern part.

Yellow is the color of the earth, the center of the universe; it represents the power of the emperor, which is why the roofs in the Forbidden City are covered with gilded tiles. The walls and pillars of the palace are painted red, which is identified with solemnity, wealth and honor. The water is represented by an artificial canal - the “Golden River”, across which 5 marble bridges are thrown, symbolizing 5 virtues: wisdom, philanthropy, loyalty, truthfulness and respect for traditions.

Throne in the Hall of Central Harmony

The imperial garden is located in the northernmost part of the Forbidden City. There are many ponds, gazebos, bamboo thickets, flowering beds and fancy stones. The emperors rested here and practiced composing poetry, and the empress wives arranged examinations for candidates for concubines.

Gugun Museum

After the Xinhai Revolution of 1911, which dethroned the last emperor of China, the Purple Forbidden City was renamed "Gugong", which means "Palace of the Old (Former) Rulers."

Throne in the Palace of Heavenly Purity

In 1925, Gugun was declared a public museum, and the collection of art collected by the emperors was recognized as a national treasure. The museum fund of the imperial palace contains 1 million 807 thousand exhibits, and 1.7 million of them are considered relics of national importance, and the rest are simply cultural values ​​and even fragments of imperial ceramics, which are also of interest to art historians.

Palace of Heavenly Purity

Among the abundance of Gugong's treasures, the following works stand out: a set of sandalwood furniture that once adorned the residence of Prince Hun, calligraphic masterpieces by Chen Bo, ritual statues of warriors and horses from the time of Emperor Qin Shi Huang, items made of jade, bronze and ivory.