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   Also known as the Great Within, the Forbidden City exhibits all of the wonder and splendor of old China. This city, now known as the Palace Museum, is located within the center of Peking and was the official residence of twenty-four successive sovereigns. Of these rulers, fourteen were from the Ming dynasty and the other ten came from the conquering Manchu, or Qing, dynasty.

List of the Emperors during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644)

Hung Wu (1268-1398)

Chien Wen (1398-1402)

Yung Lo (1402-1424)

Hung Hsi (1424-1425)

Hsuan Te (1425-1435)

Cheng T'ung (1435-1449)

Ching T'ai (1449-1457)

T'ien Shun (1457-1464)

Ch'eng Hua (1464-1487)

Hung Chih (1487-1505)

Cheng Te (1505-1521)

Chia Ching (1521-1566)

Lung Ch'ing (1566-1572)

Wan Li (1572-1618)

T'ai Ch'ang (1620)

T'ien Chi (1620-1627)

Ch'ung Cheng (1627-1644)

List of the Emperors during the Ch'ing, AKA Manchu, Dynasty

(1368-1644)

Shun Chih (1644-1662)

K'ang Hsi (1662-1723)

Yung Cheng (1723-1736)

Ch'ien Lung (1736-1796)

Chia Ch'ing (1796-1821)

Tao Kuang (1821-1851)

HsienFeng (1851-1862)

T'ung Chih (1862-1875)

Kuang Hsu (1875-1908)

Hsuan T'ung (1908-1912)

 
    The history of this imperial city is very long and the palace dates to the early Qui Dynasty (221-206 BC). It did not assume any national importance until the Qubilai Qan chose it as his personal seat (circa 1406 and 1420 AD), during the region of Emperor Yung Lo of the Ming Dynasty. The palace area is 960 meters from north to south and 760 meters from east to west. The Ming Emperors established the city as the main capital during the early 15th century.

    One thing that makes the city so interesting is the symmetry and the relative placing of all buildings. The Chinese were very superstitious and believed the north was a place of bad omens, for in the north lied deserts with scorching heat during the summer and freezing cold during the winter. Thus, they built all of their cities palaces, temples, and homes facing south, the direction of good omens and smiling fortune.

    As for the city's defense, the main gate faces the south, forming a direct line with the main gate of the capital. A 52-meter wide moat surrounds and protects The Forbidden City and its numerous religious buildings. The walls of the outer city were 30-feet high, 25-feet thick at the base, and strongly buttressed every 200 yards. The outer walls contained sixteen gates, each protected by a powerful enceinte and surmounted by huge guard towers. The walls around the inner city were 40-feet high, 62 feet thick at its base, 34-feet wide at the top, and fortified every 60 yards with great bastions projecting 50-feet outwards.

    Interestingly, court life in Asia was much more grand and magnificent than that of its counterpart in Europe. The numerous roles of the Supreme Lord of China complicated the purpose and usage of palace areas: as the ruler of China, he required throne halls, great halls for stately occasions as well as lesser halls for daily audiences; being the Son of Heaven and the high priest of the land, he needed a hall for spiritual purification; as head of the imperial family, he must have a shrine for the ancestral rites; as patron of three types of religions, many temples of the three faiths of Buddhism, Lamaism, and Taoism; and finally, as the husband of many wives, he required separate living areas and palaces and schoolrooms for his children.

    There are numerous structures, which make this city stand out as a place of treasure and great art. Along "Spirit Way" there are several statues of animals, both real and mythical, as well as officials and guardians, each carved from a single block of marble. These statues are found throughout the city, each placed in a certain spot for a particular reason; sometimes for protection from evil spirits and sometimes for decoration. These stone figures are also found on the roofs of tombs and other important buildings. More information about the use of statues on top of buildings can be found in the section of China labeled "Roofs."

    The Great Within is decorated with many motifs and symbols of imperial power. Marble carved to look like waves and clouds was used to enhance the dignity of the Son of Heaven. At one time one hundred thousand symbols adorned the city to ensure Heaven's blessing and protection. The bat, crane, butterfly, flower, fruit, bird, beast, bamboo, pines, tortoises, and deer are all characters that represented long life and happiness.

    The Chinese also believed in the mystical symbolism of numbers, and assimilated them into the palace. Most of these symbols were in pairs because they were referred to as man and wife. This conveys the ancient concept of the yin and yang (meaning there is a little good in every evil and a little evil in every good). Some of the ancient Chinese beliefs regarding numbers are that: one was considered to be bad luck; four, a double duo; six, the boards of government; seven, the number of the heart and virtue; eight, associated with Buddhism; and, ten, the perfect number.

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