Changes

==History==

==History==

Much of the palace was rebuilt during the reign of the [[Yongle Emperor]] (r. [[1402]]-[[1424]]) in the early [[Ming Dynasty]], when  the capital was returned to Beijing from [[Nanjing]]. Though known as the "Forbidden City" or simply "Imperial Palace" in English, in both Chinese and Japanese the palace is referred to as "purple forbidden castle" During the [[Qing Dynasty]], a complex of imperial yurts was erected alongside the palace, where emperors could engage in rituals and practices of [[Manchus|Manchu]] rule.

Much of the palace was rebuilt during the reign of the [[Yongle Emperor]] (r. [[1402]]-[[1424]]) in the early [[Ming Dynasty]], when  the capital was returned to Beijing from [[Nanjing]]. Though known as the "Forbidden City" or simply "Imperial Palace" in English, in both Chinese and Japanese the palace is referred to as "purple forbidden castle," a reference to the "purple forbidden enclosure" (紫微垣, J: ''shibien'', C: ''zǐ wēi yuán''), the constellation surrounding the [[North Star]] and seen as the cosmic imperial residence.<ref name=hirakawa>Watanabe Miki, Hirakawa Nobuyuki 平川信幸, ''Yomigaeru Ryûkyû ôkoku no kagayaki'' 甦る琉球王国の輝き, Okinawa Prefectural Museum (2008), 10.</ref> During the [[Qing Dynasty]], a complex of imperial yurts was erected alongside the palace, where emperors could engage in rituals and practices of [[Manchus|Manchu]] rule.

Many portions of the palace surviving today date back to the Ming Dynasty, while other portions date only back to the Qing, or to 20th century repairs or restorations. The vast compound includes the [[Qianlong Gardens]], constructed by the [[Qianlong Emperor]] (r. [[1735]]-[[1796]]) and designed in part by the [[Society of Jesus|Jesuit]] [[Giuseppe Castiglione]]. Extensive conservation work has been undertaken by the World Monuments Fund in this part of the palace since 2001. It includes the ''Juànqínzhāi'', famous for its ''trompe l'oiel'' mural paintings and indoor theatre space.

Many portions of the palace surviving today date back to the Ming Dynasty, while other portions date only back to the Qing, or to 20th century repairs or restorations. The vast compound includes the [[Qianlong Gardens]], constructed by the [[Qianlong Emperor]] (r. [[1735]]-[[1796]]) and designed in part by the [[Society of Jesus|Jesuit]] [[Giuseppe Castiglione]]. Extensive conservation work has been undertaken by the World Monuments Fund in this part of the palace since 2001. It includes the ''Juànqínzhāi'', famous for its ''trompe l'oiel'' mural paintings and indoor theatre space.

The palace was last occupied by members of the Imperial family in 1924, after which it came more completely under the control of the State.

The palace was last occupied by members of the Imperial family in 1924, after which it came more completely under the control of the State. The Palace Museum was opened within the palace a year later, on Oct 10, 1925.<ref>Guo Changhong, "The Qing Palace: from a Forbidden City to a Public Heritage," ''Museum International'' 60:1-2 (2008), 79.</ref>

==Layout==

==Layout==

The Forbidden City complex covers a massive area, roughly a quarter of a square mile for the palace proper at the height of the Ming, and includes a great many buildings and gates. It sat within the Imperial City, a three-square-mile area closed to the general public and generally seen only by scholar-bureaucrats and others of the government and palace. This larger area included, among many other facilities, gardens and lakes, residences for the palace eunuchs, bakeries, confectioneries, banquet halls, stables, armories, printers, a book depository, temples, imperial residences, and supply depots, rendering the Imperial City, essentially, self-sufficient. The palace was staffed by as many as 20,000 eunuchs and 3,000 women.<ref>Ray Huang, ''1587: A Year of No Significance'', Yale University Press (1981), 12-13.</ref> As many as several hundred consorts and concubines of the emperor also lived within the palace walls.<ref>Huang, 28.</ref>

The Forbidden City complex covers a massive area, roughly a quarter of a square mile for the palace proper at the height of the Ming, and includes a great many buildings and gates. It sat within the Imperial City, a three-square-mile area closed to the general public and generally seen only by scholar-bureaucrats and others of the government and palace. This larger area included, among many other facilities, gardens and lakes, residences for the palace eunuchs, bakeries, confectioneries, banquet halls, stables, armories, printers, a book depository, temples, imperial residences, and supply depots, rendering the Imperial City, essentially, self-sufficient. The palace was staffed by as many as 20,000 eunuchs and 3,000 women.<ref>Ray Huang, ''1587: A Year of No Significance'', Yale University Press (1981), 12-13.</ref> As many as several hundred consorts and concubines of the emperor also lived within the palace walls.<ref>Huang, 28.</ref>

===Forbidden Palace===

===Forbidden Palace===

A hall near the northwestern corner of this section of the compound was known as the ''Zhónghuágōng'' (重華宮), and was the site of certain formal banquets.

A hall near the northwestern corner of this section of the compound was known as the ''Zhónghuágōng'' (重華宮), and was the site of certain formal banquets.

The ''Shénwǔmén'' (神武門) was the main gate on the north side of the palace.

The ''Shénwǔmén'' (神武門) was the main gate on the north side of the palace. This area, surrounded by high walls on all four sides, and in turn by a moat, was about 1000 meters from the ''Shénwǔmén'' in the north to the ''Wǔmén'' in the south, and about 760 meters from east to west.<ref name=hirakawa/>

 

 

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