The Forbidden City, an ancient building in Chinese history
First, the origin of the building
The Forbidden City, located in the center of Beijing, China, is the imperial palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties, and is also the world’s largest and best-preserved wooden structure of ancient buildings. It was founded in the Yongle period of the Ming Dynasty (1406) and has a history of more than 600 years. The construction of the Forbidden City originated from the Ming Dynasty Emperor Zhu Di, in order to strengthen the centralization of power, moved the capital to Beijing, and built a large-scale imperial palace here to show the supremacy of imperial power.
2. Stylistic characteristics
Architectural layout
The architectural layout of the Forbidden City is symmetrical on the central axis, and it is divided into two parts: the outer court and the inner court. The outer dynasties mainly include the Taihe Palace, the Zhonghe Hall and the Baohe Palace, which are the places where the emperor holds ceremonies and court meetings. The inner court mainly includes the Qianqing Palace, the Jiaotai Palace and the Kunning Palace, which is the living area where the emperor and empress live. There are more than 70 palaces and more than 9,000 houses in the whole complex.
Architectural style
The architectural style of the Forbidden City reflects the essence of ancient Chinese architecture, with red walls and yellow tiles as the main colors, and the roof is decorated with unique treasure tops and dripping beasts, implying the majesty and sacredness of imperial power. The building structure adopts a timber structure system, which is connected by a mortise and tenon structure, which is strong and stable. At the same time, the Forbidden City also pays attention to decorative arts, such as carved beams and paintings, golden glazed tiles, etc., showing a magnificent royal style.
Landscaped gardens
There are many garden landscapes in the Forbidden City, such as the Imperial Garden, the Guanzi River, etc. These garden landscapes not only reflect the unique style of the royal gardens, but also meet the leisure and entertainment needs of the emperor and court personnel.
3. Influence on future generations
Historical value
The Forbidden City is a model of ancient Chinese court architecture, witnessing the historical changes of the Ming Dynasty and the Qing Dynasty, and has extremely high historical value. The Forbidden City has a rich collection of cultural relics, including paintings, calligraphy, ceramics, jade, etc., showcasing the treasures of Chinese civilization.
Cultural heritage
The architectural style and decorative arts of the Forbidden City have had a profound influence on the architecture and culture of later generations. Many ancient buildings and cultural heritage sites are inspired by the Forbidden City style, such as Beijing’s courtyard houses and gardens. At the same time, the cultural relics in the Forbidden City also provide valuable materials for future generations to study ancient Chinese culture.
Tourism industry
As a world cultural heritage, the Forbidden City attracts a large number of domestic and foreign tourists every year. This not only brings a huge income to China’s tourism industry, but also promotes cultural exchanges and dissemination.
Education and scientific research
The Palace Museum is located in the Palace Museum, which is engaged in the collection, research, display and education of cultural relics. At the same time, the Forbidden City is also an important base for domestic and foreign experts and scholars to conduct research on ancient buildings and cultural relics.
The Forbidden City is not only a treasure of ancient Chinese architecture, but also has had a profound impact on later generations. It is not only a symbol of Chinese history and culture, but also an important part of the world’s cultural heritage.
