Forbidden City: Hall of Mental Cultivation (Yang Xin Dian)
unknown (Chinese)
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Alternative Title
Hall of Mental Cultivation (Yangxindian)
Date
1421Description
Detail, short side of small "gatehouse" with roof ridge and curved corner of eaves; The Forbidden City was the Chinese imperial palace from the Ming Dynasty to the end of the Qing Dynasty. The Inner Palace, on the main axis north of the five-bay Gate of Heavenly Purity (Qianqing men), was a more private part of the Forbidden City. When the Yongzheng Emperor ascended to the throne, he did not wish to inhabit the Palace of Heavenly Purity occupied by his father for sixty years. He and subsequent emperors lived instead at the smaller Hall of Mental Cultivation to the west. Originally a minor palace, this became the de facto residence and office of the Emperor starting from Yongzheng. This building is divided into two halls--the front and the rear hall--which are linked by covered corridors and surrounded by side corridors. In the last decades of the Qing Dynasty, empresses dowager, including Cixi, held court from the eastern partition of the hall, the East Warmth Chamber. Located around the Hall of Mental Cultivation are the offices of the Grand Council and other key government bodies. Source: Wikipedia; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page (accessed 5/11/2011)
Type of Work
royal palace; capital city; historic siteSubject
architecture, decorative arts, historical, rulers and leaders, Chinese, Ming, Qing
Rights
Rights Statement
Licensed for educational and research use by the MIT community only