Imperial Palaces

The Forbidden City

The imperial palace of ancient China is a miracle in world architectural history. Take the Forbidden City for example, especially concerning its use of colors. Since yellow is the imperial color, the most noticeable are the yellow roof tiles, while the wooden columns of the buildings as well as the surface of the walls are red in color.

Another important feature of the Forbidden City is its emphasis on symmetry, which connotes a sense of grandeur. Even the style of the roof shows the power of the sovereign, with the ridges engraved with the immortal or beasts symbolizing stateliness.

The overall arrangement of the Forbidden City accords with traditional Chinese ritual requirements and the Yin-Yang Principle. It boasts five distinctive features:

First, the front part is a place for the emperor to handle official businesses, and the rear part is the residence for emperors and concubines.

Second, within the complex there are several immense courtyards divided by individual gates.

Third, there is a shrine for the ancestors in the east and another one for the agricultural deities in the west.

Fourth, the structure is symmetrical.

Finally, in addition to the palaces, there is still a fabulous garden for the imperial family to relax themselves.

 Residential Buildings of the Royal Relatives

Prince Gong's Palace

Compared with the imperial palace, residential buildings for the royal relatives seemed less solemn and much smaller in size and scale. There were less sidesteps in front of gates, and instead of the colored-glaze tiles peculiar to the imperial palaces, green and gray ones were employed. Also, ridges could be decorated with engraved beasts; however, the number of beasts could not exceed nine because the number "nine" carried a special significance in old China and symbolized the emperor's supreme sovereignty.