China Forbidden City in Beijing. Forbidden City of China

One of the most mysterious, extensive and famous palace complexes in the world is called "Googun", which is translated from chinese Language Means the "Palace of Former Governors." More famous as " Forbidden city " It was built at the beginning of the XV century under the Emperor Zhu Di (Ming Dynasty), who made Beijing the capital of the Chinese Empire. GoGugun, this "city in the city", has been closed for ordinary mortals for 500 years, because he served as a house for "celestial" - emperors.

From here, 24 generations of rulers were led by the Middle Kingdom - from 1421 to 1912. GoGugun is the first of the architectural masterpieces of China, a member of UNESCO to the World Heritage.

Divorcing myths about the Forbidden City in Beijing

Full historical name of modern museum complex GoGugun, which occupies a total area of \u200b\u200b720,000 square meters - a purple forbidden city, since it is fenced off from the rest of Beijing with high 10-meter bright red walls of a total length of 3,400 meters and a rotor of 52 meters wide filled with "golden" water. And any resident of the country that would dare to penetrate the territory of the palace complex, waiting for the death penalty.

In connection with the centuries-old curtain of the mystery, which reliably surrounded Googun, many legends are difficult about the imperial palace. It is believed that the design of the forbidden city of China dreamed of a single-hermit monk, which created all the main projects of buildings. He showed them the prince of Zhu di and thereby presented the future Wen Huangdi ("cultural emperor") a great dream of building a house for the sons of the sky.

The third emperor from the Ming dynasty wanted to make a complex, consisting of 10,000 rooms, but the Judithic Vladyka Yui di himself came to him and forbade Zhu di to erect the palace using the sacred number "Wan". It could afford only the Lord of the sky. Then it was decided to make 9999.5 rooms. Whether they were built in fact - it is unknown, since the Forbidden City of Googun burned many times and repeatedly rebuilt. Now it has 8707 premises.

Curious but if you spend the night in each room in Forbidden City Only once, then to have time to sleep in every room, a person will need 27 years. Such a number of rooms also had a practical meaning: no one, in addition to the trusted Enun, did not know what kind of room the emperor will sleep today, which reliably defended him from hired killers.

The future dwelling of the "earthly gods" was erected for almost 16 years. According to legend, 1 million people were attracted to the construction site, 200 million tiles, 100 million bricks and marble. In 1421, the latest apartments were decorated. The construction was carried out in accordance with the strict requirements of Feng Shui: entrance to the palace and all major buildings are oriented to the south, and from north the complex is surrounded by mountains protecting it from cold winds and evil spirits. Each of the parts of the palace corresponded to a certain season so that the emperor could live in a permanent harmony with nature.

In general, the whole googun is complex and ingenious system of signs and symbols. For example, together with the city gates located on the South-North line, the complex forms a single hieroglyph Zhong ("Middle") is one of the main categories of philosophy and culture of China.

Genuine history of the forbidden city with a light flavor of fiction

For five centuries, the hosts of the goGugun changed 24 times: 14 times the Prestol was appreciated by the representatives of the Ming dynasty and 10 times - emperors from the Qing dynasty. During this time, only several times penetrated the territory of the palace. So, in 1644, Zhu Jiang, the last emperor mines laid the whole country with such excessive taxes, which made the population rebel. The rebels broke into the Forbidden City and exposed him to plunder. But how much then suffered the habitat of "earthly gods" - unknown. But it is because of this uprising on the throne, the Qing dynasty reigned.

Zhu Jiang killed his concubines and daughters, and then he himself hanged himself to according to the ancient beliefs, ascend to heaven, recreation on the dragon. But it was far from the last blood, who had grown marble of the Imperial Palace. During the Board of the Qing, the general line of power was reduced to China's complete isolation from the rest of the world, which led to an increase in intra-door intrigue.

It is known that In the territory of the Forbidden City in China, at least 3,000 ENUOV lived And several thousand concubines. Enuhuhi's intrigue, concubines were spy, and in several centuries the story of Google was replenished with many scandalous stories, in which the truth cannot be distinguished from fiction. Like the Vatican in Rome, the palace lived his life, and, of course, the brightest page in the book called the "Epoch of Zinn" was the almost 50-year-old Board of Chizyi. Having made a career from concubine and to the Empress, thoroughly in his century a lot of lives, this woman became an integral and secret part of the forbidden city. At the same time, it is thanks to her, or rather - the passion for the quission of photography, the world first saw pictures of the inner decoration of the palace.

The end of the empress (1908) almost coincided with the end of the Qing dynasty. After 3 years, the last lord, the juvenile Pu-yi signed a renunciation from the throne. He lived in the palace until 1924, and with it there was a last major fire that destroyed many caches and warehouses in the Forbidden City. A number of historians believe that the Palace set fire to the eunuchs, who wanted to hide the scope of the discrepancies from the imperial treasury. In favor of this theory, the fact that in all huge complex There is no stove tube: the heat of buildings provided underground pipes, and in general the entire heating system was designed in such a way that it practically excluded the possibility of self-burning.

The birth of the museum, or turning the forbidden city in an open temple of art

The first museum was opened in the Forbidden City in 1914 and was located in the Hall of Combat Glory. In 1925, an inventory of palace property was carried out, which included 1.17 million units. Later, the Gugun Museum collection has been significantly replenished. In 1933, due to the invasion of the Japanese army to China, a significant number of exhibits was evacuated in Guizhou and Sichuan province, but also the Beijing part of the collection managed to save. In 1948, almost 3,000 boxes with the imperial treasures came to Taiwan, and in 1965, the National Museum was opened in Taipei, where almost 700,000 bronze sculptures, paintings, ceramic and porcelain products, jewels, books, historical documents, vintage coins and other Exhibits from Googun. And the Museum "Forbidden City" in Beijing opened in 1949.

Currently, a significant part of the forbidden city is closed for overhaul, and in all its magnificence, Googun will appear only in 2020. But even the part that is available to tourists, attracts about 7 million people in the rest of the emperors annually: in the midst of the season there are 70,000-75,000 tourists per day.

The main attractions of Googuna

The main entrance to the mysterious forbidden city of China is considered the gate of the heavenly calm, located on the south side. Immediately behind them, the wide road begins, on the left side of it there is a luxurious imperial garden, and on the right - the cypress forest of Taiji. The road will lead us to the goal of proper behavior.

The forbidden city itself begins at the midday gate. On a huge area there are always many people: some rest, others just get to travel. Having passed on the bridge through the gold water, the tourist sees the gate of the highest harmony. By passing them, one more, a truly giant area is cast in front of the amazed gaze, at which military construction was held in the former centuries. Passing a couple of kilometers can be achieved by Higher Harmony.

In general, the whole imperial the complex is divided into external and inner palaces. In the premises of the outside palace, the ruler conducted all solemn ceremonies: the hall of the Supreme Harmony was the main one, as well as the halls for the preservation of harmony, where the throne of the emperor, and complete harmony were installed. In the inner palace, the family of emperors, eunuhi, servants and concubines lived. Here are those famous for the whole world (thanks to hundreds of photos taken by tourists) as the halls of the association of peace, heavenly purity and earthly calm. How to find - Raxcake Special article.

Also, one of the most popular "wonders" of China is also installed - a carved marble slab with a length of 16.75 meters and weighing 250 tons. The pattern on it was knocked out in 1761: relief images of the mountains, foam seas and campus clouds, and dancing dragons, holding in their pastures along a huge pearl ball, invariably cause enthusiasm among tourists from around the world.

The gate have five doors - three centered and two doors on the sides. Side doors were used by attendants, and now they are closed. Of the three central doors, the right hand was used by officials left by the members of the imperial family, and only the emperor himself could pass through the central larger door, but there were two exceptions.

The first exception was made only for the empress and only once - on the wedding day. The second exception was made once a few years for the winners of the Imperial Exam. Tourists we recommend passing through the central door. Feel yourself with the emperor.

Tourists should pay attention to rivets on the doors. In total, there are 9 rows of rivets and 9 columns (you can count on your own in the photo in the gallery right). 9 is a happy number of the emperor, and in the Forbidden City you will meet it all the time.

The midday gate shock their sizes - they are 35 meters high, which is equivalent to a 11-storey house. Upstairs are 5 towers, which are called "Phoenix Towers". The whole design really resembles this mythical bird.

At the edges of the central tower were installed main bells and bean drums. The bells ranned every year, informing the departure of the emperor B, the drums beat upon departing the emperor to the temple of the ancestors. With the most important ceremonies, the bells and the drums sounded at the same time, informing about the coronation or wedding of the emperor.

The midday gate was the place of "communication" of the authorities and the world. The new laws were officially declared, the emperor welcomed the subjects for the holidays, took the parades and looked at the punishment of the guilty officials.

Gate of Higher Harmony (Taikhimen) (2)

After a midday gate, you will get to the large area - the external courtyard of the forbidden city. There is a water canal "Inner Golden River", through which five bridges hover. The rules of passage through these bridges were completely similar to the rules of the doors at the midday gate.

This channel had several functions. The first is the source of water in case of a fire, the second is a natural barrier for attacking in the event of an attack on a forbidden city. Tourists should pay attention to bridge balustrades, decorated with figures of dragons and phoenixes - emperor symbols.

Another interesting point on this area, which is worth paying attention is bricks bricks. These bricks are made according to special technology, they produce a nice ringing sound when they come to them. This property coverage has almost disappeared, but in some places this sound can still be heard.

The main attraction of the square is two gigantic bronze lions. The right lion holds under the paw sphere, symbolizing the power of the emperor, which extends to the whole world. The left lioness holds the lion's paw, symbolizing the well-being and fertility of the imperial family. The Chinese believe that such lions guard the house from evil spirits and attract good. Naturally, these lions are the largest in China.

Behind the lions are the gate of the highest harmony. The name "Gate" is a conventionality, in reality, this is a real pavilion. It was used in all cases when someone did not want to start further, but the meeting with the emperor was needed. For example, techniques of foreign ambassadors or the Imperial Court.

Hall High Harmony (Taocidian) (3)

Passing through the gate of the highest harmony, you will fall on the largest area in the Forbidden City - 30,000 square meters. Higher harmony hall is towers behind it - the main building of the Forbidden City.

This is the "heart" of the forbidden city. It was here that the emperor accepted officials and generals, here were all the most important ceremonies and celebrations. The hall is on the marble foundation in three tiers. There are two large stairs. In the center there is a marble slab weighing 250 tons, which we have already told above, decorated with bas-reliefs with phoenixes and dragons.

Building height - 37.5 meters, and for a long time the hall of the Higher Harmony was the most high building in Pekin. The law was forbidden to build buildings above it. When you look at the High Harmony Hall, I don't even come to the idea that this is a building tall with a 12-storey house.

The traditional architecture of China never sought giantism. Harmony size, forms and contents are the main goal of the ancient Chinese architects. And, to admit honestly, they have it turned out great.

On some sites on the Internet they write that the Higher Harmony Hall is the largest wooden building in the world. Of course, this is not. Stadium "Occupuse Zhukai House" in Japan has a height of 52 meters and an area of \u200b\u200b25,000 square meters. Compared to him, the Higher Harmony Hall - Baby.

Even before the hall of the highest harmony, tourists will see a lot of interesting things. Pay attention to the huge water chains - another measure of fire safety. Still here are the main in the Forbidden City sundial. Also, you can also see very interesting stone columns, similar to the lanterns that served as the storage of the standards of measures and weights.

Higher harmony hall 64 meters wide and 37.2 meters deep, area - 2381 square meter. The roof is kept 72 columns - 6 rows of 9 pieces. Notice, and here the number 9 is used - the symbol of the imperial power.

Inside is the main imperial throne. He is called the throne of the highest harmony. Tourists are difficult to see it, because indoors are dark. In the hall of the highest harmony, more than four doors are rarely open, and the light is missing. The central door is open very rarely, and you have to look at the throne at an angle. In addition, with such angle, the throne block columns. In the photo on the right you can see how sad it looks.

Those who want to see a lot, and to open doors still need to "break through". On weekdays, this is done quite real, but on the weekend is an epic feat. Hence the conclusion: do not go to the Forbidden City on weekends and holidays. On weekends in Beijing is better to go to the markets or or go through shopping centers district. Cultural attractions these days are always overdated by visitors.

In addition to the throne, inside you can see six gilded columns, decorated with bas-reliefs with dragons. These columns are visible a little better (see photo on the right). On the roof right above the throne there is a large golden dragon playing with a pearl. There is a legend that if someone ussurp the throne, then this pearl will fall on it and ask to death. This dragon is very difficult to see tourists, and take a picture of it.

Hall of Central Harmony (Joranedian) (4)

This is a small building with a roof in the shape of a pyramid. This hall served for the rest of the emperor and dressing up to ceremonies. Inside there is also a throne, but much more modest than the throne of the highest harmony. The hall was often used as a location of the emperor conversation with approximate ministers and generals.

The inscriptions about the throne says: "The path of heaven is deep and mysterious, and the path of mankind is complicated. Only if you make an accurate and united plan and follow it, then you can rule the country well. " These words here left the emperor Qianlong from the Qing Dynasty. He knew what he was talking about, because he ruled the country for 60 years.

Hall of preserved harmony (Baojedian) (5)

This is the last building of the "External Palace" - the working part of the Forbidden City. After him, you will fall into the "Inner Palace" - the place of residence of the emperor and his family.

The hall of the saved harmony had many functions. At the time of the Qing Dynasty, he most often served as a banquet hall. In the era of Min, he served as a place for the preparation of the empress and the princes to ceremonies.

In appearance, it is similar to the hall of the highest harmony, but smaller. Inside there is also an imperial throne, and also smaller.

All these three halls stand on a single base of three tiers. If it rains during your visit to the forbidden city, then you should not immediately disappear. This is a good opportunity to look at a stunning drainage system. Tourists notice at the base of the Stone Heads of the Dragon, and it seems that it is just a decor, but these are outputs of pipes that take water down. In total, there are 1412 such dragon heads.

The Imperial Palace of Googun is, in essence, not the palace, and a lot of wooden termes-veranda with red curved roofs and golden tiles collected in one place. This is a classic of Chinese house-building, made in 1987 to the UNESCO World Heritage List. The complex is one of the main attractions of the PRC and its largest museum.

About a million exhibits are inside, but only a quarter of its premises and half the territory is open to inspection. But even it is enough to take away half a day with a rather fluid inspection. More than 7 million people visit Googun annually, and the definition is a forbidden city - only attracts visitors. For with antiquity it is known that the forbidden fruit is always sweet.

Google is three times more than the Kremlin - its area is 72 hectares (almost a kilometer in length and 750 m wide), it is aligned strictly along the axis from the south to the north and has 9999 premises. With this, everything is very simple: nine - the number sacred for the Chinese, and the repeated four times it is generally sacred. Naturally, the forbidden city is fenced with outsiders: it is discovered from four sides by a 10-meter wall and a width of 50 m wide.

According to legend, 9 thousand 999 and a half premises there also because the heavenly king had 10 thousand premises, and the emperor, who called himself the son of the heavenly king, could not be equal to him. Therefore, he had fewer smaller.

GoGugun is obliged to the appearance specifically Emperor Chetonzzu - the third of the Ming dynasty. He firmly decide to settle in Beijing, he took over the dwelling. The former palaces of the hated yuan were devoted completely ruthlessly, nothing left of them, and it took a new one. GoGugun was built for 15 years, from 1406 to 1421. However, then it turned out that the tree is a short-dealing matter. Numerous fires led to the fact that with the cins almost the entire palace was rebuilt (gradually, as termes are ignited). Of course, copies of the burnt buildings were built mainly, but the fact that the main buildings of the current Google date back to the XVIII-XIX centuries. Yes, and the legends of the Pavilions of the Google are also told by almost all about the cins. In total, the 24 emperor of two dynasties: Min and Qing managed to come in Googun.

Best time For an independent visit to Googo - eight in the morning, immediately after breakfast and observing the ceremony of raising the flag on Tiananmen. The fee for a visit is 45 yuan. A lot, but worth it. Cashier is located at the gate of Unshan, to them from Tiananmen, you need to go through a long avenue. The gate of Uven resemble the fortress - it is immediately clear that you are approaching something in a solid, especially since the side of the alleys is an ancient cannon. If you know English, when visiting the google there is no problems - all signs, except for hieroglyphs, are equipped with enough competent English text. During the excursion, you can not only inspect the pavilions, but also to feel about five minutes by the Lord of the Middle Kingdom, having experienced imperial clothes. You can wear a guard. This joke is about 20-30 yuan.

The first to where you get in the google is a huge stone wasteland, which intersects the channel made in the form of a rifle bow. It can be seen only when you cross through the bridge, on which stone torches are standing - symbols of masculinity, hinting for themselves understand what. On the sides of the wasteland there are pavilions with tightly closed windows, and around the perimeter there are huge copper cars for water with cool handles - the rings are made in the dragon grazing. They stand here for a long time in case of fire. There are no sore around (bad guys might have been hidden, kill the emperor). And the first feeling from the palace is emptiness and lifelessness. And this emptiness performed the function of any intimidation, the suppression of anyone who turned out here. And there were here due to the prohibition of the palace only eunuchs, concubines and others from the imperial suite. However, the emperors could afford such no longer. The fact is that in the googun they lived only in winter, he was called Winter Palace. For summer, they had much more picturesque places.

Further entrance to the pavilions of the exterior yard. There are only three of them, and the very first, main and large - Taihadian (hall Higher harmony). It is guarded creepy species Stone lions in the number of two pieces. One of them is a lion with a scepter under the paw, the other is a lioness, and under her paw. Before the hall is a small lift, in the middle of which - a narrow path with the dragons engraved on the stone. Above it, under Palalankina, the Emperor's chair was carried, the servants themselves descended along simple stone steps. And no one except the emperor had the right to walk there. In the pavilion itself there is a dragon throne of the emperor. Throne room Also was banned for women, and even the All-Fusion Cyci did not dare to break this ban.

Two other pavilions: Hall of Middle Harmony (Zhonghadian) and Harmony's Saving Hall (Baoche-Dyan) - smaller rank. The first is the imperial countertop. Here the emperor announced the decrees to his offspring, was preparing for rites, changed. As for Baochyan, the New Year's banquets with specific princes were arranged there. And also there are thrones, about the same as in Taihadian. Nowadays, the hall is turned into the Museum of Ancient Chinese Art (mainly bronze and ceramic products from the XI century. BC e. Until the XIII century). A declared attraction is a ceramic horse made in a natural value and a Zin Shihuang di extracted from the tomb. Next, we go through the same course north, to inland rest Emperor. Here, too, everything is symmetrically: in the center three termes, six pavilions are exhibited on the sides. The concubines and wives were a huge set, so that such a number of termen is quite unrelish.

The first internal Pavilion of Tsyancingung is essentially the work office of the emperor, where, paraphrasing on modern way, the Lord of the Middle Kingdom "worked with the documents." Now here is organized exhibition of court things - horse babies, clothes, ritual things, everything is mostly Qing time.

The second Pavilion Jiaotaydian served the throne room of the Empress and therefore frankly small, compared to the rest (Woman, Know the place!).

And finally, the third pavilion Cunning-Gong (the palace of terrestrial calm) is the holy of the saints, the imperial bedroom. Once here, the emperor conducted the first wedding night and the first night of the New Year. Moreover, he was obliged to sleep on this night with his wife, and not with some concubine. The latter printed here the innocence of the Pu and, no longer being the emperor, in 1922 the bedroom furnishings were preserved unchanged since the time of Kansi (the end of the XVII century): the bed is surrounded by turtles and cranes.

Deserve unconditional visits to the side pavilions of the courtyard. Six Western palaces are similar to each other, but two are distinguished. The first is the closest, called the Hall of Ushing (Jansindian), is another working office with Manchurian furniture XVIII century.

In the Far Pavilion, Chusyugun, the Empress of Chiesi lived. This is the latest sample of imperial construction (end of the XIX century, the lunary money was spent on the arrangement).

Six Eastern Palaces are now repository treasures and art objects of the XV-XIX centuries. Separate attention deserves an exhibition of hours (imported samples of the XVIII century, they need to additionally pay 5 yuan for their inspection). The following pavilions are the museum of jewels (all 25 imperial seals, swords decorated with jewels, etc.).

In the far corner of Google, there is the so-called Well Zheng Fei, in which the beloved nephew of the mouths were killed.

And, in fact, everything. Ends by Googun Imperial Sadik Yuhuauan (he is also called the secret garden Qianlong). You get into it, leaving the imperial bedroom Cunning-Gong. This is a classic of the garden-park genre of China, with fancy slides of stones, an artificial rock with a gazebo above, courtyards, paths, gallery, bronze urns of a strange look - the creation of the same emperor Qianlun. Popular place For photos - "trees of lovers." These are two trees with strangely interlaced trunks, which the hell knows how many years.

Forbidden City (Gugun) - The largest palace complex in the world. UNESCO listed on the list world Heritage mankind. It was built in 1406-1420. Hence the subwayless rules of the 24 Emperor Ming and Qing Dynasties. Every year it is visited by more than 7 million tourists.

The forbidden city is called because for almost 500 years only emperor could live on its territory, his family, concubines, eunuhi, guards and servants. The rest of the people to enter here without an invitation was strictly prohibited. Almost all buildings date back to the XVIII century. Due to the fact that almost all of them are made of wood, it is impossible to smoke here.

View of the Forbidden City with Park Coal Gorka

Forbidden city is a rectangle stretched from north to south. There are several gates in it. The palace surrounds ditch, a width of 52 m. To date, in the forbidden city, 980 palace structures, and in them 8728 rooms.

Internal courtyards of the Forbidden City

Housing gate

South entrance to the palace guard the midday gate, in which there are five passes - three central and two side. The central pass was designed exclusively for the emperor. Once in life (on the day of the wedding), they could have passed the Empress.

Housing gate

The main colors of the Forbidden City are yellow and red. These colors did not accidentally become the main in the Palace of the Emperor. IN ancient China Red meant solemnity, wealth and worship. Yellow is the cleanest color, the color of the earth is the most important of the five first elements.

Red and yellow - the main colors of the Iperian Palace

Hall of higher harmony

The main construction of the forbidden city and the largest wooden building in China is the Hall of Higher Harmony. The entrance to it is guarded by the Bronze Lion and the Lioness. The lion plays with a colored silk ball - a symbol of the eternal power of the emperor, and the lioness is depicted with a lion.

Gate of Higher Harmony

Hall of higher harmony

Side facilities on the square near the Hall of Higher Harmony

Lion with a silk ball at the entrance to the High Harmony Hall

Trone High Harmony Hall

In the courtyard in front of the palace on each side there are two miniature temples. The temple on the east side symbolizes territorial integrity, in the West - a symbol of a rich crop.

Miniature temple

On the western side The terraces near the palace of heavenly purity is a small pavilion in which the measure of grain is located. She meant that the emperor was designed to judge, measure and merge the country.

Mera grain at the palace of heavenly purity

Here you can see a couple of bronze caravals and turtles with dragon heads that symbolize longevity.

Bronze turtle

Bronze Zhuravl

In the courtyards of the Forbidden City, you can see iron women to store water from fire. In total, they are 308, and 18 of them are gilded. In winter, Chans were covered with blankets so that the water does not freeze, and in particular cold days heated coal.

Gold Plated Water Storage Changes from Fire

Palace of collected superiority

The palace of the collected superiority was the place of residence of the widowing empress of Chizyi. All overlaps and beams of the palace are painted by flowers, birds, fish and landscapes. The decoration of the palace is the bronze dragons and deer installed in front of the entrance. Now the palace looks just like at that time.

Bronze Dragon in the courtyard of the palace of collected superiority

Skilled ornament on the roof of pavilions

Imperial garden

Before the northern gate of the military prowess is the imperial garden, where the emperors and the empress rested and entertained. In the garden, many old cypresses are preserved, decorative stone slides, there are gazebos and pavilions.

Pavilion thousands of autumn in the Imperial Garden

Imperial garden

Northern Gate of Military Valit

The territory of the forbidden city is a huge, the whole day is not enough to get around all his shorts. Traditionally, tourist groups are conducted on a direct route - from southern Gate. to the northern. But if you have time, you can simply wander through the streets of this amazing facilities. Each courtyard is unique and has its own distinctive features. There are various exhibitions in the pavilions: products from bronze, jade, jewelry of the empress, weapons, etc. Do not seek to see everything. It is better to visit several streets, palaces, sit in the shine cozy courtyards And you feel the atmosphere reigning here than galloping to rush throughout the forbidden city so much really really see.

Palaankin in the Palace of Eternal Longevity

Hall of central harmony

Trone hall of saved harmony

How to get to the Forbidden City

Forbidden City is the most heart of Beijing, his center. Therefore, it's easy enough to get here. Tian'anmen East Metro Station (Metro Red Branch). To approach K. Imperial Palace You need to cross the famous Beijing Square - Tiananmen.

With great efforts, palace structures were built, which corresponded to the greatness of the imperial power. The earliest of the fully preserved buildings are dated XVIII century. The forbidden city itself was built only in 1420. It was then that the emperor Zhu di from the Ming dynasty moved its capital from the city of Nanjing to Beijing.

In the palaces of the forbidden city, there are only about 9,000 premises in which the emperor and the surrounding women (mother, wives, concubines) were also lived. In the Forbidden City there were also residential neighborhoods for thousands of servants, ENUUHOV and concrete, who spent their entire lives over the walls. Life at the courtyard was subordinate to the strictest rules of etiquette. The forbidden city was something like a cell, where, extinguishing from reality, the emperor lived with his approximate. The entire forbidden city was intended to meet the pleasure of the emperor. About 6,000 chefs were busy cooking. 9,000 imperial concubines, whom 70 ENUHOV struck and entertained the emperor.

The emperor and his approximations were very rarely published for the gate of the city, and each time it was accompanied by a magnificent and solemn ceremony. This is how one of the rare yields of the Chinese emperor Ming looked outside the forbidden city in Beijing: 24 drummers were published, 24 trumpeter were published; After them, the soldiers of the security were soldiers - 100 armed guardsmen and 100 soldiers with Bulavami; Four hundred people carried torches. In a solemn exit, the Ulans also participated, carriers of the Opayl and government officials. Finally, a huge chariot harvested with an elephant passed.

In 1644, when the Ming dynasty was overthrown by Manchules, the city was looted. But the rulers-Manchura, who came to power under the name of the Zinn dynasty, restored him in the same brilliance. New churches and palaces were erected, dug ponds, the gardens of incredible beauty were broken.

In 1937, the Forbidden City was looted by the Japanese, and in 1949 the nationalists took a lot of jewels from Sizhin Chen in.

Early wooden buildings were destroyed by frequent fires and repeatedly destroyed by cruel conquerors prone to looting. The buildings of the Forbidden City have been restored many times and rebuilt, but always architects tried to preserve the initial design and, most importantly, an impressive appearance.

Features of the building of the Forbidden City in Beijing

The territory of the forbidden city in the plan is a square. The city lies on the so-called Beijing Axis (from the north to south) and is surrounded by wide Rips and 10.4 meters high heights. Behind them are symmetrically located palaces, gates, inland yards, streams and gardens.

Chinese architects had to take care not only about how the buildings look and what materials should be used. They had to create such buildings that would be in harmony with nature and did not disturb the spirits of the Earth, water and air. To achieve this, they followed the set of rules called Feng Xui (Feng Shui). There were strict rules for the location of buildings, with orientation to the north and south or west and east. The air-lung inner courtyards of gardens and reservoirs were also part of a well-thought-out scheme. Perestroika Beijing by order of Emperor Junglu passed in accordance with the rules of Feng Xui. The Chinese believed that if the building was built in compliance with these rules, it would provide inhabitants good health and well-being.

The facades of all major buildings are addressed to the south. Thus, the forbidden city turned his back to all hostile forces of the North, to the cold of Siberia.

Forbidden City is an architectural masterpiece, his charm is not so much in the beauty of individual parts, but in an ordered layout of the entire complex:

• Housing gates - a powerful defensive tower, built in order to protect the entrance to the Forbidden City. Here, at one time, the emperor inspected his troops. Now there is a cash desk, where tickets are sold to enter the complex.
• The gates of higher harmony separate the external yard (golden stream) from the more official courtyard in the ceremonial zone of the forbidden city.
• The gates of heavenly purity denote the entrance to the internal sanctuary, the palace zone of the forbidden city, where only members of the imperial family could include.
• The title of higher harmony is the largest of the official pavilions (28 m height). Used for important state events, such as meetings with the highest officials or celebration of the birthday of the emperor. Before entering the entrance, there are two smokers for incense, one in the form of a stork, the other in the form of a dragon. Mosaic floor and painted gold paint columns are endowed with artists intertwining, carved dragons and crowned with a green-golden ceiling, from which a spherical mirror hangs.
• Palace of heavenly purity. Before the beginning of the XVIII century. Sleeping of emperors were located in this palace. The palace was generously decorated with carvings, stucco and sculptures of dragons and other mythical monsters. In the center of the palace was installed a huge throne. Approximately after 1500, the emperors of the Ming dynasty chose a smaller palaces for residence, located in the park, and the palace of heavenly purity became another hall for audiences with visitors.
• The pane of perfect harmony is an elegant room (richly decorated, with painted ceilings and beams), created for the imperial banquets, served to dress up the emperor in front of official ceremonies. Three stairs were led to the hall, one of which had such a slope that the emperor's palanquin could be carried along it. At the entrance roof relied on the columns. Six central columns had gilt and were decorated with dragon sculptures.
• The priority pane is a small building, also known as a pacistry of fertility, it is decorated with water clock, or Klepsidra. Here the Empress collected his "small" yard.
• The palace of earthly serenity during the dynasty of Zinn was the official residence of the empress, there was a bedroom of the imperial couple in the first days after marriage.
• The union hall is between the palace of heavenly purity and the palace of terrestrial calm. Symbolizes the unity of the emperor and the empress, heaven and earth, "Yang" and "Yin", men and women. Magnificent imperial gardens spread out for the palaces.
• Imperial gardens are located north of the gates of earthly serenity and around the priest of imperial prosperity. The area of \u200b\u200bthis garden, aged classical Chinese style, is approximately 7000 square meters. m. impressive stone structures, ponds and vegetable decoration create an atmosphere of charm and tranquility. Gardens are seated by trees, decorated with statues, stone gardens, ponds and waterfalls. This peaceful oasis can be included through the gate of earthly rest.
• Fierce beasts - bronze lions are sitting on the sides of the Dragon's entrance. Only through it you can get into the hall of the Higher Harmony, where the Emperor was recreated on the marble filigree work. The city is replete with bronze animals.

The dragon image, the emperor symbol, are found at every corner of the forbidden city. In other cultures, the dragon often symbolizes evil. But chinese dragons Not like that: they breathe fire, and it symbolizes the imperial power. However, the dragons "answered" also for the timely arrival of the rains and, thus, they defended China and his people from.

Marble dragons are watching the terraces of large halls. Through the city center passes the road, on the marble surface of which, also cut dragons. This road was previously considered so sacred that only spirits could use it. The emperor carried in the palanquin servants who walked on both sides of the sacred stones.

Buildings and gardens, designed for state ceremonies and everyday life of the imperial family, leave a very strong impression. Turning in the east direction, you can find libraries and museums (including the museum of works of art of different dynasties), as well as a number of palaces, pavilions and gardens.

The mystery, which surrounded the emperor and his yard even 100 years ago disappears. And yet in every yard and each wall is heard the echoes of the past. The prints of antiquity lie on each subject put on the review: on weapons, jewelry, imperial clothes, musical instruments and gifts that made up the emperors rulers from all over the world.