Hall of Mental Cultivation in the Forbidden City
The Hall of Mental Cultivation in the Forbidden City occupied a very important position in the Qing history. It was the very place that Shunzhi (r.1644-1661), Qianlong (r.1736-1795) and Tongzhi (r. 1862-1874) emperors died. After Emperor Yongzheng (r. 1723-1735) moved here, the Hall of Mental Cultivation became imperial office and residence, i.e. the political, military and cultural center of the Qing dynasty.
The Hall of Mental Cultivation is shaped like¡°¹¤¡± and consists of two parts. The front part was the emperor¡¯s office. The plaque ¡°Zhongzheng Renhe¡± (Jut and Benevolent) written by Emperor Yongzheng (r. 1723-1735) is hung in the Hall. On the New Year Day every year,the emperor would hold a ritual before the southern window of the east part of the Hall called¡°start writing down some auspicious words .After Emperor XianFeng (1851-1861)died ,the east part of the Hall was converted into the place for holding court behind the curtain.On February 1912,the last Qing empress dowager Longyu signed the last imperial edict of the Great Qing on behalf of the six-year-old Emperor Xuantong, announcing his abdication.
The west part of the Hall was used by the emperor to summon his minister for consulting key political and military affairs and dealing with routine matters, In order to guarantee secrecy ,the terrace before this part of the Hall is enclosed with thick red panels, In the late Qing dynasty, it was in this part of the Hall that Empress Dowagers Cixi and Ci¡¯an decided that the son of Prince Chun Zaitian would be the future emperor. Prince Chun cried on the spot and then lost his consciousness.
The back part of the Halls the emperor¡¯s residence and consists of five rooms separated with finely carved phoebe nanmu partitions and decorated with luxurious fumishings . The emperor had two beds: the eastern one is inlaid with glass mirrors and adorned with exquisite sachets; the western one is covered with red felt and yellow blanket and was usually the very bed where the emperor spent the night with one of his consorts, who would be chosen by the emperor at dinner time by turning over the table with her name. The eunuch in charge would inform her to come to the Hall to The last serve the emperor at night.
Out of the Left Gate of the Inner Court, the Square before the Gate Of Heavenly Purity is to the south of the Six Eastern Palaces. Out of the East Gate of Jeweled Garden, the Imperial Garden is to the north of the Six Eastern Palaces. You can also reach the Palace of Heavenly Purity through the Gate of Sun Essence.
Forbidden City Attractions
East Route
Forbidden City Gates Wall Surrouding Water
Hall Of Mental Cultivation
Imperial Garden
Outer East Route
Square Before Heavenly Purity Gate
Square Before Supreme Harmony Gate
Three Rear Palaces
Unopen Areas
West Route
Wings Of Heavenly Purity Palace
Hall of Mental Cultivation Attractions in the Forbidden City China
Hall of Military Glory
Chamber of Immersing in Virtue
The Hall of Mental Cultivation is shaped like¡°¹¤¡± and consists of two parts. The front part was the emperor¡¯s office. The plaque ¡°Zhongzheng Renhe¡± (Jut and Benevolent) written by Emperor Yongzheng (r. 1723-1735) is hung in the Hall. On the New Year Day every year,the emperor would hold a ritual before the southern window of the east part of the Hall called¡°start writing down some auspicious words .After Emperor XianFeng (1851-1861)died ,the east part of the Hall was converted into the place for holding court behind the curtain.On February 1912,the last Qing empress dowager Longyu signed the last imperial edict of the Great Qing on behalf of the six-year-old Emperor Xuantong, announcing his abdication.
The west part of the Hall was used by the emperor to summon his minister for consulting key political and military affairs and dealing with routine matters, In order to guarantee secrecy ,the terrace before this part of the Hall is enclosed with thick red panels, In the late Qing dynasty, it was in this part of the Hall that Empress Dowagers Cixi and Ci¡¯an decided that the son of Prince Chun Zaitian would be the future emperor. Prince Chun cried on the spot and then lost his consciousness.
The back part of the Halls the emperor¡¯s residence and consists of five rooms separated with finely carved phoebe nanmu partitions and decorated with luxurious fumishings . The emperor had two beds: the eastern one is inlaid with glass mirrors and adorned with exquisite sachets; the western one is covered with red felt and yellow blanket and was usually the very bed where the emperor spent the night with one of his consorts, who would be chosen by the emperor at dinner time by turning over the table with her name. The eunuch in charge would inform her to come to the Hall to The last serve the emperor at night.
Out of the Left Gate of the Inner Court, the Square before the Gate Of Heavenly Purity is to the south of the Six Eastern Palaces. Out of the East Gate of Jeweled Garden, the Imperial Garden is to the north of the Six Eastern Palaces. You can also reach the Palace of Heavenly Purity through the Gate of Sun Essence.
Forbidden City Attractions
East Route
Forbidden City Gates Wall Surrouding Water
Hall Of Mental Cultivation
Imperial Garden
Outer East Route
Square Before Heavenly Purity Gate
Square Before Supreme Harmony Gate
Three Rear Palaces
Unopen Areas
West Route
Wings Of Heavenly Purity Palace
Hall of Mental Cultivation Attractions in the Forbidden City China
Hall of Military Glory
Chamber of Immersing in Virtue