Meridian Gate in the Forbidden City

The Meridian Gate in the Forbidden City is the front gate of the Imperial Palace. Its name has something to do with fengshui: the Gate is located in the south of the Palace and the south corresponds to the Earthly Branch Wu (meridian), hence the name Meridian Gate.

The majestic gate consists of a high rostrum with two symmetrical wings that could hide warriors and might have defensive function, four square pavilions on both ends of the wings and a main tower. Its total height is nearly 38 meters. With one tower in the center and four pavilions on the flanks, the Gate looks like a big bird about to fly, so it is also known as the Gate with Wild Goose Wings and the Gate with Five Phoenixes.

The Gate has five passages that had strict hierarchical stipulations. He central passage was reserved for the emperor, But four other persons were allowed to use the passage once in their lives. The first was the empress. On the wedding day, the empress would enter the Palace from the central passage of the Meridian Gate on a sedan chair. The other three were the top three winners of the Palace Examination, the highest-level examination in ancient China. This special honor was to show the emperor’s attention and favor towards literati.

Bell and drum were placed on the wings of’ the Gate. When the emperor went to the Temple of Heaven and the Temple of Earth, bell would be struck. When he went to the Ancestral Temple. drum would be beaten. When a grand ceremony was held, the bell and drum would be struck and beaten at the same time.

He square before the Gate covers 9,900 square meters. It was the very place to hold important ceremonies and bestow officials with imperial favors. In traditional festivals, seasonal food would be granted to officials there while the subjects were welcome to come there to admire beautiful lanterns, so as to show that the imperial family enjoyed being together with the people d the whole nation joined in the jubilation.

Now the Gate is used as an exhibition gallery for the visitors to admire exquisite objects as well as look down at the square and feel the sense of being an emperor.

Beheading outside the Meridian Gate is merely hearsay. But court flogging did exist in the Ming dynasty, when the disobedient officials would be taken to the square before the Meridian Gate, flogged and sometimes beaten to death by Embroidered-Uniform Guards.

Relevant attractions in the Forbidden City

Meridian Gate: the Gate with Five Phoenixes
Gate of Spiritual Valor
Gate of Eastern Flower
Gate of Western Flower
City Wall and Corner Tower
Moat
Golden Water River