1. Qianqing Palace
Qianqing Palace was the place where the emperor handled daily government affairs, reviewed various memorials, and later received foreign envoys here.
Before Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty, the Ming system was followed here. During the Shunzhi and Kangxi years of the Qing Dynasty, Qianqing Palace had a very close relationship with government affairs. The emperor studied here, reviewed memorials, summoned officials, received foreign envoys, and held inner court ceremonies here. and family dinner.
Since Emperor Yongzheng moved to the Yangxin Hall, it has been an important place for the emperor to summon courtiers, review memorials, handle daily government affairs, receive ministers from foreign vassal states, receive congratulations every year, and hold banquets.
Some daily offices, including the upper study room where the prince studied, were also moved into the side rooms around the Qianqing Palace, greatly strengthening the use function of the Qianqing Palace.
2. The Hall of Supreme Harmony
The 24 emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties held grand ceremonies in the Hall of Supreme Harmony, such as the emperor's enthronement, the emperor's wedding, the appointment of a queen, and the ordering of generals to go to war. , in addition to the three major festivals of Wanshou Festival, New Year's Day and Winter Solstice every year, the emperor accepted congratulations from civil and military officials here and gave banquets to princes and ministers.
In the early Qing Dynasty, the imperial examination for new Jinshi was also held in the Hall of Supreme Harmony. Starting from the fifty-fourth year of Qianlong (1789), it was held in the Hall of Baohe, and the "Chuanlu" was still held in the Hall of Supreme Harmony. .
3. Zhonghe Hall
During the Ming and Qing dynasties, the functions of the Zhonghe Hall were basically the same, that is, the emperor rested and prepared here before attending large-scale celebrations in the Taihe Hall. In the Zhonghe Hall, the emperor usually first accepted the worship and performance of officials presiding over the celebration, and then went to the Taihe Hall to participate in the celebration.
In addition, during the Xiannong Altar Ceremony every spring, the emperor would first go to the Zhonghe Hall to read the blessing board with the sacrificial inscriptions and check the farm tools used for farming. The emperor would also read sacrificial texts here before participating in similar activities in the Temple of Heaven, the Temple of Earth, the Temple of Sheji, and the Imperial Ancestral Temple.
In the Qing Dynasty, the royal family tree was compiled every seven years. After the compilation work is completed, a ceremony will be held in the Zhonghe Hall and submitted to the emperor for review. When the empress dowager was given an insignia, the emperor also had to go to the Zhonghe Hall to read the prepared memorial.
Sometimes the emperor would summon officials or give food here.
4. Wenhua Hall
When it was first built, Wenhua Hall was the main hall for the princes, and the roof was covered with green tiles. Later, because several princes were very young and could not handle political affairs, in the 15th year of Jiajing, it was officially converted into the emperor's banquet hall and replaced with yellow tiles. The famous sutra banquet ceremony was held here.
The emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties held "Jing Feasts" at both the spring and autumn equinoxes. The emperor had to write an imperial treatise to explain his experience in studying the "Four Books and Five Classics". The emperor of the Qing Dynasty's imperial treatise was written in Manchu and Chinese. The civil servants knelt in front of the emperor and listened to the emperor's imperial remarks.
The Kang, Yong, and Qian emperors of the Qing Dynasty all had very high cultural attainments. The emperors spoke enthusiastically, and when they got emotional, they would name civil servants for debate. Then, the emperor gave everyone a cup of tea and took a rest.
Finally, as a special reward for the civil servants who were lucky enough to attend the ceremony, the emperor led everyone to open the back door of the Wenhua Palace and went to the Wenyuan Pavilion at the back of the palace, where he rewarded the civil servants for browsing the books in the pavilion.
5. Cining Palace
Cining Palace in the Ming Dynasty was the residence of the imperial concubine of the previous generation. During the Wanli period, Empress Dowager Li, the Cisheng, and in the first year of Taichang (1620), Wanli Emperor Zheng Huang, Concubine Zhao and others lived here. In the seventh year of Tianqi (1627), Ming Xi Zong died, and his imperial concubines and others moved here.
In the 10th year of Shunzhi in the Qing Dynasty (1653), Empress Xiaozhuangwen first lived in Cining Palace. Since then, it has become the residence of the Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager, together with the concubine and others.
The early and mid-Qing Dynasty was the prosperous period of Cining Palace. Empress Xiaozhuang Wen and Empress Xiaoshengxian both lived here successively. The three emperors Shunzhi, Kangxi and Qianlong were famous for their filial piety, and Cining Palace often held birthday celebrations for the Queen Mother.
However, after Daoguang, as the Qing Dynasty declined and the treasury was empty, the then Empress Dowager Gongci (Empress Xiaoherui) had to reduce palace expenses, and Cining Palace gradually lost its former glory.
The Cining Palace is mainly the palace where major ceremonies are held for the Queen Mother. Celebration ceremonies are held here for the Queen Mother's birthday, emblems, treasures, and princesses' marriages. Especially on the birthday of the Queen Mother, the emperor personally led the crowd to salute, and danced in colorful clothes with his close relatives. The etiquette was very solemn.
Baidu Encyclopedia - Cining Palace
Baidu Encyclopedia - Wenhua Palace
Baidu Encyclopedia - Zhonghe Palace
Baidu Encyclopedia - Palace of Supreme Harmony
Baidu Encyclopedia - Palace of Qianqing