IMPERIAL GARDEN THE FORBIDDEN CITY

Submitted byMOHD.ARIF AHMED B.Arch 4th yr(sfs)

INTRODUCTION
The Forbidden City ceased to be the seat of Qing (Manchu) imperial government with the Chinese Revolution of 191112. Although some of the ancient buildings (which had been repaired and rebuilt since the 15th century) were lost to the ravages of the revolution and during the war with Japan (193745), the site was maintained as a whole. Puyi, the last Qing emperor, was permitted to live there after his abdication, but he secretly left the palace (and Beijing) in 1924. In the late 20th century several of the palace buildings were restored. The architecture of the walled complex adheres rigidly to the traditional Chinese geomantic practice of feng shui. The orientation of the Forbidden City, and for that matter all of Beijing, follows a north-south line.

INTRODUCTION

Within the compound, all the most important buildings, especially those along the main axis, face south to honour the Sun. The buildings and the ceremonial spaces between them are arranged to convey an impression of great imperial power while reinforcing the insignificance of the individual. This architectural conceit is borne out to the smallest of detailsthe relative importance of a building can be judged not only from its height or width but also by the style of its roof and the number of figurines perched on the roofs ridges

Map of Imperial Palace

A. Meridian Gate H. Hall of Military Eminence B. Gate of Divine Might J. Hall of Literary Glory C. West Glorious Gate K. Southern Three Places D. East Glorious Gate L. Palace of Heavenly Purity E. Corner towers M. Imperial garden F. Gate of Supreme Harmony N. Hall of Mental Cultivation G. Hall of Supreme Harmony O. Palace of Tranquil Longevity

IMPERIAL GARDEN
To the north of the Forbidden City Complex lies the Inner Court, which contains the three halls that composed the imperial living quarters. Adjacent to these palaces, at the northernmost limit of the Forbidden City, is the 3-acre (1.2-hectare) Imperial Garden, the organic design of which seems to depart from the rigid symmetry of the rest of the compound. Passing through Gate of Earthly Tranquility (Kunning Gate), one finally comes to the Imperial Garden. The garden was designed as a place of relaxation for the emperor, with a fanciful arrangement of trees, fish ponds, flower beds, and sculpture. The garden is 130 meters wide from east to east, 90 meters from south to north, and covers an area of 12,000 square meters. It is the oldest and largest imperial garden in the Forbidden City.

 In the garden, several-hundred-year-old pines, cypresses and Chinese wisteria grow luxuriantly, and exotic stones are scattered here and there, in addition to various kinds of potted landscapes. Over 20 halls, pavilions and towers in the various styles are symmetrically located on the eastern and western sides of the central axis. The paths in the garden are meticulously paved with colored cobbles, in over 900 patterns. In its centre stands the Hall of Imperial Peace (Qinandian), a Daoist temple where the emperor would retreat for contemplation It is interesting how the man-made structures maintain harmony with trees, rockeries, flowerbeds and bronze incense burners in this relatively small space

In front of the hall, there is a pair of 400 years old consort pines, symbolizing the harmony of the emperor and empress

Under the incense burner

One of the two gilded unicorns guarding the entrance to the Hall of Imperial Peace

pavilion
In each of the four corners of the garden there is a pavilion, symbolizing the four seasons. The Pavilion of Myriad Springs is the most famous and lies in the south east corner of the garden. It was built in 1535 and restored during the Qing dynasty.

Beauty hill

Accumulated Beauty Hill (Dui Xiu Shan) is a little artificial mountain with a cave which is piled up with delicate rocks and stones from Taihu Lake. It is located to the northeast of the garden. Fountains play around it and the Pavilion of Imperial View is on the top of the hill. The Qing Emperors would climb up to the Pavilion on the Double Yang Festival to enjoy the scenery with the royal family