Day 1: The Forbidden City

You will see Mao's picture proudly displayed over the entrance to the Forbidden City. A new portrait is painted each year, and the story goes that he looks younger every year. There are also tall oblisques...some facing inward, some facing outward...but reminding the Emperor that he must attend to matters of state and matters of the people.

I will try to let the pictures tell the story of our entry and walk through the Forbidden City. I knew some of the history, but Suzie was phenomenal. The outer court yard could only be used by those who held great status. The first hall is actually where the Emperor would meet business people and conduct his meetings and make his decisions. He was the only person who could enter the second hall over the center bridge as it was considered sacred. The third hall was where he, the Empress, and his concubines lived...The Eternal Hall of Peace and Tranquillity! One could only hope...

Each Hall had specially carved bridges and doors to be used only by specifically named people in his court. Every year he would choose a new set of concubines who would then replace the "old" ones. The concubines were each assigned a level that indicated their position of favoritism. My favorite is the last Empress who rose from the lowest concubine level to become the "Dragon Lady" who built the marble boat with the funds that were supposed to support the building of a Chinese navy.

The upturned roofs are built, of course, to keep evil spirits away. Each corner holds 9 animals that also help to keep them away. The mantels over the doors have a specific number of beams that indicate the importance of those who live inside. We could see inside some of the rooms in each of the Halls. The artwork is exquisite in every hall. There are large cauldrons coated with gold that were set about the grounds to collect water. Visitors later tried to scratch the first layer off to get at the gold, but they were "only" gold plated.

The Forbidden City is surrounded by a moat, as was the city itself. The dirt was used to create a mountain that held outposts, and became the place where coal was stored, hence the name "Coal Hill."