built between 1407-1420, the forbidden city in beijing, china was home to the royalty of china for...
TRANSCRIPT
![Page 1: Built between 1407-1420, the Forbidden City in Beijing, China was home to the royalty of China for 500 years](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022070323/56649dc65503460f94aba3e5/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
![Page 2: Built between 1407-1420, the Forbidden City in Beijing, China was home to the royalty of China for 500 years](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022070323/56649dc65503460f94aba3e5/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
Built between 1407-1420, the Forbidden City in Beijing, China was home to the royalty of China for 500 years.
![Page 3: Built between 1407-1420, the Forbidden City in Beijing, China was home to the royalty of China for 500 years](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022070323/56649dc65503460f94aba3e5/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
After entering the Meridian Gate, located at the Southern end of the complex, visitors arrive in an immense courtyard with five bridges stretching over the Golden Water. The five bridges represent the five Confucian virtues of humanity, sense of duty, wisdom, reliability and ceremonial propriety.
![Page 4: Built between 1407-1420, the Forbidden City in Beijing, China was home to the royalty of China for 500 years](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022070323/56649dc65503460f94aba3e5/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
Red, the symbolic color of imperial power, is a dominant
theme throughout the Forbidden City.
![Page 5: Built between 1407-1420, the Forbidden City in Beijing, China was home to the royalty of China for 500 years](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022070323/56649dc65503460f94aba3e5/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
The dragon, a traditional symbol of imperial power,
appears throughout the Forbidden City.
![Page 6: Built between 1407-1420, the Forbidden City in Beijing, China was home to the royalty of China for 500 years](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022070323/56649dc65503460f94aba3e5/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
This gold leaf dragon appeared on the lower panel of a set of doors on the Gate of Supreme Harmony, the main entrance to the Forbidden City's central courtyard.
![Page 7: Built between 1407-1420, the Forbidden City in Beijing, China was home to the royalty of China for 500 years](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022070323/56649dc65503460f94aba3e5/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
This turtle dragon statue, situated
outside the Hall of Supreme Harmony,
is a symbol of longevity.
![Page 8: Built between 1407-1420, the Forbidden City in Beijing, China was home to the royalty of China for 500 years](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022070323/56649dc65503460f94aba3e5/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
This is a male lion, one of a pair that appears throughout the Forbidden City, China, and various other locations. According to Chinese convention, the male lion always has his right paw raised and holds a pomegranate, a symbol of power.
![Page 9: Built between 1407-1420, the Forbidden City in Beijing, China was home to the royalty of China for 500 years](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022070323/56649dc65503460f94aba3e5/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
The female lion always holds a lion cub under her left paw.
![Page 10: Built between 1407-1420, the Forbidden City in Beijing, China was home to the royalty of China for 500 years](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022070323/56649dc65503460f94aba3e5/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
Yellow tile roofs adorned with dragons are everywhere. The number of dragons determined the importance of a particular building--the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the most important ceremonial building in the Forbidden City, has 12
![Page 11: Built between 1407-1420, the Forbidden City in Beijing, China was home to the royalty of China for 500 years](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022070323/56649dc65503460f94aba3e5/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
The porch of the Hall of Middle
Harmony, where the emperor
readied himself for major sacrifices
and offerings. The Hall of Supreme
Harmony, with its 12 dragon roof
guardians, looms in the background.
![Page 12: Built between 1407-1420, the Forbidden City in Beijing, China was home to the royalty of China for 500 years](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022070323/56649dc65503460f94aba3e5/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
A closer look at the rooftop.
![Page 13: Built between 1407-1420, the Forbidden City in Beijing, China was home to the royalty of China for 500 years](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022070323/56649dc65503460f94aba3e5/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
An even closer look at the ubiquitous yellow roof tiles--featuring more exquisite detail, and more dragons.
Imperial buildings have yellow roofs, while temple roofs are blue.
![Page 14: Built between 1407-1420, the Forbidden City in Beijing, China was home to the royalty of China for 500 years](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022070323/56649dc65503460f94aba3e5/html5/thumbnails/14.jpg)
Looking up at the ceiling of the Gate of Supreme Harmony, the largest free-standing gate in the Forbidden City. Symbolism abounds in Chinese
architecture--down to the number of nails on a door. The red door, visible in the lower left corner of this photograph, has nine rows of nine nails, because nine
is the imperial lucky number. The Forbidden City itself has 9,999 rooms.
![Page 15: Built between 1407-1420, the Forbidden City in Beijing, China was home to the royalty of China for 500 years](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022070323/56649dc65503460f94aba3e5/html5/thumbnails/15.jpg)
These doors mark the entrance to the Approaching Light
Left Gate the boundary of the
North-West Region of the Inner City. Their are 81 nails
on each door.
![Page 16: Built between 1407-1420, the Forbidden City in Beijing, China was home to the royalty of China for 500 years](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022070323/56649dc65503460f94aba3e5/html5/thumbnails/16.jpg)