Gate of Seventy

Gate of Seventy

In the 44th year of the Qianlong reign during the Qing Dynasty (1779), Emperor Hongli (Qianlong Emperor), then seventy years old, was advised by officials from the Court of Imperial Sacrifices to create a small side gate on the west side of the Hall of Imperial Heaven. This would allow the emperor to enter and exit more conveniently during sacrificial ceremonies, reducing the walking distance. The Qianlong Emperor readily approved the idea. However, he was concerned that if future generations all used this gate, it might foster laziness and disrespect. Therefore, he issued an edict stipulating that “only those descendants who reach the age of seventy may pass through this gate,” hence the name “Gate of Seventy.” Later, none of the Qing emperors lived to such an advanced age, and in fact, only the Qianlong Emperor himself ever passed through this gate.