Palace of Eternal Longevity

Palace of Eternal Longevity

The Palace of Eternal Longevity is one of the Western Six Palaces in the inner court. It was built in the 18th year of the Yongle reign during the Ming Dynasty (1420) and was originally named Palace of Everlasting Joy. In the 14th year of the Jiajing reign (1535), it was renamed Palace of Virtuous Deeds, and then changed again to Palace of Eternal Longevity in the 44th year of the Wanli reign (1616). It was renovated or underwent major repairs in the 12th year of the Shunzhi reign (1655), the 36th year of the Kangxi reign (1697), and the 23rd year of the Guangxu reign (1897) during the Qing Dynasty, yet it largely retained its original layout from the early Ming period.

The palace consists of two courtyards. The main hall in the front courtyard is five bays wide and features a hip-and-gable roof covered with yellow glazed tiles. The exterior eaves are fitted with double-layered latticed doors on the central bay on both the front and rear sides, while the side and end bays have lattice windows set within threshold walls.

Inside the hall, a plaque inscribed with the words “Virtuous and Graceful Demeanor,” written by Emperor Qianlong, is hung prominently. On the eastern wall hangs Qianlong’s “Eulogy on Consort Ban Refusing the Imperial Sedan,” and on the western wall is displayed the “Painting of Consort Ban Refusing the Imperial Sedan.” In the 6th year of the Qianlong reign (1741), the emperor decreed that plaques in all eleven palaces of the inner court should be “made following the style of the Palace of Eternal Longevity.” Once hung, they were not to be moved or replaced.

The main hall has three-bay side chambers on both the east and west sides. The rear courtyard also has a five-bay main hall, with side rooms on the east and west, as well as three-bay side chambers on both sides in front of the hall. A well pavilion is located in the southeastern corner of the courtyard.

The Palace of Eternal Longevity was inhabited by imperial concubines during the Ming Dynasty and by imperial consorts during the Qing Dynasty. In the 18th year of the Wanli reign in the Ming Dynasty (1590), the emperor once summoned Grand Secretary Shen Shixing and others here. In the 11th year of the Chongzhen reign (1638), due to repeated natural disasters and omens, the emperor observed a period of purification here. During the Qing Dynasty, Noble Consort Donggo and Consort Ke of Emperor Shunzhi, as well as Consort Ru of Emperor Jiaqing, resided here.

In the 13th year of the Yongzheng reign (1735), after the death of Emperor Yongzheng, Empress Dowager Xiaoshengxian resided in the Palace of Eternal Longevity, while Emperor Qianlong stayed in the mourning hall on the southern corridor of the Hall of Heavenly Purity and visited the Palace of Eternal Longevity to pay his respects.

In the 37th year of the Qianlong reign (1772), Princess Hexiao got married, and in the 54th year of the Qianlong reign (1789), Princess Hejing married the son of Heshuo. Both weddings held banquets in the Palace of Eternal Longevity. In the mid to late Daoguang reign, as external threats and internal crises grew, the court chose to cover up the issues and hid secret reports from regional governors inside the Palace of Eternal Longevity. After the Guangxu reign, both the front and rear halls of the palace were turned into storage rooms for imperial items. It is now open to the public as an exhibition room for cultural relics of the Palace Museum.

The mother of Emperor Xiaozong of the Ming Dynasty, Lady Ji, was taken into the palace as a maid in her youth. By chance, she once caught the fleeting favor of Emperor Xianzong. At the time, Emperor Xianzong was deeply infatuated with Lady Wan, who was eighteen years his senior, indulging and turning a blind eye to her arrogance. When Lady Ji became pregnant, she was secretly given an abortion drug by Lady Wan, but the fetus survived, leaving her in great fear. A maid tried to protect her by lying to Lady Wan that Lady Ji was not pregnant, and then had her moved to Anletang outside the palace. In July of the 6th year of the Chenghua reign, Lady Ji gave birth to Zhu Youchang—later Emperor Xiaozong of the Ming—in this place. The young Zhu Youchang was hidden and secretly raised in a concealed chamber. When he turned five, eunuch Zhang Min tearfully reported the existence of the prince to Emperor Xianzong, who had long been distressed by having no heir. The boy was then brought into the palace and quickly made crown prince, while Lady Ji was relocated to live in the Palace of Eternal Longevity.

In the Palace of Eternal Longevity, Lady Ji spent the happiest time of her life. Her son had been made the heir apparent, allowing her to enjoy carefree days. The emperor often visited the palace to renew their past bond.

But this happy time lasted only a brief month. In June of the 11th year of the Chenghua reign (1475), Lady Ji suddenly fell ill and died, shocking the court and the public. People widely suspected that she had been poisoned by Lady Wan, but Emperor Xianzong did not pursue the matter. This became one of the most tragic episodes recorded in the history of the Ming imperial court.

Today, when visiting the Palace of Eternal Longevity, it is impossible to verify how many strange stories took place there. One can only experience the aura through the various legends.

Emperor Qianlong, Aisin Gioro Hongli (September 25, 1711 – February 7, 1799), was the sixth emperor of the Qing Dynasty. He reigned for sixty years and effectively ruled for sixty-three years and four months, making him the longest-living emperor in Chinese history and also the emperor with the longest actual period of power. Together with his father, Emperor Yongzheng, and grandfather, Emperor Kangxi, Qianlong ushered in the “Prosperous Age of Kangxi and Qianlong.” During his reign, he consolidated and developed a unified multi-ethnic nation, suppressed the Dzungar and Jungar rebellions, eliminated the Dzungar Khanate, stabilized Tibet, quelled the Jinchuan Rebellions, reformed the bureaucracy, emphasized agriculture, developed water conservancy, and promoted Sinology...  More details about Aisin Gioro Hongli++

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