Palace of Eternal Spring

Palace of Eternal Spring

The Palace of Eternal Spring, one of the six eastern palaces in the inner court, was built in the 18th year of the Yongle reign during the Ming Dynasty (1420). Initially named the Palace of Everlasting Peace, it was renamed the Palace of Eternal Spring in the 14th year of the Jiajing reign (1535). The Qing Dynasty retained the Ming name and renovated the palace in the 12th year of the Shunzhi reign (1655), followed by repairs in the 15th year of the Daoguang reign (1835) and the 16th year of the Guangxu reign (1890).

The Gate of Eternal Spring serves as the main entrance to the palace, facing south. Inside the gate stands a stone screen wall, believed to be a relic from the Yuan Dynasty.

The Palace of Eternal Spring is the main hall of the front courtyard, featuring a five-bay layout with a yellow glazed tile hip-and-gable roof. The eaves are adorned with five mythical animal ornaments, and the brackets under the eaves are of the single-upturned, single-angling five-step type, finished with green and blue glazed tiles. The roof ridges are decorated with colorful patterns. The gable walls are built with square bricks. In front of the hall lies a spacious terrace.

The central bay of the main hall interior features a plaque inscribed with the words “Praising Virtue in the Inner Court,” handwritten by Emperor Qianlong. The ceiling is decorated with a design of two dragons playing with a pearl, while the inner eaves display dragon and phoenix imperial seals. The floor is paved with square bricks. A broad terrace stands in front of the hall.

On the east and west sides of the main hall are side halls, each with three bays and a door in the central bay. They feature yellow glazed tile flush-gable roofs, with scrollwork decorations under the eaves. Each side hall has an ear chamber to the south and north. The rear courtyard includes a five-bay main hall, with a door in the central bay, a yellow glazed tile flush-gable roof, and brackets under the eaves, along with decorative elements...

The side halls also have ear chambers to the south and north. In the southwest corner of the rear courtyard stands a well pavilion. This palace retains the layout from its original construction in the Ming Dynasty.

During the Ming Dynasty, the Palace of Eternal Spring served as the residence of imperial concubines. In March of the 11th year of the Shunzhi reign in the Qing Dynasty (1654), Emperor Kangxi was born here. In the 42nd year of the Kangxi reign (1703), after the death of Fuquan, Prince Yu of the First Rank, Emperor Kangxi temporarily stayed here again to mourn his elder brother. Thereafter, the palace continued to serve as housing for imperial consorts. Empress Xiaoshengxian, the birth mother of Emperor Qianlong, Imperial Concubine Wan of Emperor Xianfeng, and Imperial Concubine Zhen of Emperor Guangxu all once resided here.

Empress Xiaoshengxian (1692–1777), of the Niuhuru clan, was born on November 5, 1692, and was a member of the Manchu Bordered Yellow Banner. She was the daughter of Ling Zhu, an official of the fourth rank.

At the age of 13, she entered the service of the Prince Yong’s residence as a concubine known as “Gege.” In the 50th year of the Kangxi reign, she gave birth to Hongli, who later became Emperor Qianlong. In the first year of the Yongzheng reign, she was titled Consort Xi, and in the eighth year, she was elevated to Noble Consort Xi. In the 13th year of the Yongzheng reign, her son Hongli (Emperor Qianlong) ascended the throne, and she was honored as Empress Dowager with the title “Chongqing Empress Dowager.” She passed away on March 2, 1777 (the 23rd day of the first lunar month in the 42nd year of the Qianlong reign) and was buried in the Tai Tomb. Her posthumous title: Empress Xiaoshengci Xiankanghui Dunhe Chenghuirenmu Jingtian Guangshengxian.

Empress Xiaosheng lived a life of great honor and prosperity. She had the longest lifespan among all Qing empress dowagers and her longevity was also rare among empress dowagers throughout Chinese history.

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