Palace of Prolonged Happiness

Palace of Prolonged Happiness

The Palace of Prolonged Happiness was one of the six eastern palaces in the inner court. It is located on the east side of East Second Long Street and was built in the 18th year of the Yongle reign during the Ming Dynasty (1420). Originally named the Palace of Longevity, it was renamed the Palace of Auspicious Harmony in the 14th year of the Jiajing reign (1535).

During the Qing Dynasty, it was renamed the Palace of Prolonged Happiness and underwent renovation in the 25th year of the Kangxi reign (1686). Throughout the Ming and Qing dynasties, it served as the residence of imperial concubines, and during the Qing Dynasty, Noble Consort TIAN and Noble Lady CHENG of Emperor Daoguang once lived here.

The original Palace of Prolonged Happiness, similar in layout to the other five palaces, consisted of two courtyards. The front courtyard featured a main hall with five bays, a hip-and-gable roof covered with yellow glazed tiles, and an imperial plaque inscribed with “Praise with Caution for Virtuous Fame” handwritten by Emperor Qianlong hanging inside. On the east wall hung Qianlong’s “Holy Edict: Eulogy on Empress Cao Promoting Agriculture,” and on the west wall hung the “Illustration of Empress Cao Promoting Agriculture.” In front of the hall were three-bay side halls on the east and west. The rear courtyard also had a five-bay main hall with three-bay side halls on the east and west, all topped with flush gable roofs covered with yellow glazed tiles.

In the 25th year of the Daoguang reign (1845), a fire broke out in the Palace of Prolonged Happiness, destroying the main hall, rear hall, and side halls — a total of 25 structures — leaving only the palace gate intact. A reconstruction proposal was made in the 11th year of the Tongzhi reign (1872) but was not realized. In the first year of the Xuantong reign (1909), construction began at the original site of the Palace of Prolonged Happiness on a three-story Western-style building called the Water Palace. The Water Palace was surrounded by a pool, with water from the Yuquan Mountain flowing around it. The main building had nine rooms per floor, with doors in the middle of each of the four sides on the ground floor, encircled by corridors. At each corner of the building was a three-story hexagonal pavilion connected to the main structure, each with two doors on the ground floor connecting to the main building and the corridor.

According to records in “Poems of the Qing Palace” and “Miscellaneous Histories of the Qing,” the Water Palace had copper pillars and glass walls, with water and fish kept between the layers of the walls. The ground floor floor was also made of glass, allowing visitors to count the fish swimming in the pool. Lotus and algae added to the picturesque scenery. Empress Dowager Longyu inscribed the plaque “Spiritual Marsh Pavilion,” and it was commonly known as the “Crystal Palace.”

In fact, all the structural frames of the building were made of cast iron, including the four coiling dragon-patterned columns inside. Most of the building was constructed from white marble, with very little brick used. The exterior walls were carved with patterns, and the interior walls were lined with white and patterned tiles. Due to financial constraints, the Crystal Palace was still unfinished by the winter of the third year of the Xuantong reign (1911) and construction was later halted. In June of the second year of the Xuantong reign (1910), Empress Dowager Longyu also ordered the Western Garden Electric Light Company to install electric heaters, electric fans, and additional electric lights in the Palace of Prolonged Happiness.

In 1917, during Zhang Xun’s restoration attempt, the northern part of the Palace of Prolonged Happiness was bombed and destroyed by aircraft of the Zhili troops. In 1931, the Palace Museum converted it into a cultural relic storage room.

The Six Eastern Palaces are located on East First Long Street, east of the central axis of the Forbidden City. They consist of six identically structured courtyards. The six palaces are the Palace of Great Benevolence, the Palace of Heavenly Grace, the Palace of Gathering Excellence, the Palace of Scenic Sunlight, the Palace of Eternal Harmony, and the Palace of Prolonged Happiness.

The Palace Museum in Beijing, officially known as the Palace Museum, was formerly called the Forbidden City. It is located at the center of Beijing’s central axis and served as the imperial palace for 24 emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties. It represents the pinnacle of ancient Han Chinese palace architecture and is an unparalleled architectural masterpiece. It is also one of the largest and best-preserved ancient wooden structures in the world. The complex houses over 70 palaces and more than 9,000 rooms, centered around the three main halls: the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the Hall of Central Harmony, and the Hall of Preserving Harmony.

Address: East side of East Second Long Street, Six Eastern Palaces area, Forbidden City, Xicheng District, Beijing

The Palace Museum

Palace of Gathering Excellence

Hall of Supreme Harmony

Gate of Divine Prowess

Hall of Preserving Harmony

Hall of Martial Valor

Palace of Earthly Tranquility

Palace of Heavenly Purity

Palace of Compassion and Tranquility

Studio of the Three Rarities

Hall of Mental Cultivation

Palace of Longevity and Health

Imperial Garden of the Forbidden City

Palace of Eternal Longevity

Meridian Gate

Hall of Literary Glory

Tower of Literary Prowess

Gate of Supreme Harmony