Ren'ai Pavilion

Ren'ai Pavilion

Ren'ai Pavilion is a cultural tourism attraction.

Ren'ai Pavilion, located on the eastern side of the square in front of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, was first built in the 18th year of the Yongle reign during the Ming Dynasty (1420). In the early Ming period, it was called the Wenyuan Tower; in the early Qing period, it was renamed Ren'ai Pavilion. In June of the 48th year of the Qianlong reign (1783), it was destroyed by fire and rebuilt the same year. Emperor Kangxi once held the examination for the Broad Learning and Eminent Scholars (Boxue Hongci) at Ren'ai Pavilion to recruit renowned scholars and talented individuals. After the Qianlong reign, this place served as the satin warehouse of the Imperial Household Department.

Ren'ai Pavilion stands 25 meters tall, situated on a high platform, with two stories and a yellow glazed tile hip-and-gable roof. The lower level has nine bays in width and three in depth. The central bay features double-panel doors, with each of the three bays on either side fitted with a lattice window of the "one-arrow-three-spacing" style. The two side bays, gable walls, and rear eaves are enclosed with brick walls. Beneath the eaves are single-raised bracket sets with three tiers. On the upper level, 14 square columns support the overhanging eaves. Between these columns, handrails connect via balustrades, allowing visitors standing on the balcony to enjoy distant views. The upper floor has seven bays, with corridors extending on all sides. The front eaves are fitted with 28 diagonal lattice-patterned windows. The side bays, gable walls, and rear eaves are enclosed with wooden panels to reduce the load-bearing pressure on the lower level. Below the eaves are double-raised bracket sets with five tiers, totaling six brackets.

Liu Yong, the widely known Grand Secretary nicknamed “Liu Luoguo,” once worked here. In April of the second year of the Jiaqing reign (1797), Emperor Qianlong appointed Liu Yong as the Grand Secretary of Ren'ai Pavilion, where he conducted his official duties. Later, he was ordered to investigate the case of He Shen and his faction for abusing power, embezzlement, and bribery.

Liu Yong, unafraid of authority, quickly uncovered 20 counts of crimes committed by He Shen and his associates, including extortion, exploiting the people, and enriching themselves unlawfully, and reported them to the imperial court. The emperor had He Shen executed and confiscated all his property. Throughout his life, Liu Yong was honest and public-spirited, always considering the interests of the people, which earned him deep affection from the populace. During the construction of dams and bridges, Liu Yong led the people and workers to strive on the front lines.

Dressed plainly and eating simple meals of coarse grains, his favorite food was pancakes rolled with scallions. This shows that his life as an official was quite frugal. In contemporary plays written by playwrights, he was portrayed as a bitter rival and comic foil to the corrupt He Shen—He Shen often appeared clumsy in front of him, frequently making a fool of himself.

This character embodies the ideals and aspirations of the Chinese people. He is a symbol of wisdom and also of justice.

The bricks on the square’s ground are laid in a haphazard fashion, totaling 15 layers. Two rows of white stone blocks are embedded in the ground, narrow in the north and wide in the south, forming a V-shape, with about 200 pieces in total. Every approximately three feet, a one-foot square white stone block is embedded, known as a ceremonial pier.

During grand imperial ceremonies, the ceremonial guard would stand on these ceremonial piers, holding banners, umbrellas, canopies, axes, halberds, and other insignia. Senior civil and military officials would kneel on either side of the imperial path under the stairway (also called the Danbi or “Red Steps”), paying homage to the emperor to the music of the Zhonghe Shaoyue.

The function of the Hall of Supreme Harmony square is, first, to display the majesty of the imperial family, and second, to serve as a means of intimidation.

The haphazard arrangement and lack of trees or flowers in the Hall of Supreme Harmony square were all designed to prevent assassins. In addition to these features, there are also large water vats in the square. These vats were used to store water. Given Beijing’s dry winters and the Forbidden City’s wooden structure, fires were a major hazard, so these vats played a significant role. At the base of each vat is a stone pedestal with a small hole on one side. During strong winds or cold weather, the top is covered and insulated with quilts, while the bottom is gently heated. This keeps the water neither too hot to evaporate nor too cold to freeze, making these vats the best firefighting equipment in the palace.

The Palace Museum

Bell and Drum Towers (Zhongcui Palace)

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 Longevity and Health

Studio of the Three Rarities

Hall of Mental Cultivation

Palace of Longevity and Peace

Imperial Garden of the Forbidden City

Palace of Eternal Longevity

Meridian Gate

Hall of Literary Glory

Gate of Supreme Harmony

Hall of Union