Hall of Martial Valor

Hall of Martial Valor

The Hall of Martial Valor is a cultural tourism attraction.

The Hall of Martial Valor is a Han-style palace structure originally built in the early Ming Dynasty. It is located to the west of the Xihemen (Gate of Harmony) in the Outer Court of the Forbidden City in Beijing. The main hall, the Hall of Martial Valor, faces south, is five bays wide and three bays deep, and features a yellow-glazed tile hip-and-gable roof. Its Sumeru pedestal is enclosed by white marble railings, with a front terrace and a pathway leading directly to the Gate of Martial Valor. The rear hall, the Hall of Reverent Thought, has a similar layout to the main hall, and the two are connected by a covered walkway. The side halls to the east and west are respectively the Hall of Moral Cultivation and the Hall of Glorious Transformation, with a total of 63 corridors on the left and right. In the northeast corner of the courtyard is the Hall of Eternal Longevity, and in the northwest is the Bathing Virtue Hall. The Hall of Martial Valor corresponds to the Hall of Literary Glory (located to the east of the Outer Court), representing the pairing of civil and martial functions.

In the early Ming Dynasty, emperors used the Hall of Martial Valor for their residence and for receiving ministers, until this function was later moved to the Hall of Literary Glory. During the Chongzhen era, ceremonies such as the Empress’s Birthday and the homage of titled ladies were also held here. The Ming Dynasty established the position of Court Painters at the Hall of Martial Valor, selecting skilled painters to reside there. In the spring of 1644, during the late Ming Dynasty, Li Zicheng, leader of the peasant rebellion, captured Beijing and declared the Daxun regime. However, due to quickly dwindling morale and inability to resist the invading Qing troops, he hastily held his enthronement ceremony in the Hall of Martial Valor on April 29 before fleeing Beijing the next day.

In the early days of the Qing Dynasty, Prince Regent Dorgon arrived in Beijing first and used the Hall of Martial Valor as his administrative office. In the early Qing period, the Hall served as an imperial retreat for hosting minor celebrations, bestowals, and sacrificial ceremonies. In 1669, during the reign of Emperor Kangxi, due to renovations at the Hall of Supreme Harmony and the Palace of Heavenly Purity, Emperor Kangxi temporarily resided in the Hall of Martial Valor. During Kangxi's reign, the Hall of Martial Valor Press was first established. In 1680, the side corridors were designated as the Printing Office, responsible for publishing and binding books. This was overseen by princes and high-ranking officials, with a staff of over 30 including supervisors, chief clerks, scribes, chief editors, compilers, and assistants, all appointed by the emperor or the Hanlin Academy. After 1701, the Hall printed a large number of books using copper movable type and specially made Kaihua paper. The printing featured elegant and neat fonts, exquisite illustrations, and high-quality craftsmanship. In 1773, Emperor Qianlong ordered the typesetting and printing of 138 rare editions extracted from the Yongle Encyclopedia, officially named the "Compilation of Rare Editions from the Hall of Martial Valor," commonly known as the "Hall Edition." After 1755, very few books were published under this imprint, although the name remained. Books reserved but not distributed were usually stored in the Hall of Reverent Thought. In the summer of 1814, during the Jiaqing era, an inventory was conducted, with intact books moved to the Hall of Martial Valor and damaged ones sold. Thereafter, the Hall of Reverent Thought was used primarily for storing printing blocks.

The Hall of Martial Valor is the birthplace of the “Hall Edition.” The architectural complex of the Hall of Martial Valor was completed in the Yongle era of the Ming Dynasty, covering an area of about 12,000 square meters with over 60 main structures spanning more than 6,500 square meters. The complex consists of two main sections, including the Gate of Martial Valor, the Hall of Martial Valor, the Hall of Reverent Thought, the Hall of Moral Cultivation, the Hall of Glorious Transformation, the Hall of Eternal Longevity, the Bathing Virtue Hall, and 63 corridors on both sides. During the transition between the Ming and Qing Dynasties, Li Zicheng hastily proclaimed himself emperor here, and Prince Regent Dorgon of the Shunzhi era handled state affairs in this location. Starting from 1680 during Kangxi’s reign, the Hall of Martial Valor Press was established. In 1914, the Antiquities Exhibition Hall displayed cultural relics in the Hall of Martial Valor. The architectural layout of the Hall of Martial Valor complex dates back to the Ming Dynasty, with major buildings reconstructed after a great fire in 1869 and extensively renovated in 1902.

Since its construction in the early Ming Dynasty, the architectural complex of the Hall of Martial Valor has been used not only for political and ceremonial activities but also, more extensively, for cultural purposes. During the Ming Dynasty, court painters were appointed here. In the Kangxi era of the Qing Dynasty, the Hall of Martial Valor Press was first established and became a center for literary editing. In 1680, the side corridors were turned into the Printing Office, responsible for book publication and binding. From the Qianlong era onward, the Hall became dedicated to proofreading and printing books. The printing activities flourished most during the reigns of Kangxi, Yongzheng, and Qianlong, featuring high-quality paper and ink, meticulous proofreading, and superior craftsmanship. In bibliography, these works are referred to as “Hall Editions” based on their place of publication. The printing activities of the Printing Office continued until the end of the Qing Dynasty, lasting for over 200 years and spanning nearly the entire dynasty.

In 1869, the Hall of Martial Valor was destroyed by a fire, which burnt down the main hall, rear hall, gate, east side hall, Bathing Virtue Hall, and a total of 37 structures, reducing books and printing blocks to ashes. The complex was rebuilt the same year. After the Forbidden City began major renovations in 2005, the Hall of Martial Valor area was restored and now serves as the Calligraphy and Painting Gallery of the Palace Museum. Its side halls house the Classics Gallery.

Palace Museum

Palace of Purity and Harmony

Hall of Supreme Harmony

Gate of Divine Prowess

Hall of Preserving Harmony

Palace of Earthly Tranquility

Palace of Heavenly Purity

Studio of Three Rarities

Palace of Compassion and Tranquility

Hall of Mental Cultivation

Palace of Longevity and Health

Imperial Garden of the Forbidden City

Palace of Eternal Spring

Meridian Gate

Hall of Literary Glory

Tower of Literary Glory

Gate of Supreme Harmony

Hall of Union