The Hall of Supreme Harmony

The Hall of Supreme Harmony

The Hall of Supreme Harmony is a cultural tourism attraction.

The Hall of Supreme Harmony is one of the “Three Great Halls of the East,” the largest existing wooden structure hall in China, commonly known as the “Golden Throne Hall.” It is located in a prominent position along the north-south central axis of the Forbidden City in Beijing. It was built in the 18th year of the Yongle reign of the Ming Dynasty (1420) and was originally called the Hall of Heavenly Praise. In the 41st year of the Jiajing reign of the Ming Dynasty (1562), it was renamed the Hall of Imperial Supremacy, and in the 2nd year of the Shunzhi reign of the Qing Dynasty (1645), it was given its current name. After its construction, it was burned down several times and rebuilt multiple times. The current structure dates back to its reconstruction in the 34th year of the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty (1695).

The Hall of Supreme Harmony serves as the main architectural structure and core space of the entire imperial palace. It features a double-eaved hip-and-gable roof, sits atop a three-tiered white marble terrace, and is adorned with golden dragon imperial seals and paintings. Its roof is decorated with 11 mythical creatures, and it has 11 bays—both representing the highest possible design standards. It is one of the largest existing wooden structures in China. In front of the hall lies a vast square that can accommodate tens of thousands of people for ceremonies and celebrations, giving the entire building an awe-inspiring presence. The plaque above the Hall of Supreme Harmony, inscribed with the characters “建极绥猷” (Establishing Supreme Harmony and Governing with Benevolence), was handwritten by Emperor Qianlong. The current plaque is a replica.

In 1416 (the 14th year of the Yongle reign), Emperor Chengzu of the Ming Dynasty issued an edict to relocate the capital to Beijing and ordered the construction of the Beijing palaces modeled after the Nanjing imperial palace. In 1420 (the 18th year of the Yongle reign), the Beijing palaces were completed. A year later, a major fire broke out, destroying the three front halls.

In 1440 (the 5th year of the Zhengtong reign), the three front halls and the Palace of Heavenly Purity were rebuilt. In 1459 (the 3rd year of the Tianshun reign), the Western Garden was constructed. In 1557 (the 36th year of the Jiajing reign), a great fire swept through the Forbidden City, completely destroying the three front halls, the Hall of Heavenly Praise, the Hall of Literary and Martial Glory, and the Meridian Gate. Reconstruction was not completed until 1561.

In 1597 (the 25th year of the Wanli reign), another fire destroyed the three front halls and the three rear palaces. Reconstruction work continued until 1627 (the 7th year of the Tianqi reign).

In 1644 (the 17th year of the Chongzhen reign), Li Zicheng captured Beijing, leading to the fall of the Ming Dynasty. Before retreating to Shaanxi, Li set fire to the Forbidden City. Only the Hall of Martial Valor, the Hall of Imperial Supremacy, the Hall of Literary Glory, the Hall of Southern Breezes, the surrounding corner towers, and the Gate of Imperial Supremacy survived; all other structures were razed. In the same year, Emperor Shunzhi of the Qing Dynasty arrived in Beijing. Over the following 14 years, the central axis buildings were largely restored. In 1683 (the 22nd year of the Kangxi reign), reconstruction began on the remaining damaged parts of the Forbidden City, which was largely completed by the 34th year of the Kangxi reign. In 1735 (the 13th year of the Yongzheng reign), Emperor Gaozong (Emperor Qianlong) ascended the throne, and over the next 60 years, large-scale additions and renovations were made to the Forbidden City.

In 1813 (the 18th year of the Jiaqing reign), Lin Qing, a follower of the Heaven and Earth Society, led an uprising and attacked the Forbidden City. In 1900, the Eight-Nation Alliance captured Beijing. In 1911, the Wuchang Uprising broke out, leading to the abdication of the Qing emperor. However, according to the terms agreed with the Republic of China, the imperial family continued to reside in the Forbidden City. In 1923, a fire broke out in the Palace of Established Happiness.

Over time, the Hall of Supreme Harmony gradually deteriorated, with some structural components rotting and no longer able to support the hall. The painted beams also faded significantly. As a result, from 2006, a comprehensive “closed-door” restoration project began. After two years of restoration, the Hall of Supreme Harmony was unveiled to visitors again in mid-July 2008. The restored hall shines with splendor and grandeur.

Many people today assume that the Hall of Supreme Harmony is regularly used for imperial court sessions, but this is not the case.

In reality, the Hall of Supreme Harmony is mainly used for ceremonial events and is rarely put into practical use. The actual locations where Ming and Qing emperors conducted court sessions were primarily the Hall of Supreme Harmony’s gate, the Gate of Heavenly Purity, the Palace of Heavenly Purity, and the Hall of Mental Cultivation—not the Hall of Supreme Harmony as commonly believed. The 24 emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties held grand ceremonies in the Hall of Supreme Harmony, such as enthronement, imperial weddings, the conferring of empress titles, and dispatching generals to war. Additionally, during the three major festivals—Emperor’s Birthday, New Year’s Day, and Winter Solstice—the emperor would receive congratulations from civil and military officials here and host banquets for nobles and ministers. In the early Qing period, the palace examination for newly selected scholars was also held in the Hall of Supreme Harmony. Starting from the 54th year of the Qianlong reign (1789), it was moved to the Hall of Preserving Harmony, although the announcement ceremony (“Chuan Lu”) remained in the Hall of Supreme Harmony. Regarding the location of the emperor’s daily court sessions, they were generally not held in the Hall of Supreme Harmony. Throughout the Ming and Qing dynasties, emperors typically held court at the Gate of Supreme Harmony or the Gate of Heavenly Purity, known as “Yu Men Ting Zheng” (Imperial Audience at the Gate). For more urgent or important matters, the emperor would summon ministers in the Palace of Heavenly Purity. During the late Qing period, Empress Dowager Cixi conducted court from behind a screen in the Hall of Mental Cultivation, thus changing the venue of court sessions.

The Hall of Supreme Harmony is the largest and highest-ranking structure in the Forbidden City. It is eleven bays wide and five bays deep, covering a floor area of 2,377 square meters, with a height of 26.92 meters. Including the terrace, its total height reaches 35.05 meters, making it the largest hall in the Forbidden City. In front of the hall lies a broad platform known as the Danbi (Imperial Steps), commonly referred to as the Moon Terrace. On the terrace are placed a sundial and a measuring vessel, along with a pair of bronze turtles, a pair of bronze cranes, and 18 bronze cauldrons. The turtle and crane symbolize longevity. The sundial is an ancient timekeeping device, while the measuring vessel represents ancient standards of measurement—both symbols of imperial authority.

Attraction Location

No. 4, Jingshan Front Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing

The Palace Museum

Palace of Purity

Shenwumen (Gate of Divine Might)

Hall of Preserving Harmony

Hall of Military Eminence

Palace of Earthly Tranquility

Palace of Heavenly Purity

Palace of Longevity and Health

Studio of the Three Rare Treasures

Hall of Mental Cultivation

Palace of Longevity and Peace

Imperial Garden of the Forbidden City

Palace of Eternal Spring

Meridian Gate

Hall of Literary Glory

Pavilion of Benevolent Virtue

Gate of Supreme Harmony

Hall of Imperial Ancestors