The Hall of Union

The Hall of Union

The Hall of Union is a cultural tourism attraction.

The Hall of Union is one of the three rear palaces in the Inner Court of the Forbidden City in Beijing, located between the Hall of Heavenly Purity and the Palace of Earthly Tranquility. Its name is derived from the *Book of Changes* (I Ching), symbolizing "the harmony between heaven and earth, and peace and prosperity." It was built around the Jiajing era of the Ming Dynasty and underwent renovations in the 12th year of the Shunzhi reign (1655) and the 8th year of the Kangxi reign (1669). In the 2nd year of the Jiaqing reign (1797), a fire in the Hall of Heavenly Purity spread to this hall, and it was rebuilt the following year.

The Hall of Union was the venue where the empress received birthday congratulations. During the Qing Dynasty, the Twenty-Five Imperial Seals were stored here, each with a specific purpose. Every year in the first lunar month, the Board of Astronomy would select an auspicious date and time to unveil and display the seals, after which the emperor would come to offer incense and perform rituals. In light of the lessons learned from the eunuch domination during the Ming Dynasty, Emperor Shunzhi decreed that eunuchs should not interfere in state affairs, and an iron plaque inscribed with “Eunuchs Shall Not Meddle in Politics” was erected in this hall. During the imperial wedding ceremony, the empress’s enthronement and imperial seals were placed on the tables on the left and right sides of the hall. Each spring, the empress would inspect the tools used for silkworm harvesting here the day before the Silkworm Worship Ceremony.

The Hall of Union has a square floor plan, with each side consisting of three bays in both width and depth. It features a yellow-glazed tile roof with a four-cornered pyramidal spire and a gilded finial, slightly smaller than the Hall of Central Harmony. Inside the hall, there is an imperial throne, behind which stand four screens inscribed with the *Inscription of the Hall of Union* written by Emperor Qianlong. At the center of the ceiling is an octagonal caisson. The hall has a single-eave, four-cornered pyramidal roof with a copper-gilded finial and yellow-glazed tiles. The secondary bays on the southern side have lattice windows, while the other three sides have solid walls. The interior ceiling features a coiling dragon and pearl caisson, and the floor is paved with golden bricks. A bronze clepsydra (water clock) was installed in the eastern secondary bay but was no longer used after the Qianlong era. On the western side of the hall, there is a strikingly large chiming clock, manufactured in the 3rd year of the Jiaqing reign. The time for the entire imperial palace was based on this clock. The clock stands approximately 6 meters tall and is the largest ancient standing clock preserved in China.

In the 13th year of the Qianlong reign (1748), the emperor placed the Twenty-Five Imperial Seals, representing imperial authority, in the Hall of Union. These seals were managed by the Grand Secretariat and overseen by the Supervisor of the Imperial Household Department. Their use required the emperor’s approval. The “Seal of the Emperor” was used for issuing imperial edicts and announcing the results of the imperial examinations; the “Seal of Establishing Laws” and the “Seal of Bestowing Virtue” were used for imperial directives to officials and for rewarding civil servants; the “Seal for Commanding the Six Armies” was used for military purposes. The seals were kept in boxes covered with yellow silk.

The bronze clepsydra, also known as a water clock, is an ancient Chinese timekeeping device. As early as 3,000 years ago, the Chinese invented the method of using dripping water to measure time. The bronze clepsydra displayed in the Hall of Union was made in the 10th year of the Qianlong reign (1745) and is the best-preserved example still in existence today.

The large chiming clock displayed in the Hall of Union was manufactured in the 3rd year of the Jiaqing reign (1798) by the Imperial Workshop of the Qing Palace. Its casing is a wooden cabinet designed in the style of a traditional Chinese pavilion, standing 5.8 meters tall and divided into upper, middle, and lower sections. There is a small staircase at the back of the clock tower, which allows access to wind the clock. Once operational, the clock automatically chimes on the hour and quarter-hour. Despite being over 200 years old, the clock still functions accurately, and its chimes are loud and clear, demonstrating the exceptional craftsmanship of its construction.

The Palace Museum

The Palace of Purity and Harmony

The Hall of Supreme Harmony

The Gate of Divine Might

The Hall of Preserving Harmony

The Hall of Literary Glory

The Palace of Earthly Tranquility

The Hall of Heavenly Purity

The Palace of Longevity and Health

The Studio of Three Rarities

The Hall of Mental Cultivation

The Palace of Longevity and Peace

The Imperial Garden of the Forbidden City

The Palace of Eternal Spring

The Meridian Gate

The Hall of Literary Glory

The Pavilion of Benevolent Virtue

The Gate of Supreme Harmony