Shuntian Prefecture Hall

Shuntian Prefecture Hall

Shuntian Prefecture Hall is a cultural relic protection unit of Beijing Municipality.

Shuntian Prefecture Hall is located at No. 45 Donggong Street, Dongcheng District. It was the main hall within the Shuntian Prefecture Office during the Ming and Qing dynasties. The Shuntian Prefecture was responsible for affairs in the capital region, overseeing areas including Daxing County, Wanping County, and 22 nearby counties and prefectures.

The original Shuntian Prefecture Hall had three grand gates. Between the second and third gates, to the west, were the Bao Gong Temple, Prison God Temple, prison, the battalion commander’s office, the reception hall, and the scribes’ office; to the east were the Five Saints Temple, the waiting interrogation area, the grain office, the Temple of the Examination Deity, as well as offices for eastern clerks, household and penal affairs, salt administration, and public works. The main hall was situated in the courtyard of the third gate, measuring 26 meters in length from east to west and 14 meters in depth from north to south. It was the place where prisoners were interrogated. During the Qing Dynasty, the plaque above the hall read “Purify the Capital Region,” and it also featured an imperial admonition from Emperor Yongzheng. According to old regulations, third-rank government offices used steel seals, but only Shuntian Prefecture was authorized to use a silver seal.

Further Reading:

· Eighth Batch of Municipal-Level Cultural Relic Protection Units in Beijing