The Hall of Abstinence

　　   Located south of the Six Eastern Palaces in the Forbidden City and west of the Yuding Palace, it served as the place where the emperor underwent purification rituals before performing ceremonies to worship Heaven and Earth. In the Ming and early Qing dynasties, the purification rites were conducted outside the palace. In the later years of Emperor Kangxi’s reign, fierce competition among the princes for succession led to the eventual enthronement of the fourth prince, Yinzhen, who also made powerful enemies in the process. After ascending the throne, political strife within the palace remained intense. To ensure his safety, Emperor Yongzheng built the Hall of Abstinence inside the Forbidden City in the ninth year of the Yongzheng reign (1731), moving the purification ceremony before worshiping Heaven and Earth within the palace walls.

　　   The Hall of Abstinence consists of a rectangular courtyard with front ceremonial halls and rear sleeping quarters. The front hall, known as the Hall of Abstinence, features five bays with yellow glazed tile hip-and-gable roofs. It has a three-bay front porch, with the middle and side central bays fitted with lattice doors, while the two side bays have lattice windows. Inside the hall, a plaque inscribed with the characters “Revere Heaven” (敬天), written by Emperor Qianlong, hangs prominently from the ceiling. The interior is adorned with a coffered ceiling featuring gold-inlaid dragon designs, with an octagonal caisson ceiling adorned with coiled gold dragons at its center. The east warm chamber functions as a study, and the west warm chamber serves as a Buddhist shrine. Each side has three auxiliary rooms. Corner corridors on the east and west connect to the front-hall corridors, forming a U-shaped courtyard layout with turning angles. The rear sleeping hall was originally named Fuzuo Hall and later renamed Chengsu Hall, featuring seven bays with a yellow glazed tile hip-and-gable roof. The hall has two side chambers on each east and west side. Eleven-bay corridors on the east and west link to the front hall.

　　   Before ceremonies for worshipping Heaven and Earth, as well as for praying for good harvests and rain, the emperor would observe purification rites here. When the emperor stayed in the Hall of Abstinence, a purification plaque and a copper figure were ceremonially placed on the left side of the hall’s steps. On purification days, the emperor and accompanying ministers wore purification plaques, and wooden purification signs were hung on the curtains of each palace hall. During the purification period, no music was played, no alcohol was consumed, and spicy foods were avoided.

　　   Covering an area of approximately 40,000 square meters, the site is enclosed by double walls, with 167 corridors along the inner wall serving as shelters for guards against wind and rain. The main hall is a five-bay beamless structure, one of the capital’s notable architectural landmarks. Its roof is covered with blue glazed tiles, symbolizing the humility of not presuming supremacy before Heaven. The terrace in front of the hall houses a time-marker stele pavilion and a copper figure pavilion for purification rites. The copper figure stands 1.5 chi tall, dressed in the attire of an ancient civil official and holding a bronze tablet inscribed with the words “Purification” (斋戒). Legend says it was modeled after Wei Zheng, the candid chancellor of the Tang Dynasty. Behind the main hall lies the five-bay sleeping quarters, where the emperor rested prior to conducting worship ceremonies.

　　   The Hall of Abstinence is the place where the emperor underwent purification. Among various royal worship and prayer structures, a Hall of Abstinence was always constructed. The best-preserved existing example is the Hall of Abstinence at Beijing’s Temple of Heaven. Located northwest outside the Chengzhen Gate of the Circular Mound Altar at the Temple of Heaven, it faces east and has a square floor plan. The walls consist of two layers: the outer brick wall is 66.07 meters in circumference, while the inner sacred wall is 41.33 meters. The main eastern side of the wall features two gates, with one corner gate on each side, each preceded by a white marble bridge. Corridors encircle the structure, providing shelter from wind, rain, frost, and snow for the Eight Banners guards. Over 1,300 colorful paintings depicting figures, landscapes, flowers, and birds adorn the corridors. Outside the corridors lies a deep moat, creating multiple defensive layers. Five rooms stand on both the north and south sides in front of the stone bridge, serving as temporary lodgings for guards and imperial troops.