Hall of Heavenly Purity

　　    It was the place where emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties lived in the Forbidden City and handled daily state affairs. It is the foremost of the Three Rear Palaces, located inside the Qianqing Gate. "Qian" means heaven, and "Qing" means clear. The numeral "one" symbolizes a perfectly clear sky — untainted and unpolluted — representing national stability. It also symbolizes that the emperor’s actions are as pure and transparent as the clear sky, with nothing to hide.

　　    The Hall of Heavenly Purity is the main hall of the inner court of the Forbidden City and one of the Three Rear Palaces. It is nine bays wide and five bays deep, 20 meters high, and features a double-eaved hip-and-gable roof. At the center of the hall is an imperial throne, with heated chambers (nuange) at both ends. The Hall of Heavenly Purity was first built in the 18th year of the Yongle reign during the Ming Dynasty (1420), and was rebuilt several times after being destroyed by fire during both the Ming and Qing dynasties. The current structure was built in the 3rd year of the Jiaqing reign in the Qing Dynasty (1798).

　　    The Hall of Heavenly Purity was where the emperor handled routine government affairs and reviewed memorials. Later, it was also used to receive foreign envoys.

　　    The Hall of Heavenly Purity has a double-eaved hip-and-gable roof covered with yellow glazed tiles, and is situated on a single-tier white marble platform. Including the corridors, it is nine bays wide and five bays deep, with a floor area of 1,400 square meters. From the platform to the ridge, it stands over 20 meters tall, with nine mythical beasts on the roof ridges. The upper eaves feature a single-curved, double-angled, seven-step bracket set, while the lower eaves have a double-curved, single-angled, five-step set. The structure is complex, with a distinctive architectural style, giving the interior a more spacious feel. The ceiling is decorated with caisson ceilings, and the central axis is flanked by steps leading up to the elevated platform, which connects via a ramp to the Qianqing Gate.

　　    The Hall of Heavenly Purity is the largest building in the inner court. Fourteen emperors of the Ming Dynasty and two of the Qing Dynasty — Shunzhi and Kangxi — used it as their sleeping quarters and for daily governance. As the sleeping palace of the Ming emperors, from the Yongle Emperor Zhu Di to the Chongzhen Emperor Zhu Youjian, a total of 14 emperors resided here. It is recorded that after the Renyin Palace Coup — where over ten palace maids attempted to strangle the sleeping Jiajing Emperor — the Shizong Emperor moved to the Western Gardens and dared not return to live in the Hall of Heavenly Purity. The case of the removal of the concubine Li Xuan from the palace of the Taichang Emperor also occurred here. Before the reign of Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty, the practices continued as they had in the Ming. During the Shunzhi and Kangxi reigns, the Hall of Heavenly Purity had a close relationship with state affairs. The emperor studied here, reviewed memorials, summoned ministers, received foreign envoys, held inner court ceremonies, and hosted family banquets. After Emperor Yongzheng moved to the Hall of Mental Cultivation, this hall became an important site for summoning court officials, reviewing documents, handling state affairs, receiving tributary envoys from vassal states, and holding seasonal celebrations and banquets. Some routine administrative offices, including the princes' study rooms, were also moved into the surrounding side halls, greatly expanding the functional use of the Hall of Heavenly Purity.

　　    Above the throne in the main hall hangs a plaque inscribed with the characters “正大光明” (Upright and Pure Brightness) handwritten by the Shunzhi Emperor of the Qing Dynasty. Hidden behind this plaque is the “Box for Selecting the Heir” used for the secret designation of the crown prince. At that time, competition among princes for the throne was intense. To ease this conflict, starting from the Yongzheng reign, the method of secret succession was adopted. That is, the emperor would not publicly name an heir during his lifetime but would secretly write down the chosen successor on a document. One copy was kept by the emperor himself, and another was sealed in the Box for Selecting the Heir and placed behind the “Upright and Pure Brightness” plaque. After the emperor’s death, the regents would take down the box and compare it with the emperor’s own hidden copy. Once verified, the successor would be announced. The emperors Qianlong, Jiaqing, Daoguang, and Xianfeng all ascended the throne following this system. In the later Qing period, because Emperor Xianfeng had only one son, and Emperors Tongzhi and Guangxu had none, this secret succession method lost its significance.

　　Zhu Di (1360–1424)　　    The Yongle Emperor Zhu Di (1360–1424) was the third emperor of the Ming Dynasty. He was the fourth son of the Hongwu Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang, born in Yingtian (present-day Nanjing). He participated in military campaigns and was granted the title of Prince of Yan. Later, he launched the Jingnan Campaign to overthrow his nephew, the Jianwen Emperor, and claimed the throne. His original temple name was “Taizong,” but more than a hundred years later, the Jiajing Emperor Zhu Houcong changed it to “Chengzu.” He is also known as the “Yongle Emperor.”     Zhu Di was a native of Fengyang, Anhui. In the 3rd year of the Hongwu reign (1370), he was granted the title of Prince of Yan. He once lived in Fengyang and had some understanding of the lives of common people. In the 13th year, he was sent to Beiping (modern-day Beijing) as a prince, and was frequently ordered to participate in military operations in the north. He led troops on two northern expeditions...  More+

　　Aisin-Gioro Hongli (1711–1799)　　    The Qianlong Emperor, Aisin-Gioro Hongli (September 25, 1711 – February 7, 1799), was the sixth emperor of the Qing Dynasty. He reigned for 60 years, and effectively ruled for 63 years and four months, making him the longest-living and longest-reigning de facto emperor in Chinese history. Together with his father Yongzheng and grandfather Kangxi, Qianlong ushered in the “Prosperous Age of Kangxi and Qianlong.” During his reign, he consolidated and developed a unified multi-ethnic state, suppressed the Dzungar and Jungar rebellions, stabilized Tibet, and quelled the Jinchuan Rebellions. He reformed the bureaucracy, emphasized agriculture, promoted water conservancy projects, supported Confucian studies, established the Ili General to administer Xinjiang, and more. However, in the later part of his reign...  More+

　　Aisin-Gioro Yŏngyăn (1760–1820)　　    The Jiaqing Emperor, Aisin-Gioro Yŏngyăn (November 13, 1760 – September 2, 1820), was the seventh emperor of the Qing Dynasty. Originally named Yongyan, he was the son of Qianlong. In 1796, Qianlong abdicated in his favor, but Yŏngyăn did not assume full power until after Qianlong’s death. During his reign, he punished corruption, reformed the administration, and suppressed the White Lotus Rebellion, but maintained a policy of isolationism. Coupled with issues such as the inflow of opium, he was unable to reverse the decline of the Qing Dynasty. In 1820, Yŏngyăn died suddenly at the Chengde Mountain Resort at the age of 61. His posthumous title was “Emperor Shoutian Xingyun Fuhua Suyou Chongwen Jingwu Xiaogong Qinjian Duanneng Yingzhe Rui,” and his temple name was Renzong. He is buried in...  More+

　　Aisin-Gioro Minning (1782–1850)　　    The Daoguang Emperor, Aisin-Gioro Minning (September 16, 1782 – February 25, 1850), originally named Mianning, was the eighth emperor of the Qing Dynasty and the only one to inherit the throne as the eldest legitimate son. During his reign, he suppressed the rebellion of Jahangir Khoja, reformed the bureaucracy, overhauled the salt tax and canal transport systems, and strictly prohibited opium, but was unable to halt the decline of the Qing Dynasty. In 1840, the First Opium War broke out, and the Treaty of Nanking was signed with Britain. Thereafter, Daoguang became increasingly resigned to decline. He died in 1850 at the age of 69. His posthumous title was “Emperor Xiaotian Fuyun Lizhong Tizheng Zhiwen Shengwu Zhiyong Renci Qinxian Duanneng Xiao,” and his temple name was Xuanzong. He is buried in...  More+

　　Aisin-Gioro Yizhu (1831–1861)　　    The Xianfeng Emperor, Aisin-Gioro Yizhu (July 17, 1831 – August 22, 1861), was the ninth emperor of the Qing Dynasty and the last to hold real power in both Qing and Chinese history. During his reign, Xianfeng was diligent in governance, welcomed advice, sought talent, suppressed the Taiping Rebellion, and initiated the Self-Strengthening Movement. However, his reign ended with a series of unequal treaties that further reduced China to a semi-colonial state. He died in 1861 at the age of 31. His posthumous title was “Emperor Xietian Yiyun Zhizhong Chui Mo Maode Zhenwu Shengxiao Yuangong Duanren Zhuangmin Xian,” and his temple name was Wenzong. He is buried in the Dingling Tomb of the Qing Dynasty.    Biography...  More+

The Palace Museum

Palace of Purity and Harmony (Zhongcui Gong)

Hall of Supreme Harmony (Taihe Dian)

Gate of Divine Might (Shenwu Men)

Hall of Central Harmony (Baohe Dian)

Palace of Imperial Supremacy (Huangji Dian)

Hall of Martial Valor

Palace of Earthly Tranquility

Palace of Compassion and Tranquility

Hall of Three Rarities

Hall of Mental Cultivation

Palace of Longevity and Health

Imperial Garden

Palace of Eternal Longevity

Meridian Gate