Hall of Supreme Harmony
cctv.com 04-09-2004 16:45
Newcomers to the former Imperial Palace in Beijing are very impressed by the high and imposing architecture of the Meridian Gate. But when they enter into the mysterious Imperial Palace and look north from the Gate of Supreme Harmony at the Hall of Supreme Harmony, China鈥檚 highest existing imperial structure, they would feel an even greater impact. The Hall of Supreme Harmony demonstrates to the full the imperial power and grandeur of looking down on the world at a vantage point.
The Hall of Supreme Harmony was first built in 1420. The common people called it Hall of the Golden Throne. Being the emperor鈥檚 audience hall, it was a symbol of imperial power. In the long years, 24 Chinese emperors had ascended the throne here and ruled a big country in the East.
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鈥淪ituated on the central axis of the palace grounds, the Hall of Supreme Harmony occupies a very special position. It is the core architecture of the Palace. It is the focus of the architectural complex in depth, width and height. According to ancient ritual, the 鈥渟on of Heaven鈥 is in the center. Because the center is the most imposing position, all other sides surround and protect the center. According to Yin and Yang and the theory of the five elements, the center belongs to the element 鈥渆arth鈥. Therefore, when we look from the north to the south, we鈥檒l discover the Hall鈥檚 white foundation is in the shape of the Chinese character 鈥渆arth鈥. Its coordinating color is yellow. This is very symbolic,鈥 said Prof. Yang Xin of Peking University.
鈥淎ll under Heaven is the Emperor鈥檚 domain.鈥 The emperor is the ruler of all under Heaven and the Hall of Supreme Harmony sitting on a foundation shaped like the Chinese character 鈥渆arth鈥 is the symbol of the power he exercises. Everything here expresses the emperors鈥 wish to consolidate his country forever and to hand down his imperial power from generation to generation.
All emperors down the ages regarded themselves as the incarnation of dragon. Therefore, dragons are seen everywhere, on the Hall鈥檚 white marble foundation, on posts, panels between posts, stone waterspouts and doors and windows of the Hall. The interior of the Hall of Supreme Harmony is covered with the image of dragon just as well.
鈥淒ragons dominate the interior decoration of the Hall of Supreme Harmony. Dragons coil on the columns. The screen has 9 dragons. So is the throne. A dragon coils in the caisson. The carpet is embroidered with dragons. When the emperor sat on the throne, he wore a dragon robe. Statistics has it that the entire hall, inside and out, has 12,654 dragons. The Hall of Supreme Harmony is the dragon鈥檚 kingdom,鈥 said Professor Yang Xin.
If the Imperial Palace is compared to a sea of palaces, the Hall of Supreme Harmony is the center of the sea. The Hall is made up with images of the dragon, which was conjured up by the people in ancient times. The overall design of the Hall of Supreme Harmony is to demonstrate supreme power and might under Heaven.
The Hall of Supreme Harmony is the largest existing palatial architecture in China at present.
Editor:Wang Ping Source:CCTV.com
