This book covers:
The Forbidden City in Beijing: classic buildings of the Outer and Inner Courts, a witness to the rise and fall of the nation's fortunes, rich cultural value, and a special place among China's national treasures;
The walls of the Forbidden City in Beijing: walls enclosing the palace on all four sides, the Golden Water River surrounding the Forbidden City, and corner towers that also served defensive functions;
The gates of the Forbidden City in Beijing: the Meridian Gate displaying the majesty of imperial power, the East Glorious Gate with its distinctive arrangement of door studs, the West Glorious Gate complementing the palace's layout, and the Gate of Divine Might ensuring orderly entry and exit;
The Outer Court buildings of the Forbidden City in Beijing: the Hall of Supreme Harmony for grand ceremonies, the Hall of Central Harmony embodying the doctrine of the mean, the Hall of Preserving Harmony as a high-level examination hall, the Hall of Literary Brilliance for imperial lectures on the classics, the Pavilion of Literary Profundity as an important royal library, the Southern Three Institutes as a place for princes to gain experience, the Hall of Military Eminence for cultural activities, and the Imperial Household Department overseeing palace affairs;
The Inner Court buildings of the Forbidden City in Beijing: the Palace of Heavenly Purity at the heart of the Inner Court, the Hall of Union symbolizing lasting harmony, the Palace of Earthly Tranquility symbolizing the union of heaven and earth, the Hall of Mental Cultivation for nurturing one's nature, the Hall of Ancestral Worship as the imperial family's ancestral temple, the uniform layout of the Inner Court's sleeping quarters, the Palace of Abstinence for fasting and purification within the palace, the Palace of Eternal Spring as a residence for princes, and the Imperial Garden as a beautiful retreat for leisure.
I really want to go to the Forbidden City again
The writing style of this book is very formal, the writing is concise and clear, and the content is very detailed. By reading this book, I felt like I was in the Forbidden City. The architecture and history of the Forbidden City are described in great detail, which gave me a deeper understanding of the Forbidden City. However, I don't like the overly formal language in the book, which feels a bit cold. But overall, this is a good book worth reading.