故宮英文導(dǎo)游詞故宮英文介紹forbiddencity(紫禁城)(infrontofthemeridiangate)ladiesandgentlemen:iampleasedtoserveasyourguidetoday.thisisthepalacemuseum;alsoknowasthepurpleforbiddencity.itisthelargestandmostwellreservedimperialresidenceinchinatoday.undermingemperoryongle,constructionbeganin1406.ittook14yearstobuildtheforbiddencity.thefirstrulerwhoactuallylivedherewasmingemperorzhudi.forfivecenturiesthereafter,itcontinuedtobetheresidenceof23successiveemperorsuntil1911whenqingemperorpuyiwasforcedtoabdicatethethrone.in1987,theunitednationseducational,scientificandculturalorganizationrecognizedtheforbiddencitywasaworldculturallegacy.itisbelievedthatthepalacemuseum,orzijincheng(purpleforbiddencity),gotitsnamefromastronomyfolklore,theancientastronomersdividedtheconstellationsintogroupsandcenteredthemaroundtheziweiyuan(northstar).theconstellationcontainingthenorthstarwascalledtheconstellationofheavenlygodandstaritselfwascalledthepurplepalace.becausetheemperorwassupposedlythesonoftheheavenlygods,lklore,thetermaneasternpurplecloudisdriftingbecameametaphorforauspiciouseventsafterapurplecloudwasseendriftingeastwardimmediatelybeforethearrivalofanancientphilosopher,laozi,tothehanghupass.here,purpleisassociatedwithauspiciousdevelopments.thewordjin(forbidden)isself-explanatoryastheimperialpalacewasheavilyguardedandoff-explanatoryastheimperialpalacewasheavilyguardedandoff-limitstoordinarypeople.theredandyellowusedonthepalacewallsandroofsarealsosymbolic.redrepresentshappiness,goodfortuneandwealth.yellowisthecoloroftheearthontheloessplateau,theoriginalhomeofthechinesepeople.yellowbecameanimperialcolorduringthetangdynasty,whenonlymembersoftheroyalfamilywereallowedtowearitanduseitintheirarchitecture.theforbiddencityisrectangularinshape.itis960meterslongfromnorthtosouthand750meterwidefromeastwest.ithas9,900roomsunderatotalroofarea150,000squaremeters.a52-meter-wide-moatencirclesa9.9-meterhighwallwhichenclosesthecomplex.octagonshapedturretsrestonthefourcornersofthewall.therearefourentrancesintothecity:themeridiangatetothesouth,theshenwugate(gateofmilitaryprowess)tothenorth,andthexihuagate(gateofmilitaryprowess)tothenorth,andthexihuagate(westernflowerygate)tothewest,thedonghua(easternflowerygate)totheeast.manpowerandmaterialsthroughoutthecountrywereusedtobuildtheforbiddencity.atotalof230,000artisansandonemillionlaborerswereemployed.marblewasquarriedfromfangshancountrymountpaninjixiancountyinhebeiprovince.granitewasquarriedinquyangcountyinhebeiprovince.pavingblockswerefiredinkilnsinsuzhouinsouthernchina.bricksandscarletpigmentationusedonthepalatialwallscamefromlinqinginshandongprovince.timberwascut,processedandhauledfromthenorthwesternandsouthernregions.thestructureinfrontofusisthemeridiangate.itisthemainentrancetotheforbiddencity.itisalsoknowsaswufenglou(five-phoenixtower).mingemperorsheldlavishbanquetshereonthe15thdayofthefirstmonthofthechineselunaryearinhornoroftheircounties.theyalsousedthisplaceforpunishingofficalsbyfloggingthemwithsticks.qingemperorsusedthisbuildingtoannouncethebeginningofthenewyear.qingemperorqianglongchangedtheoriginalnameofthisannouncementceremonyfrombanli(announcementofcalendar)tobanshou(announcementofnewmoon)toavoidcoincidentalassociationwithanotheremperor'sname,hongli,whichwasconsideredatabooatthattime.qingdynastyemperorsalsousedthisplacetoholdaudienceandforotherimportantceremonies.forexample,whentheimperialarmyreturnedvictoriouslyfromthebattlefield,itwasherethattheemperorpresidedovertheceremonytoacceptprisonersofwar.(afterenteringthemeridiangateandstandinginfrontofthefivemarblebridgesongoldenwaterriver)nowweareinsidetheforbiddencity.beforewestartourtour,iwouldliketobrieflyintroduceyoutothearchitecturalpatternsbefourus.tocompletethissolemn,magnificentandpalatialcomplex,avarietyofbuildingswerearrangedonanorth-southaxis,and8-kilometer-longinvisiblelinethathasbecomeaninseparablepartofthecityofbeijing.theforbiddencitycoversroughlyonethirdofthiscentralaxis.mostoftheimportantbuildingintheforbiddencitywereearrangedalongthisline.thedesignandarrangementofthepalacesreflectthesolemndignityoftheroyalcourtandrigidlystratifiedfeudalsystem.theforbiddencityisdividedintoanouterandaninnercount.wearenowstandingonthesouthernmostpartoftheoutercount.infrontofusliesthegateofsupremeharmony.thegateisguardedbyapairofbronzelions,symbolizingimperialpoweranddignity.thelionswerethemostexquisiteandbiggestofitskind.theoneontheeastplayingwithaballisamale,andballissaidtorepresentstateunity.theotheroneisafemale.underneathoneofitsforeclawsisacubthatisconsideredtobeasymbolofperpetualimperialsuccession.thewindingbrookbeforeusisthegoldenwaterriver.itfunctionsbothasdecorationandfirecontrol.thefivebridgesspanningtheriverrepresentthefivevirtuespreachedbyconfucius:benevolence,righteousness,rites,intellenceandfidelity.therivertakestheshapeofabowandthenorth-southaxisisitsarrow.thiswasmeanttoshowthattheemperorsruledthecountryonbehalfofgod.(infrontofthegateofsupremeharmony)theforbiddencityconsistsofanoutercountyardandaninnerenclosure.theoutcountyardcoversavastspacelyingbetweenthemeridiangateandthegateofheavenlypurity.thethreebighallsofsupremeharmony,completeharmonyandpreservingharmonyconstitutethecenterofthisbuildinggroup.flankingtheminbilateralsymmetryaretwogroupsofpalaces:wenhua(prominentscholars)andwuying(bravewarriors).thethreegreathallsarebuiltonaspacioush-shaped,8-meter-high,triplemarbleterrace,eachlevelofthetripleterraceistallerthantheonbelowandallareencircledbymarblebalustradescarvedwithdragonandphoenixdesigns.therearethreecarvedstonestaircaseslinkingthethreearchitectures.thehallofsupremeharmonyisalsothetallestandmostexquisiteancientwooden-structuredmansioninallofchina.fromthepalaceofheavenlypurithnorthwardiswhatisknownastheinnercourt,hecenterarethepalaceofheavenlypurity,thehallofunionandpeaceandpalaceofearthlytranquility,aplacewheretheemperorslivedwiththeirfamiliesandattendedtostateaffairs.flankingthesestructuresarepalacesandhallsinwhichconcubinesandprinceslived.therearealsothreebotanicalgardenswithintheinnercount,namely,theimperialgarden,caninggardenandquailinggarden.aninnergoldenwaterriverflowseastwardlywithintheinnercourt.thebrookwindsthroughthreeminorhallsorpalacesandleadsoutoftheforbiddencity.itisspannedbythewhitejadebridge.theriverislinedwithwinding,marblecarvedbalustrades.mostofthestructureswithintheforbiddencityhaveyellowglazedtileroofs.asidefromgivingprominencetothenorth-southaxis,otherarchitecturalmethodswereappliedtomakeeverygroupofpalatialstructuresuniqueintermsofterraces,roofs,mythicalmonstersperchingontheroofsandcolored,drawingpatterns.withthese,thegrandcontouranddifferenthierarchicspectrumofthecomplexwerestrengthened.folklorehasitthattherearealtogether9,999room-unitsintheforbiddencity.sinceparadiseonlyhas10,000rooms,thesonofheavenonearthcutthenumberbyhalfaroom.itisalsorumouredthatthishalfroomislocatedtothewestofthewenyuangepavilion(imperiallibrary).asamatteroffact,althoughtheforbiddencityhasmorethan9,000room-units,thishalf-roomisnonexistent.thewenyuangepavilionisalibrarywheresikuquanshu-china'sfirstcomprehensiveanthology-wasstored.(afterwalkingpastthegateofsupremeharmony)ladiesandgentlemen,thegreathallweareapproachingisthehallofsupremeharmony,thebiggestandtallestofitskingintheforbiddencity.thisstructurecoversatotalbuildingspaceof2,377squaremeters,andisknowforitsupturned,multiplecounterparteaves.thehallofsupremeharmonysitsonatripleh-shapedmarbleterracetheis8metershighandlinkedbystaircases.thestaircaseonthegroundfloorhas21stepswhilethemiddleandupperstairwayseachhave9.theconstructionofthehallofsupremeharmonybeganin1406.itburneddownthreetimesandwasseverelydamagedonceduringamutiny.theexistingarchitecturewasbuiltduringtheqingdynasty.onthecornersoftheeavesalineofanimal-nailswereusuallyfastenedtothetiles.theseanimalnailswerelaterreplacewithmythicalanimalstowardoffevilspirits.therearealtogether9suchfastenersontopofthishall.thenumberninewasregardedbytheancientstobethelargestnumeralaccessibletomanandtowhichonlytheemperorswereentitled.therewasatotalof24successiveemperorsduringthemingandqingdynastieswhowereenthronedhere.theballwasalsousedforceremonieswhichmarkedothergreatoccasions:thewintersolstice,thechineselunarnewyear,theemperor'sbirthday,conferralofthetitleofempress,theannouncementofnewlawsandpolicies,anddispatchesofgeneralstowar.onsuchoccasions,theemperorwouldholdaudienceforhiscourtofficialsandreceivetheirtributes.thisareaiscalledthehallofsupremeharmonysquare,whichcoversatotalof30,000squaremeters,withoutasingletreeorplantgrowinghere,hemiddleofthesquarethereisacarriagewaythatwasreservedfortheemperor.onbothsidesoftheroadthegroudbrickswerelaidinaspecialwaysevenlayerslengthwiseandeightlayerscrosswise,hewholecomplextherearealtogher308watervats.inwintertime,charcoalwasburnedunderneaththevatstokeepthewaterfromfreezing.whysovastasquare?itwasdesignedtoimpresspeoplewiththehall'sgrandeurandvastness.imaginethefollowingscene.undertheclearbluesky,theyellowglazedtilesshimmeredasthecloud-likelayersofterrace,coupledwiththecurlingveilofburningincense,transformedthehallofsupremeharmonyintoafairyland.whenevermajorceremonieswereheld,theglazed,craneshapedcandleholdersinsidethehallwouldbeit,andincenseandpinebranchesburntinfrontofthehall.whentheemperorappeared,drumswerebeatenandmusicalinstrumentplayed.civilianofficialsandgeneralswouldkneelknowinsubmission.thelastqingemperorpuyiassumedthethronein1908,attheageofthree,hisfathercarriedhimtothethrone.atthestartofthecoronation,thesuddendrum-beatingandloudmusiccaughttheyoungemperorunprepared.hewassoscaredthathekeptcryingandshouting,idontwanttostayhere.iwanttogohome.hisfathertriedtosoothehim,saying,it'allsoonbefinished.it'allsoonbefinishedtheministerspresentattheeventconsideredthisincidentinauspicious.coincidentally,theqingdynastycollapsedthreeyearslaterandtherewithconcludedchina'sfeudalsystemthathadlastedformorethan2,000years.(onthestoneterraceofthehallofsupremeharmony)thisisabronzeincenseburner.initincensemadeofsandalwoodwouldbeburntonimportantoccasions.therearealtogether18incenseburners,representingalloftheprovincesundertheruleofthesingmonarchs.oneithersideofthehall,4bronzewater-filledvatswereplacedincaseoffire.nexttotheterraceoneitherside,thereisabronzecraneandtortoise,symbolsoflongevity.thiscopper-castgrainmeasureiscalledjialiang.itservedasthenationalstandardduringtheqingdynasty.itwasmeanttoshowthattheimperialrulerwerejustandopentorectification.ontheothersidethereisastonesundial,anancienttimepiece.thejialiangandthesundialwereprobablymeanttoshowwhattheemperorrepresented:heveryforefrontofthehallofsupremeharmony,thereare12scarlet,roundpillarssupportingtheroof.thehallis63metersfromeasttowestand37metersfromnorthtosouth,itis35metersinheight.infrontofthisarchitechture,hemiddleofthehall,athrounecarvedwith9dragonssitsona2-meter-highplatform.behindthethronethereisagoldenscreenandinfrontofit,thereisaimperialdesk.theflanksaredecoratedwithelephants,luduan(alegendarybeast),cranes,andincensebarrels.theelephantcarriesavaseonitsbackthatholdsfivecereals(i.e.rice,twokindsofmillet,wheatandbeans),whichwasconsideredasymbolofprosperity.asancientlegendhasitthatluduancantravel18,000li(9,000kilometers)inonedayandknowsalllanguagesanddialects.onlytoawiseadjustmonarchwillthisbeastbeaguardian.thehallofsupremeharmonyisalsopopularlyknownasjinluandian(goldbellhallorthethronehall).thefloorofthehallislaidwithbricksthatturnitintoasmooth,finesurfaceasifwaterhasbeensprinkledonit.theso-calledgoldenbrick,infact,hasnothingtodowithgold.reservedexclusivelyfortheconstructionoftheroyalcourt,itwasmadeinasecretive,andcomplexway,and,whenstruck,soundsliketheclinkofagoldbar.eachbrickwasworththemarketpriceofonedan(oronehectoliter)ofrice.thehallissupportedbyatotalof72thickpillars.ofthese,6arecarvedindragonpatternsandpaintedwithgoldandsurroundthethrone.abovetheverycenterofthishallthereisazaojing,orcoveredceiling,whichisoneofthespecialitiesofchina'hemiddleoftheceilingisadesignofadragonplayingwithaballinlaidwithpeals.thiscopperball,hollowinsideandcoveredwithmercury,isknownasthexuanyuanmirrorandisthoughttobemadexuanyuan,alegendarymonarchdatingbacktoremoteantiquity.theplacingofthecaissonabovethethroneismeanttosuggestthatallofchina'ssuccessiveemperorsarezuanyuan'sdescendantsandhereditaryheirs.nowyoumighthavenoticedthatthexuanyuanmirrorisnotdirectlyabovethethrone.why?itisrumoredthatyuanshikai,aself-acclaimedwarlord-turnedemperormovedthethronefurtherbackbecausehewasafraidthatthemirrormightfallonhim.in1916whenyuanshikaibecameemperor,heremovedtheoriginalthronewithawestern-style,high-backchair.afterthefoundationofthepeople'srepublicofchinain1949thethronewasfoundinashabbyfurniturewarehouse.itrepairedandreturnedtothehall.(leadingthetouristtothebronzevatseitherontheeastorthewest)thewatervatsinfrontofthepalacesorhousewerecalledmenhai,orseabeforethedoorbytheancientchinese.theybelievedthatwithaseabythedoor,firecouldnotwreakhavoc.thevatsservedbothasadecorationandasafireextinguisher.theywerekeptfullofwaterallyearround.duringtheqingdynasty,theywerealtogether308vatsinthepalaceenclosure.theyweremadeofgiltbronzeoriron.ofcouse,thegiltbronzevatswereofthebestquality.whenthealliedforces(britain,germany,france,russia,theunitedstates,italy,japanandaustria)invadedbeijingin1900underthepretextofsuppressingtheboxerrebellion,theinvadersransackedtheimperialcompoundandscrapedandgoldoffthevatswiththeirbayonets.duringthejapaneseoccupationofbeijing,manyvatsweretruckedawaybythejapanesetobemadeintobullets.(infrontofthehallofcompleteharmony)thesquarearchitecturebeforeusiscalledthehallofcompleteharmony.itservedasanantechamber.theemperorcameheretomeetwithhiscountiersandaddhisfinaltouchestotheprayerswhichwouldbereadattheancestraltemple.theseeds,snowersandprayerintendedforspringsowingwerealsoexaminedhere.thetwoqingsedanchairshereondisplaywereusedfortravelingwithinthepalaceduringthereignofemperorqianlong.(infrontofthehallfpreservingharmony)thisisthehallofpreservingharmony.duringtheqingdynasty,banquetswereheldhereonnewyear'seveinhonourofmongolianandnorthwesternchina'sxingjiangprincesandrankingofficials.theemperoralsodinnedherewithhisnewson-in-lawontheweddingday.imperialexaminationswerealsoheldhereonceeverythreeyears.duringthemingandqingdynasties,therewerethreelevelsofexams:thecountyandprefecturallevel,theprovinciallevelandnationallevel.thenationalexamwaspresidedoverbytheemperor.thecivilserviceexaminancientchinastartedduringthehandynasty.itservedthepurposeofrecruitingconfucianscholarstotheministersandhighofficials.duringthetangandqingdynastiesreinstitutedandancientsystem.onceeverythreeyears,threehundredscholarsfromalloverthecountrycametobeijingandtookexamsforthreedayandnight.thissystemwasabolishedin1905.(behindthehallofpreservingharmony)thisisthelargeststonecarvinginthepalace.itis16.73meterslong,3.07meterswideand1.7metersthick.itweighsabout200tons.theblockwasquarriedinfangshancounty,roughly70kilometersaway.totransportsuchahugeblocktobeijing,laborersdugwellsalongtheroadsidehalfakilometerapart,andusedthegroundwatertomakearoadoficeinthewinter.rollingblockswereusedinthesummer.in1760,emperorqianlongoftheqingdynastyorderedthecarvingoftheexistingcloudanddragondesigninplaceoftheoldonewhichdatedbacktothemingdynasty.note:fromhere,thetourcanbeconductedviathreedifferentroutes:awesternroute(routea),acentralroute(routeb)oraneasternroute(routec).thecommentaryforeachfollows.routealadiesandgentlemen:youhaveseenthethreemainhallsoftheforbiddencity.nowi'dliketoshowyouaroundthehallofmentalcultivationandtheimperialgarden.thehallofmentalcultivationissituatedisinthewesternpartoftheinnermostenclosureandissymmetricaltofengxian(enshrinementofforebears)hallintheeast.thishallwasbuiltduringthemingdynasty.itisah-shapedstructureconsistingofanantechamberandamainbuilding.thehallissurroundedbycorridors.infrontofthehallistheofficeofprivycouncil.beforeemperorkangxiofqingthedynastycametopowerthehallofheavenlypurityservedasthelivingquarteroftheemperors.emperoryongzhengchosetoliveinthishallandattendedtoeverydaystateaffairsfromhere.forthesakeofprotectingculturalrelics,thishallisnotopentothepublic.youcanhavealookattheinsidefromthedoor.thecentralhallwastheaudiencechamberwheretheemperorreadmemorials,grantedaudiencetoofficialsandsummonedhisminstersforconsultation.thewesternchamberofthehallwaswheretheemperorreadreportsanddiscussedmilitaryandpoliticalaffairs.thehallconsistsofmanyinnerroomsandisdecoratedwithimagesofbuddhaandminiaturepagodas.onthescreenwalltherehangsapictureoftwoemperorsinthehancostume.inasouthernroomtherethreerarecalligraphicscrolls,hencethenameoftheroomsanxitang(roomofthreeraretreasures).theroomontheeasternsideisofhistoricalinterstbecauseitwasherethatempressdowagercixiusurpedpowerandmadedecisionsonbehalfoftheyoungemperor.abamboocurtainwasusedtoseparatethem.empressdowagecixiwasbornin1835inlu'anprefectureofshanxiprovince.she'sofmanchuriannationalityandherfatherwasaprovincialgovernorfromsouthchina.whenshewas17yearsold,shewasselectedtobecomeaconcubineofemperorxianfengandmovedintotheforbiddencity.shegavebirthtoasonwhenshewas21yearsoldandwasmadeaconcubinethefollowingyear.whentheemperorpassedawayinthesummerof1861,hersonascendedthethroneandtitleofcixi,hatsameyearempressdowagercixicarriedoutacountcoupd'etatandruledbehindthesceneswithanotherempressdowager,ci'an,for48years.shepassedawayin1908attheageof73.itwasinreferencetothissituationthatthetermattendingtostateaffairsbehindabamboocurtaindeveloped.in1912,empressdowagerlongyudeclaredtheabdicationofthelastqingemperorpuyi.theywereallowedtoremainintheforbiddencityforthenext13years.theroyalfamilywasforcedtomoveoutpermanentlyin1924.behindthecentralhallwerethelivingaccommodationof8successiveqingemperors.threeofthemactuallypassedawayhere.thesideroomsflankingthehallwerereservedforempressesandconcubines.nowlet'scontinuewithourtour.itwilltakeustothehallofheavenlypurity,thehallofunionandpeace,thepalaceofearthlytranquility,andtheimperialgarden.routeb(insidethehallofheavenlypurity)ladiesandgentlemen:wearenowenteringtheinnercourt.fromthegateofheavenlypuritynorthwardliestheinnercourtwheretheemperorsandempressesoncelived.thehallofheavenlypurityisthecentralhalloftheinnercourt,hecenterofthehallthereathrone.aboveithangsaplaquewithaninscriptionthatreadsbeopenandabove-board,writtenbyshenzhi,thefirstemperoroftheqingdynasty.beginningwithqianlong'sreign,thenameofthesuccessortothethronewasnotpubliclyannounced.instead,itwaswrittenontwopiecesofpaper,onetobekeptontheemperor'spersonthroughouthisreign,andtheotherplacedinasmallstrongboxthatwasstoredbehindhisplaque.theboxwasopenedonlyaftertheemperorpassedaway.altogethertherewhere4emperorswhoascendedthethroneinthisway,namelyqianlong,jiaqing,daohuangandxianfeng.thehallofheavenlypuritywaswheretheemperorslivedduringthemingandqingdynasties.accordingtotradition,extravagantannualbanquetswereheldhereonnewyear'seveinhonourofroyalfamilymembers.foreignambassadorswerereceivedhereduringthelate-qingperiod.twoimportantonethousandoldmen'sfeastsoftheqingdynastywerealsoheldhere.alltheinviteeshadtobeatleast65yearsofage.thishallwasalsousedformourningservices.(insidethepalaceofunionandpeace)thishallsitsbetweenthehallofheavenlypurityandthepalaceofearthlytranquility,symbolizingtheunionofheavenandearth,aswellasnationalpeace.itwasfirstbuiltin1420andreconstructedin1798.thehallissquareinshape,andissmallerthanthehallofcompleteharmony.youwillseeaplaquehereinscribedwithtwochinesecharacters,wuwei,whichwerehandwrittenbyemperorqianglong.athronesitsinthemiddleofthehallwithascreenbehindit.abovethethronetherehangsacaisson,orcoveredceiling.theemperorheldbirthdaycelebrationsandothermajoreventshere.in1748duringemperorqianlong'sreign,25jadesealsrepresentingimperialauthoritywerekeptinthishall.nosealswereallowedoutoftheroomwithoutthepriorconsentoftheemperor.oneachflackthereisawaterclockandachimingclock.(insidethepalaceofearthlytranquility)thisusedtobethecentralhallwheresuccessivemingempresseslived.duringtheqingdynasty,itwasconvertedintoaplacewheresacrificesandweddingceremonieswereheld.theroomonthewesternsidewasusedforsacrificesandtheroomontheeastwastheseedingchamber.routecladiesandgentlemen:youhaveseenthethreemainhallsoftheforbiddencity.nowi'dliketoshowyouaroundscenesofinterestalongtheeasternroute.thefirstisthetreasurehall.thismansioniscalledthehallofimperialzenith.thisiswheresingemperorquailinglivedafterabdication.nearly1,000artifactsandtreasuresareondisplayhere,amongwhichthegoldenhairtowerisoneofthemostfamous.thistoweris1.53metersinheightanditsbaseis0.53metersincircumference.itwasbuiltundertheorderofemperorquailingtobeusedtocollectfallenhairincommemorationofhismother.thereisalsoadayharnessingwaterjadehillondisplayhere.yuwasalegendarymonarchoftheremoteixiadynasty.underhisleadership,thepeoplelearnedhowtoharnesstheyellowriver.thisjadeassemblage,224centimetersinheightand5tonsinweight,isthelargestjadeartworkinchina.thismatwaswovenwithpeeledivory.theseartifactsareamongchina'sraresttreasures.(infrontofthenine-dragonscreen)thisisthenine-dragonreliefscreen.erectedin1773,itis3.5metersinheightand29.4metersinwidth.underneathisafoundationmadeofmarble.thesurfaceofthescreenislaidwithatotalof270colored,glazedtilesinthedesignof9dragons,somerockymountains,cloudsandthesea.itwasmeanttowardoffevilspiritstheancientchineseregarded9dragons,somerockymountains,erestinglyapieceofthethirddragonfromtheleftismadeofwood.itisbelievethatwhenthenine-dragonscreenwasalmostfinished,apieceofglazedtilewasdamaged.emperorqianlongwasscheduledtoinspecttheworkthefollowingday.usingquickwits,thecraftsmaninquestionmoldedthemissingpiecewithclayandsailedthroughtheimperialinspection.later,heaskedacarpentertocarveawoodenonetoreplacetheonemadeofclay.(approachingtheimperialgarden)behindthepalaceofearthlytranquilityandtradingthenorth-southaxisistheimperialgarden.thereareoldtrees,rareflowersandexoticrockformationinthisgarden.itcoveraspaceof11,700squaremeters,orroughly1.7percentoftheforbiddencity.mostofthestructuresinthegardenaresymmetricallyarranged.however,eachisdifferentintermsofparrernanddecoration.woodsclumpsofbambooscreenoffthegardenandstrengthensitsdeepandsereneatmosphere.theremainstructureoftheimperialgardenistheqin'anhall.positionedinthecentral-northernpartofthegarden,thishallisflankedbyotherhallsandpavilionsontheeastandwest.thehallsitsonamarblepedestal.thetaoistdeityofzhenwuisenshrinedhereandemperorwouldpayhomagehereaquarterlybasis.taoistriteswereheldduringthereignofemperorjiajingofthemingdynasty.infrontofthehallthereisa