The East Outer Court of Forbidden City
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Wenhua Palace (Hall of Literary Glory)
Located east of the Inner Court, the Hall of Literary Glory, was the residence of the Crown Princes during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). At this time, the hall had a green-glazed tile roof. During the reign of Ming Dynasty Emperor; Ming Jiajing, the hall was used by the Emperor and at that time, the roof tiles were changed to yellow colored ones.
The structure is “I” shaped. It has two main rooms connected by a hall. The front room is the Hall of Literary Glory, which is where the complex received its name. The back room is the Hall of Significance and Respect. There are side buildings, in the east and west of the main structure.
The hall became one of the libraries of The Forbidden City and it was here that Emperors of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) composed reports on their studies of “the Four Books and Five Classics” These were books that were studied by all scholars and were to become an official, a person had to be well versed in them. Civil officials would be present to listen to the Emperor read his report. After he finished, he would select a few officials to accompany him to the back building to read from the books as a special honor.
Currently the Hall of Literary Glory is the current home of the museum’s Pottery Gallery. 429 pottery treasures are exhibited in the hall.
