The East Inner Court of Forbidden City
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1. Fengxiandian (Hall for Ancestral Worship)
Located east of the Inner Court, Fengxiandian, the Hall for Ancestral Worship, was built in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and rebuilt in the early Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). It was built as a place for the Imperial family to worship their ancestors. It currently houses The Forbidden City’s Clock and Watch Gallery.
Fengxiandian is an “I” shaped building built on a white marble base which consists of a front and back hall connected by a lobby. The front hall occupies an area of over 122,500 square meters and the rear hall occupies 75,500 square meters. The back hall was a bed chamber for the Emperor.
During the Qing Dynasty, the birthday of the Emperor, Spring Festival, the winter solstice, and the first and fifteenth day of each lunar month, sacrifices were made to the imperial ancestors in the front hall. On one of the imperial ancestor’s birthday, death day, and major festivals, the Emperor and the imperial family would worship their ancestors in the back hall.
Currently, Fengxiandian is The Forbidden City’s Clock and Watch Gallery. It displays some of the palace’s collection of time keepers. Chinese Emperors had a love affair with mechanical time pieces and collected a huge collection from the West and from Imperial clock makers. The clocks on display are works of art with most having intricate moving parts that told the time along with entertaining the viewer. Some of the clocks feature moving scenes, moving birds and animals and one clock features a miniature person who can write Chinese calligraphy. In the morning and afternoon, a number of the clocks’ unique movements are activated for visitors.
2.Dongliu Gong (Six Eastern Palaces)
Located on the east side of the Inner Court are the former residences of the imperial concubines, the Six Eastern Palaces. The palaces are; 6. the Palace of Great Benevolence (Jingren Gong), 4. the Palace of Celestial Favor (Chengqian Gong), 5. the Palace of Eternal Peace (Yonghegong), 3. the Palace of Great Brilliance (Jingyan Gong), 2. the Palace of Accumulated Purity (Zhongcui Gong), and 7. the Palace of Lasting Happiness (Yanxi Gong).
The Six Eastern Palaces are now exhibition halls which display treasures collected by the Emperor. The collections are incredible. The Palace of Accumulated Purity (Zhongcui Gong) is the Jade Gallery and houses a collection of Jade carvings, art, and utensils. The Palace of Celestial Favor (Chengqian Gong) and the Palace of Eternal Peace (Yonghe Gong) are home to the Bronze Gallery, which exhibits ancient bronzes from China’s ancient history dating back millennium. The Palace of Great Brilliance (Jingyan Gong) is the Gold and Silvery Gallery and houses incredible, priceless artifacts made of precious metals and stones.
