The Forbidden City is a translation from the Chinese name Zijincheng, which means purple, forbidden, and city if you separate them apart. Let us look at them one by one.
Firstly, in ancient China, the emperor was referred to as the son of heaven or the son of the Jade Emperor who rules heaven. And according to classic literature and myths, the residence of the Jade Emperor is called the purple palace or Zigong. Therefore, the secular emperor’s place is also dubbed the word purple or Zi to show its supremacy and sacredness.
Secondly, this place got the second word of its name because ordinary people were strictly prohibited from entering the city. Any offenders would be dispelled by the guards stationed at the gates. And if they showed any rebellion, they would be killed on the spot at once. Moreover, people living in the city, including the emperor, concubines, maids, and eunuchs, rarely came out of it, which added to its mystery.
Thirdly, the complex of palaces is referred to as a city because of the vast area it occupies and the complete facilities. It measures 720,000 sq. meters, which is as big as 100 soccer courts and even bigger than a town. There are manufacturing workshops, numerous wells, gardens, kitchens, restaurants, and entertainment areas.
However, since the collapse of the Qing dynasty in 1911, the Forbidden City is no longer forbidden. It is converted into the Palace Museum, and anyone can come in and tour around as long as they buy tickets.
Other facts about the Forbidden City
- Facts about the Cold Palace in Forbidden City
- How long did it take to build the forbidden city?
- The differences between Temple of Heaven and Forbidden City
- Architectures and their styles in the Forbidden City
- Forbidden City and Versailles – Similarities and Differences
- Symbolism in the Forbidden City
- How many buildings are there in the Forbidden City
- How many emperors lived in the Forbidden City
- Why is the Forbidden City important?
- When was the Forbidden City built?