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 The Forbidden City--the largest
and the most complete and well preserved among the palaces existing in China now, and one
of the most sublime and luxurious ancient palatial architectures in the world-- has been
off-limits to most of the world for 500 years. Although the 'hundred surnames', or
hoi polloi, are now permitted entrance, its original owners, the emperors of the Ming and
Qing dynasty, insulated themselves from the masses and maintained a rigid one-way
communications flow. Regal fiats from the nerve centre of the country were delivered to
peasant subjects beyond the wall by eunuchs and other powerful court officials. No
communications flowed the other way thus re-enforcing the difference between inner and
outer, secrecy and openness, the divine and the mortal, subject and emperor. The old world
of beautiful concubines and priapic emperors, ball-breaking (and -broken) eunuchs and
conspicuous wealth, still hovers around the lush gardens, courtyards, pavilions and great
halls of the palace.(back) |
Forbidden City