The Imperial Garden of The Palace Museum

We return our scholarly focus to the Imperial Garden, the Yoo-hwah-yoo-ahn, this time concentrating on its role as the botanical and architectural finale of the Forbidden City's central axis. As we have noted, the Forbidden City…

The Pavilion of Floating Jade, or Boo-tswee Ting, is one of the garden's most charming structures. It is a square pavilion with a pyramidal roof, designed to look as if it is floating on the surrounding greenery and stones. …

As we move through the garden, we encounter numerous rockeries and small ponds. These are not merely decorative; they are microcosms of the entire Chinese empire. …

The Pavilion of Auspicious Objects is another critical site within the garden. This pavilion was used to house various symbolic items that represented the emperor's divine right to rule and his successful management of the state. …

As we walk the garden's secluded paths, we must acknowledge the largest group of people in the Forbidden City: the palace Yoonuks. These men kept the entire complex running, performing everything from cooking and cleaning to…

We now approach the northern exit of the Forbidden City, the Shen-woo Men, or the Gate of Divine Might. This gate served as the back door of the palace and was the gate through which the imperial family and officials would enter…

As we conclude our second exploration of the Imperial Garden, we are reminded of the incredible scale and ambition that defined the Forbidden City. This was not just a home for one man; it was a city unto itself, built for a…