Palace of Earthly Tranquility

Welcome to the Kunning Gong, the Palace of Earthly Tranquility. As we move into the northern reaches of the Forbidden City’s central axis, we enter the most private and domestic part of the imperial complex: the Inner Court. …

To enter the realm of the Empress, one must pass through the Kunning Men, or the Gate of Earthly Tranquility. As you stand in this courtyard, notice the subtle shift in energy. …

One of the most famous areas within Kunning Gong is the East Chamber, which served as the Imperial Wedding Suite during the Qing Dynasty. If you peer through the windows, you will see a room that is almost entirely red. …

While the East Chamber was for weddings, the West Chamber of Kunning Gong served a much different and darker purpose: Shamanic sacrifice. The Qing rulers were of Manchu origin, and they brought with them their ancestral religious…

No discussion of the women's realm in the Forbidden City is complete without mentioning the Empress Dowager Cixi. While she did not live in Kunning Gong for her entire reign, she virtually ruled China from the Inner Court for…

The Palace of Earthly Tranquility was also a hub for the palace eunuchs, the only men—other than the Emperor and very young children—allowed to live within the Inner Court. The eunuchs were the essential machinery of the palace,…

Just north of Kunning Gong lies the Imperial Garden, the final section of the central axis. This was the primary recreational space for the residents of the Inner Court. …

Our exploration of the Palace of Earthly Tranquility comes to a close. We have moved from the public halls of power into the private chambers of the heart, uncovering the layers of ritual, religion, and daily life that defined…