Hall of Supreme Harmony
太和殿 · Donghuamen Subdistrict
building in the Forbidden City, Beijing, China
Contents
8 sections · tap a section for its opening lines1Hall of Supreme Harmony
Welcome to the Tai-he-dian, the Hall of Supreme Harmony. As we stand here, we are not just at the center of the Forbidden City, but at the conceptual center of the Chinese universe. …
Listen in the app2The Grand Courtyard — A Stage for Empire
Standing in the vast courtyard before the Hall of Supreme Harmony, one feels the crushing weight of imperial authority. This square was the site of the empire's most significant ceremonies—the enthronement of a new emperor, the…
Listen in the app3The Three-Tiered Marble Terrace — Dragon Clouds
To reach the Hall, we must ascend the three-tiered white marble terrace. This is the 'Mount Sumeru' base, a concept borrowed from Buddhist cosmology to represent the center of the world. …
Listen in the app4The Mythical Roof Figures — Protection and Rank
Look up at the sweeping double-eaved roof of the Taihedian. Covered in shimmering yellow glazed tiles—the color reserved exclusively for the Emperor—the roof is a masterpiece of symbolic protection. …
Listen in the app5The Golden Throne — The Seat of Supreme Power
Now, let us look through the central doors—traditionally only the Emperor could walk through these—at the Golden Throne. This is the 'Dragon Chair,' the most important piece of furniture in China for five hundred years. …
Listen in the app6The Coronation of Puyi — The Final Breath of an Era
The Hall of Supreme Harmony was the stage for the final act of imperial China. In December 1908, a three-year-old boy named Puyi was carried into this hall to be crowned the last Emperor. …
Listen in the app7Survival and Sovereignty — The Palace Museum
As we walk toward the side of the hall, we consider its survival through the bedlam of the 20th century. During the Cultural Revolution, the Forbidden City was under threat of destruction as a symbol of the 'Four Olds.' It was…
Listen in the app8Closing
As we conclude our visit to the Hall of Supreme Harmony, we are left with the echoes of a lost world. This space was designed to embody 'Supreme Harmony,' a state where the heavens and the earth are in perfect balance. …
Listen in the app
What is Hall of Supreme Harmony?
Hall of Supreme Harmony is a place in Donghuamen Subdistrict with 8 story sections on Tellby. You can read the opening of each section on this page; the sound plays in the app.
| Location | Donghuamen Subdistrict |
|---|---|
| Type | Heritage |
| Story sections | 8 |
| Text language | English |
| Coordinates | 39.9159, 116.3907 |
| Last updated |
