How many emperors and empresses passed through this very gate? I am talking about the \u897f\u534e\u95e8. It stands before us. This is no ordinary gate. It is steeped in history and imperial significance.
Let’s step back in time. The \u897f\u534e\u95e8 faces west mirroring the 东华门 or the \u4e1c\u534e\u95e8. Notice the stone blocks outside the gate? These are the Xiama stele. They mark where even high-ranking officials had to dismount from their horses out of respect.
The \u897f\u534e\u95e8 shares a similar design to the 东华门. It has a rectangular shape and a red hue to its platform. White marble须弥座 or Sumeru pedestal supports the platform. Three arched doorways punctuate the center of the platform each with a unique design. The outer part of the arch is square. The inner part is round. Above the platform sits a city tower adorned with glazed yellow tiles. It boasts a 重檐庑殿顶 or a double-eave hip-and-gable roof. White marble balustrades encircle the base. The tower spans five rooms in width and three in depth. Eaves extend around all sides. Look closely at the beams.墨线大点金旋子彩画 or Ink line da jin xuanzi color paintings embellish the structure. The gate tower once housed cotton armor and studded leather armor for閱兵 or review parades.
Originally the “\u897f\u534e\u95e8” plaque had Manchu Mongolian and Chinese scripts. Later it was reduced to just Manchu and Chinese. After the Xinhai Revolution only the bronze Chinese characters remained.
Did you know that the \u897f\u534e\u95e8 isn’t exactly in the center of the Forbidden City’s west side. It is actually closer to the 午门 or the Meridian Gate. This placement is closely linked to the overall palace layout. The Forbidden City has an outer court and an inner court. The 武英殿 Hall of Military Eminence, 太和门 or Gate of Supreme Harmony and the 文华殿 Hall of Literary Glory form a transverse axis through the outer court. The \u897f\u534e\u95e8 and the 东华门 sit at either end of this axis. This layout was convenient for the outer court. It also minimized disruption to the inner court.
Imagine emperors and empresses passing through the \u897f\u534e\u95e8. Directly outside lies the 西苑 or the Western Garden which was an imperial garden. Qing Dynasty emperors and empresses often used this gate to access the 西苑 and other gardens in the western suburbs.
In 1751 for the Empress Dowager’s sixtieth birthday and in 1790 for the Qianlong Emperor’s eightieth birthday the route from the \u897f\u534e\u95e8 through 西直门 to 海淀 was lavishly decorated. Lanterns colored hangings and elaborate stages for musical performances lined the way.
In 1900 during the庚子年 or Boxer Rebellion Empress Dowager Cixi and Emperor Guangxu fled the Forbidden City through the \u897f\u534e\u95e8. They were escaping the invading Eight-Nation Alliance forces.
The \u897f\u534e\u95e8 stands as a silent witness to centuries of imperial life. It is a portal that connects the palace to the world beyond. Its architecture and history offer us a glimpse into China’s rich past. Take a moment to appreciate the grandeur. Reflect on the stories it holds within its walls.