Hall of Celestial and Terrestrial Union, Forbidden City

The Hall of Celestial and Terrestrial Union (Jiaotaidian), or the Hall of Union and Peace, is one of the three main palaces in the Inner Court of the Forbidden City. It is between the other two main palaces, the Palace of Heavenly Purity (qianqinggong) and the Palace of Earthly Tranquility (Kunninggong). The hall was established in the reign of Jiajing (1522-1566) of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), restored in 1655 and 1669. In 1797, it was damaged by a fire and thus rebuilt the next year. The Hall of Celestial and Terrestrial Union is a single-roof structure with a gilded bronze spherical pinnacle. Square in shape, it is three bays wide and three bays deep, smaller than the Hall of Central Harmony (zhonghedian) which is in similar architectural style. The name of the hall was adopted from the Book of Changes, meaning the union of heaven and earth, peace and harmony of the whole nation in Chinese. In view of the authoritarian role of eunuchs in the Ming Dynasty, Emperor Shunzhi (1644-1661) set an iron sign, forbidding eunuchs' interference into government affairs, in this hall.

Qianqiu Festival Celebration
In the Qing Dynasty, on the Qianqiu Festival, the birthday of the empress, the empress held celebration in the Hall of Celestial and Terrestrial Union and received worship and congratulations from high-ranked concubines, princesses and other court ladies. On the occasions of Winter Solstice and the Spring Festival, people also came here to pay their respect for the empress.

Jade Royal Seals Storage
In 1748 of the Qianlong (1736-1795) reign, emperor put the twenty-five "bao" (jade royal seals), used for the exertion of power in the Hall of Celestial and Terrestrial Union in the Forbidden City. The royal seals were in the control of the cabinet. They can be used only if the permission of the empress was given. The royal seals stored here were for special purposes: "huangdizhibao" was used for rescript promulgation and jinshi (third-degree scholar) name-list declaration; "zhifazhibao" and "mingdezhibao" for emperor to command and honor the vassals; and the "zhiyuliushizhibao" for military affairs. The royal seals were put in delicate boxes covered with yellow damask silk. Now those boxes are right where they were in this hall of the Palace Museum.

Big Chime Clock
The big chime clock in the Hall of Celestial and Terrestrial Union was fabricated in 1798, the third year of the reign of Jiaqing (1796-1820). The shell is a wood tank in the style of Chinese pavilion. With a total height of 5.80 meters, the clock has three tiers. At the back of the clock stands a stair, step on which people can wind the clock. The chime clock has run for more than two centuries, yet its chime is as clear and stentorian as ever. What superior craftsmanship!

Bronze Clepsydra
Up to three thousand years ago, Chinese people invented the water dropping timing method. The bronze clepsydra exhibited in this hall was made in 1745 and it is the only one of the preserved clepsydras that is still in good condition.

Next: Go north to Palace of Earthly Tranquility 

 Related Link: Virtual Guide of Forbidden City