Palace of Earthly Tranquility (Kunninggong)
The Palace of Earthly Tranquility (Kunninggong) is the last of the three main palaces in the Inner Court of the Forbidden City, standing behind the Hall of Celestial and Terrestrial Union (Jiaotaidian). It was first built in 1420, and rebuilt in 1605 due to two fires in 1514 and 1596, functioning from empress’s living quarter to ritual and wedding venues.
In 1644, the Palace of Earthly Tranquility was reduced to ashes during the conquest of the Forbidden City. The Qing Dynasty, upon seizing power in 1645, rebuilt it in the Ming Dynasty style. However, it was seldom used after the rebuilt. The emperor and empress were both lived in the Hall of Preserved Harmony (Baohedian).
How were the shamanistic rituals held in the Palace of Earthly Tranquility?
In the 1655 redecoration of the Palace of Earthly Tranquility, the two rooms on the east side were transformed as a bedroom, but hardly resided the emperor or empress. Until 1665, when the Emperor Kangxi (1654~1722) held his wedding, the two rooms began to serve as the bridal suite for the emperor and empress.
1420~1644: Empress's Palace & Bedroom
The Palace of Earthly Tranquility was where the empress lived in the Ming Dynasty from 1420 to 1644.
The Last Ming Empress's Suicide in the Palace of Earthly Tranquility
As the Ming Dynasty faced its final days, Emperor Chongzhen (1611~1644), recognizing the inevitable fall of the empire, instructed Empress Zhou (1611~1644) to end her life. She, deeply saddened yet understanding, retreated to the Palace of Earthly Tranquility, shutting the door behind her in tears, and soon after, followed his orders.
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| Palace of Earthly Tranquility |
1644~1655: Burned in Wartime, then Reconstructed
In 1644, the Palace of Earthly Tranquility was reduced to ashes during the conquest of the Forbidden City. The Qing Dynasty, upon seizing power in 1645, rebuilt it in the Ming Dynasty style. However, it was seldom used after the rebuilt. The emperor and empress were both lived in the Hall of Preserved Harmony (Baohedian).
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1655~1911: Religious & Wedding Purposes
Five West Rooms of the Palace: Shamanistic Ritual Space
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| West Rooms of the Palace of Earthly Tranquility |
The Qing royals were Manchu people who were rather superstitious and respected divinity very much, thus, religious sacrifices were critical for them. In 1655, Emperor Shunzhi (1638~1611) changed the Palace's symmetrical layout, positioning the main entrance in the east and connecting the five west as a dedicated space for these rituals.
How were the shamanistic rituals held in the Palace of Earthly Tranquility? |
| Palace of Earthly Tranquility West Corner |
The imperial shamanistic rituals include daily morning and evening sacrifices and grand occasions held on Spring Festival, the first and the fifteenth day of each month, which both the emperor and empress would attend.
In the Palace's third room from the east, three caldrons were set to cook live pigs as the central offerings.
Brought to the edge of the caldrons, pigs squeal as hot liquor is poured into their ears, signaling the gods' acceptance for the sacrifice. Amidst prayers and music, the pigs undergo skinning, dissection, and boiling, with their heads, hooves, and tails singed and cooked. The pork cubes are placed on the offering table.
Daily, two pigs are sacrificed, while an annual grand sacrifice consumes 39 pigs, totaling over 1,000 pigs yearly. Additionally, over 42,000 kg (92,594 pounds) of glutinous rice and millet are used annually for cakes and liquor.
Two East Rooms: First an Unused Bedroom, then the Emperor's Nuptial Chamber
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| Back Side of the East Rooms |
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| Palace Lantern, Used for Weddings |
On the wedding day, the chamber wall would be painted red and the palace lamps would be hung high with Chinese character “囍” (Xi) meaning "double happiness" to create a warm and happy atmosphere.
Exquisite bed canopy and quilt both embroidered with 100 children playing, naming "100 Children Canopy" and "100 Children Quilt", would be used by the new married couple, with the wish for flourishing generations.
Three Impressive Weddings in the Palace of Earthly Tranquility
1. The Grandest Wedding Ever
In 1872, the Palace hosted an unprecedented lavish wedding for the 16-year-old Emperor Tongzhi (1856~1875). The Qing Court splurged 1.1 million taels (909,649 pounds) of silver, equivalent to the country's yearly tariff income, on this grand occasion.
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The Forbidden City was adorned with exquisite porcelain, meticulously crafted over four years. The day before, excitement filled the air as red carpets stretched from the Meridian Gate to the Palace of Earthly tranquility, and over 400 pairs of lanterns illuminated the night sky.
A British journalist, William Simpson (1828~1899), traveled from London to witness this spectacle. He marveled at the bride's enormous dowry, which arrived in long processions each morning for six days, resembling ants moving their nests.
2. The Most Reluctant Wedding
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| Emperor Tongzhi's Wedding Porcelain |
In 1889, the 18-year-old Emperor Guangxu (1871~1908) was forced into a grand wedding he deeply resented. Empress Dowager Cixi (1835~1908) arranged for him to marry a woman he disliked, three years his senior, who was also Cixi’s spy.
Traditionally, the emperor should host a banquet in the Hall of Supreme Harmony (Taihedian). But Guangxu, unhappy with the arrangement, called it off with a fake illness, leaving everyone stunned.
It is said that the Forbidden City was rainy and dimly lit on that day, with decorations uninspired and fireworks sparse. Guangxu and his empress only lived together in the Palace that night, never to cohabit again, remaining like strangers.
3. The Last Wedding
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| Puyi's Wedding Photo |
In 1922, Pu Yi (1906~1967), the final emperor of Qing Dynasty, wed in the Palace of Earthly Tranquility. In his autobiography, he recalled the event, describing how he entered a room filled with crimson – curtains, quilts, attire, flowers, and even his bride's blushing cheeks – all merging into a vision like melted red candles.
Feeling uneasy, he longed for his usual retreat, Hall of Mental Cultivation (Yangxindian), and soon left for it. This marked the final wedding not only in the Palace but throughout the Forbidden City.
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Next:
Go north to see the Imperial Garden (Yuhuayuan); Go west to see the Six Western Palaces (Xiliugong); Or go east to see the Six Eastern Palaces (Dongliugong).
Further Reading:
How to visit the Forbidden City
Three Chimneys in the Forbidden City
- Last updated on Jun. 25, 2025 by Jally Zhang -