A flank view of the Hall of Supreme Harmony and it's large frontal white marble platform and instruments.
The Most Improtant Ceremonies held at the Hall of Supreme Harmony were the Enthronement of a New Emperor, and the Celebration of the Emperors' Birthday, upon which occassion a all invited officials gathered in TaiHe Square, after which a grand banquet was held at Bao He Dian, the Hall of Preserving Harmony behind Tai He Dian, the Main Throne Hall.
History of the Hall of Supreme Harmony:
Shotly after the official opening of the new Imperial Palace, in xxx , during the Yongle Reign of the Ming Dynasty, the Roofing of the Hall was struck by Lightning and the entire precious Hall was burned to the ground.
- Click to enlarge photo -
Taihe Dian, The Hall of Supreme Harmony is beautifully and lavishly elevated on a 3 layered marble terrace lined with decorations. The Platform stands 30 meters high above the surrounding Supreme Harmony Square.
Taihe Hall itself is 37 meters high and covers an area of 2377 square meters. As such it is the largest wooden Palace Hall in the country of China.
The Hall was used for Grand Ceremonies such as the Celebration of the Winter Solstice and the publication of the list of succesful candidates in the Imperial Examinations, the "Jin Shi".
- Click to enlarge photo -
The Imperial Palace Museum
- TaiHedian 1 -
This page was last updated on: June 24, 2017
Tiahe Dian, The Hall of Supreme Harmony is constructed with 72 vermillion painted solid wooden colums, cut from a single large tree.
Great Impression of mighty Taihedian - Hall of Supreme Harmony on a Palace Museum Ticket - Click to Enlarge !
The Official schematic Map of The Forbidden City, by The Palace Museum.
ChinaReport.comat
Source Book
"Ancient Chinese Inventions"
( available from our Online Store )
The three tiered white marble platform on which the Tai He Dian stands is beset with statues of animals and objects symbolizing the stablity, unity and longevity of the Emperor, the Dynasty and the Imperial Reign.
There are the sundial, the grain measure, the crane bird, the tortoise of longevity and the inevitable dragon motifs.
The Hall of Supreme Harmony thus is the utter symbol of Imperial Power.
The rows of nine animals and the so-called "Phoenix riding the Immortal"-Figure lining the roof ridges of the Tai He Dian are suposedly auspicious figures intended to protect the building from bad spirits and influences such as fire. The Number of Nine, once more represents the Emperor and Imperial Divine Dignity. Nine being the closest number to 10, the "perfect" (full) number of God.
The Roof of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, as are all the other roofs of the Imperial Palace, are paved with special yellow glazed tiles, a color -again- exclusively reserved for the Emperor.
The Yellow Glazed Tiles were locally produced at Liu Lichang Street, a street of the Xuanwu District which still carries the name of the Imperial Kilns. The special clay needed for these ceramic tiles was dug in marshes south of the Chongwen District. The digging pits, left after the large excavations of clay are still recognizable today. Find them as water ponds, part of what is now the LongTan Park and adjacent Beijing Amusement Park.
- Mouse over Image -
-Mouse Over Image -
3D Digital Map of Central Beijing - See Beijing in an entirely different way !! - CLICK THROUGH -
