Secret History of the Qing Palace: Palace Life
The Qing Dynasty had the largest palace among the Chinese feudal dynasties, and palace life was naturally full of luxury and mystery. In the Qing Palace, with the emperor as the core, everyone in the hidden harem, courtiers, concubines, eunuchs, etc. was a part of the palace. In this special circle, they reproduce, fight for rights, and inherit culture. And all these secrets are the true connotation of the Secret History of the Qing Palace.
For Qing palace life, clothing was an essential part. Clothing plays a vital role in a person\’s status. In the Qing palace, the imperial power was supreme, and only the emperor could wear yellow clothes. For others, the color and style of clothing will differ according to their status and position. In addition, the concubines\’ clothes are even more special. Under the light tulle dresses are undulating brocade dresses. They are dotted with gold beads. There are colorful clouds and golden emeralds pinned to the buns on their heads. They hold round fans in their hands. They are so beautiful. It is moving and shows the status of the nobility.
In addition to clothing, food was also an integral part of palace life. The recipes and diets of the Qing Dynasty were richer than those of other eras, including barbecue, hot dishes, cold dishes, dim sum and other types. The most important thing for the emperor was the palace banquet. All banquets must go through the emperor\’s preliminary selection, and only after the ingredients, varieties, and utensils are decided, can a series of palace banquets officially begin. In the aroma of warm wine and hot dishes, the friendship between the emperor and his ministers will also deepen.
Of course, eunuchs are also a part that cannot be ignored in palace life. In the Qing palace, eunuchs often held important positions, such as serving the emperor and managing prisons. However, at the same time, the eunuchs were also oppressed and vilified. They were deprived of most of their freedoms and were unable to form families or own property. Therefore, they often become victims and tools of palace infighting. But in any case, the eunuch group occupied a lot of status and role in palace life.
Secret History of the Qing Palace: Palace Stories
Not only is it luxurious and mysterious, the Qing Palace is also full of stories and legends. For example, everyone must have heard of the three major tragedies in the Qing Dynasty. In the middle of the Qing Dynasty, Emperor Yongzheng changed from the enlightened and broad-mindedness of the previous dynasty to become authoritarian and iron-blooded. Yongzheng\’s \”eldest brother\” Yinzhen wanted to succeed him, but he was killed by Li Shi, the concubine who was sent to the palace to guard the palace together with Yongzheng. This led to a series of tragedies involving as many as 20 people.
Also, you may not know that Emperor Qianlong once loved mountain climbing, and his favorite was Xiangshan Mountain in the west of Beijing. In order to facilitate mountain climbing, Emperor Qianlong ordered people to open a road on Xiangshan Mountain and built many scenic cabins for the emperor\’s enjoyment. These cabins often feature elegant architectural styles and are among the more popular of the remaining Qing palace buildings.
In addition to these, there are many rumors and statements about the Qing Palace that are constantly being edited and confused. For example, in the palace, there have been so many overt and covert battles that people can’t help but think of the emergence of “palace fighting drama”. However, in fact, the \”palace battles\” in the Qing palace were much more \”real\” than those TV series.
Secret History of the Qing Palace: Palace LiteratureChemistry
In addition to palace life and palace stories, the promotion and protection of the cultural history of the Qing Palace are also an indispensable part. In the Qing Dynasty, the emperors attached great importance to the promotion and development of cultural undertakings. They not only gathered famous literati in the capital, but also purchased and organized large quantities of cultural relics and books.
Especially during the Qianlong period, due to the emperor\’s attention, the entire Qing Dynasty culture reached a peak. Emperor Qianlong was fond of literature and art, and sent a large number of scientists and painters to depict the flora and fauna that appeared in various locations on the earth, as well as their general appearance. The murals that laid the foundation for this came from this.
The palace can also protect culture and art, the most famous of which is the architectural and cultural heritage of the Forbidden City. For example, the Long Zi Library in the Forbidden City, where all books from across the country were stored, became one of the largest libraries and cultural treasure houses in China at that time. During this period, the emperors continued to promote traditional Chinese culture and enriched China\’s cultural connotation.
Summary
Every era has its own unique connotation and essence, and the luxury, mystery, life, stories, and culture of the Qing Palace are displayed before our eyes one by one. All of this includes incredible palace banquets, as well as cultural relics and books that have been passed down for generations; there are stories and legends that have been passed down through the ages, as well as trivial matters in daily life. They allow us to gain more historical and cultural knowledge and feelings, and at the same time allow us to better understand and appreciate the charm of traditional Chinese culture.
