The Forbidden City
Connecting the Dots of An Empire
The Forbidden City is absolutely key to understanding China. Notions of power in a Chinese context originate in the dynastic tradition. Entering the palace is like walking in to the cluster of ideas that has carried China through thousands of years. But it is not easy to untangle the workings of the enormous palace. There is little explanation given to visitors in English or even Chinese throughout the palace’s many chambers.
At Beijing Postcards we have, little by little, gathered information about the enormous palace and its institutions. We regularly use primary sources to find patterns and further our knowledge, looking for answers to questions such as, how did one become a palace eunuch? How did the Forbidden City earn money? How was an emperor picked?
When you sign up for walks, talks or other Beijing Postcards projects that concern the Forbidden City, you inadvertently become part of our research process. Your questions inform our research. That is always true about a Beijing Postcards history project, but especially so about ones that relate to the Forbidden City. The questions and thoughts you put to us during tours or talks are vital prompts in helping us attempt to remedy the surprising lack of comprehensive books, materials and other works about the Forbidden City and the institutions that it represents.
5-minute Journeys into the Forbidden City
We have been constantly updating 5-minutes videos on our Youtube Channel to share our perspectives on the Great Within. Click the videos below to discover hidden details of the Imperial Palace.
New Archival Findings about the Forbidden City
