Since the Hall of Supreme Harmony was the symbol of imperial power, it was
the highest structure in the Ming and Qing dynasties in the nation, no other
buildings allowed higher than it. The heavily glazed hall is 35.02 meters high
and 37.44 if rooftop decoration counted, and 63.96 meters in width and 37.2
meters in length respectively. There are totally 72 pillars standing in six rows
to support the roof. Gates and windows were embossed with clouds and dragons.
Inside of the hall, the floor was paved with special bricks which were fired
long and then soaked in tung oil to be polished. As a symbol of imperial power,
the sandalwood throne, standing on a two-meter high platform, is located in the
center of the hall and enclosed within six thick gold-lacquered pillars painted
with dragons. The golden throne is carved with dragons all over. Around the
throne stand two bronze cranes, an elephant-shaped incense burner and tripods in
the shape of mythical beasts. The hall is heavily painted with dragons, having
an aura of solemnity and mystery. In the middle of the ceiling is the design of
two dragons playing with pearls. They were made of glass and painted with
mercury. The pearl was said to be able to detect any usurper of the imperial
power. If anyone who was not the descendant of the Emperor Huang Di usurped the
throne, it would drop down and strike him to death.
Zhonghedian (Hall of Central Harmony)
Zhonghedian, the Hall of Central Harmony, was originally built in 1420 and
restored in 1627 and again 1765. It is square in shape rather than rectangular
as the other two in the Outer Court. It is the smallest in the three main halls
in the Outer Court. It served as a restroom when emperors were going to present
ceremonies held in the Hall of Supreme Harmony on their way there. Here they
would interview their ministers of rite. Annually before their departure to
important sacrifice rites held at Temple of Heaven, Temple of Earth and etc.,
emperors would browse elegiac addresses in the hall. Before their departure to
the Temple of Ancestor Farmer, they would also inspect seeds and farming tools
they would use in the ceremony. In the Qing Dynasty, it was prescribed that the
imperial genealogy should be revised every ten years. The ceremony of presenting
the revision to the emperor and His Majesty's approving would also be held here.
Inside of the hall, visitors can see there is one golden unicorn on each side
of the throne in the center of the hall. The couple of golden unicorns, called
luduan in Chinese, were believed capable of traveling 9,000 kilometers a day and
speaking many languages. Since the divine beast foresees faraway, it was put
beside the throne to indicate emperors' wisdom and brilliantness. They used to
be sandalwood burners. Beside the throne, there are also two sedan chairs, which
were used as emperors' vehicles to shuttle around in the Forbidden City.