The Forbidden City was named such because during the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1912), the city was forbidden to commoners. If a commoner were to enter into the city, the punishment was death. The Forbidden City was made open to the public in the year of 1925.
So what was in the Forbidden City? During the time of its use (1406-1924), the City held the emperors and empresses of China. At any point in time, the City could hold five thousand people: one thousand royal family members, two thousand concubines (female servants), and two thousand eunuchs (male servants).
An interesting fact about the Forbidden City: it once held 999 1/2 buildings. According to the Chinese culture, one thousand is the number of Heaven, and the emperor was regarded as the Son of Heaven so he was to have the next/closest-thing to what Heaven had. 999 1/2 was as close to one thousand as one could be. The half of a building was a small building the eunuchs used. Due to wars and demolitions, there are no longer 999 1/2 buildings in the Forbidden City.
(If you want to learn more about the Forbidden City, or want to see it in action, I highly recommend that you watch "The Last Emperor").
While we walked toward the Forbidden City, there were multiple vendors trying to sell us things. Vendors were far from shy; they would come right up to you and wave their products in your face, while saying prices in a very loud voice. We often heard, "One dollar, one dollar, one dollar" throughout the morning. They had everything from postcards to fans to noisy toys, and many other items. The woman in the bright hat below was a vendor:
As our delegation entered into the first few city gates, Phoebe (our delegation manager) asked if anyone wanted to go the Happy Room. It took a dumb second for us to understand that Happy Rooms meant Restrooms.
Yes, I do have a few more restroom stories to share:
So what was in the Forbidden City? During the time of its use (1406-1924), the City held the emperors and empresses of China. At any point in time, the City could hold five thousand people: one thousand royal family members, two thousand concubines (female servants), and two thousand eunuchs (male servants).
An interesting fact about the Forbidden City: it once held 999 1/2 buildings. According to the Chinese culture, one thousand is the number of Heaven, and the emperor was regarded as the Son of Heaven so he was to have the next/closest-thing to what Heaven had. 999 1/2 was as close to one thousand as one could be. The half of a building was a small building the eunuchs used. Due to wars and demolitions, there are no longer 999 1/2 buildings in the Forbidden City.
(If you want to learn more about the Forbidden City, or want to see it in action, I highly recommend that you watch "The Last Emperor").
While we walked toward the Forbidden City, there were multiple vendors trying to sell us things. Vendors were far from shy; they would come right up to you and wave their products in your face, while saying prices in a very loud voice. We often heard, "One dollar, one dollar, one dollar" throughout the morning. They had everything from postcards to fans to noisy toys, and many other items. The woman in the bright hat below was a vendor:
As our delegation entered into the first few city gates, Phoebe (our delegation manager) asked if anyone wanted to go the Happy Room. It took a dumb second for us to understand that Happy Rooms meant Restrooms.
Yes, I do have a few more restroom stories to share:
Number One: Originally, there were no restrooms in the Forbidden City. Chamber pots would be facilitated by the eunuchs. There's actually a gate that had the sole purpose for waste management to leave the City. It was called "The Gate of Excrement."
Restroom story number two! (No, not THAT number two!). Because the Forbidden City lacked restrooms, the government built restrooms off to the side for public usage. We went to use them and I discovered squatty potties.... Squatty potties are literally a hole in the ground with grippers on the sides of the hole for stability.
The thing about me is that I have no balance. And if I were to attempt to use a squatty-potty, I would fall. And that is totally not okay with me!
Thankfully, the restrooms were split in half: half squatty potties, the other half Western toilets. Unfortunately, the toilet I used wouldn't flush. I'll spare you the details of how absolutely horrid the smell was.
After that experience, we continued into the Forbidden City.
When you first enter the Forbidden City, you will pass through large red doors.
Going back to the doors: If you look at my photos, you will notice that people are rubbing the yellow knobs that are on the doors. It is good luck to touch the knobs. I also touched a knob. It was a very unique and unparalleled feeling. If you have seen Jackie Chan's version of "The Karate Kid," you will remember the scene in which Xiao Dre rubbed as many yellow knobs within his reach really quickly. That movie scene flashed through my mind as I traced my hand along the faded yellow knobs. It brought a smile to my face, and it solidified the fact that I was indeed in China.
Red has always been a color of significance for the Chinese culture, going all the way back to the origins for the celebration of the Chinese new year. In essence, red symbolizes good fortune and happiness. You will find a lot of red items and monuments in China. Yellow is also a special color for the Chinese. Originally, yellow was the color solely reserved for the emperor. If anyone else was caught wearing yellow, the sentence was death. Going back to the doors: If you look at my photos, you will notice that people are rubbing the yellow knobs that are on the doors. It is good luck to touch the knobs. I also touched a knob. It was a very unique and unparalleled feeling. If you have seen Jackie Chan's version of "The Karate Kid," you will remember the scene in which Xiao Dre rubbed as many yellow knobs within his reach really quickly. That movie scene flashed through my mind as I traced my hand along the faded yellow knobs. It brought a smile to my face, and it solidified the fact that I was indeed in China.
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