Media | Forbidden city - the palace museum
Forbidden city - the palace museum
by Isabella LevequePalace of Gathering Excellence or Chuxiugong was established in 1420. The palace was reconstructed in 1655, during the Ming and the Qing dynasties. The palace served as the residence to the Empress and several imperial concubines. The palace, in 1852, was used as a residence by Empress Dowager Cixi, powerful and charismatic woman who effectively controlled the Chinese government for 47 years, from 1861 to her death in 1908. It was this year when Cixi was created honourable person Lan. Cixi, who was an imperial concubine, gave birth to the son of Xianfeng Emperor in 1856, in this palace and was soon elevated to the rank of Concubine Yi. Years later, after she became Empress Dowager Cixi, she shifted her residence to this palace, to mark the celebration of her 50th birthday. On the wall of the corridor in the yard are poems inscribed, which pray for the longevity of Empress Dowager Cixi. The items furnished during her 50th birthday can still be seen on the display in this palace.
Chuxiugong or the Palace for Gathering Elegance was also used as a residence by many of emperor’s favourite concubines.
A pair of bronze dragons and a pair of bronze deer stand in front of the Palace for Gathering Elegance. These animals represent harmony and wealth of the kingdom. Interestingly, during the imperial rule, patterns of dragons were used only for the palaces where the emperors resided and worked. Thus, the dragons outside the Palace of Gathering Excellence signify Empress Dowager Cixi’s thirst for power. Empress Dowager Cixi met the courtiers in the main hall of the palace. The west hall serves as the bedroom to the empress while the east hall was for her to worship the Buddha. One can easily get an idea of the lavish court life that Empress Cixi had, by looking at the luxurious decoration and embellishments.