Hall of Central Harmony, Ceremonial hall in Forbidden City, China
The Hall of Central Harmony is a small, square hall inside the Forbidden City in Beijing, positioned between two much larger ceremonial halls. It has three rooms on each side, a curved roof covered with yellow glazed tiles, and golden dragon ornaments along its ridgelines.
The hall was built in 1421 during the Ming Dynasty and carried different names over the centuries, including Hua Gai and Zhong Ji. The current name dates from the Qing Dynasty and reflects a shift in how the building was understood.
The hall served as a preparation space where emperors received honors and reviewed documents before participating in major state ceremonies. This function made it a central place for official palace rituals.
The hall sits directly on the central axis of the Forbidden City and is easy to walk past without stopping, since it stands between two much larger buildings. It is worth pausing to look at the roof ornaments up close, as they are more detailed than they appear from a distance.
The stone water spouts on the roof are shaped like dragon heads and channel rainwater directly through their open mouths onto the terrace below. During heavy rain, all four sides of the building release water at once, creating an unusual sight.
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