Hall of Literary Glory, Imperial ceremonial building in Forbidden City, China
Hall of Literary Glory is an I-shaped building with yellow-glazed roof tiles located in the outer court section of the Forbidden City. The structure connects front and rear halls and now houses a ceramic gallery displaying over 400 Chinese pottery pieces.
The building originally served as a crown prince residence but transitioned to an imperial lecture venue after 1536 during the Ming Dynasty. This shift transformed it into a place where the ruling elite displayed scholarly knowledge and state authority.
The hall served as a place where emperors explained Confucian philosophical works to officials, using knowledge as a form of authority. This practice connected politics with scholarly discussion and made the space a center of intellectual power.
The hall is located east of the Gate of Unified Harmony and is easily accessible from other areas of the Forbidden City. Visitors should allow time to explore both the architecture and the ceramic collection inside.
During imperial examinations, nine dedicated readers were stationed in the hall to review and verify test papers over two days. This careful quality control reveals how seriously the examination process was taken.
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