Hall of the Supreme Principle, Ancient imperial residence in Forbidden City, Beijing, China.
The Hall of the Supreme Principle is a palace building in the heart of the Forbidden City with yellow glazed roof tiles and five main chambers. The structure contains multiple connected spaces arranged with side halls on either side of the central rooms.
The building was constructed in 1420 and received its current name in 1741 under Emperor Qianlong's reign. In 1860, a stage structure was added that connected it to an adjacent palace space.
Paintings displayed inside show scenes from the imperial court that Emperor Qianlong commissioned to teach and celebrate virtues. These artworks reveal what the imperial household valued and how it viewed the role of women in the palace.
The space is directly accessible from the central district of the Forbidden City and offers clear sight lines throughout. You will notice that the interior rooms are positioned close together and have multiple entry points that allow easy movement.
Two large porcelain elephants stand beside the imperial throne and hold containers with seeds. These figures were part of an old practice intended to forecast favorable harvests.
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