The picture shown in the Forbidden City in Beijing, China, during the Ming Dynasty/ 15th

century C.E. It is made of stone masonry, marble, brick, wood, and ceramic tile.

The art-historical period during which the Forbidden City was created during Zhu Dis, the
Chengzu emperor, rule of the Ming Dynasty. This was when he moved the capital from Nanjing
to Beijing, centered around the Forbidden City. The style that the city implements reflects a
hierarchal nature within accordance to the Treatise of Architectural methods or State Building
Standards(Yingzao fashi), an 11th century manual that specified particular designs for building of
different ranks in Chinese social structure.

We know that The Forbidden City reflects Chinese values, as the architects who designed these
followed an ideal cosmic order in Confucian Ideology. For instance, this layout ensures that all
activities were appropriate to the participants social and familial roles. For instance, the inner
city is meant to house the emperor and his family. His residence is the Palace of Heavenly
Purity, and the Hall of Celestial and Terrestrial Union is in meant for imperial weddings and
familial ceremonies. While on the other hand, the outer city reflects stately processions. This
continues on the Yingzao fashi ideal of separation of classes.

Specific visual evidence that justifies the power of the emperor, in relation to the culture can be
seen throughout the floor plan, and visually. For instance, the emperors throne is in the shape of
a dragon, symbolic of yang, the Chinese principle of masculine energy, while the empresss
residency is located in the opposite direction, most likely due to being yin, the principle of
feminine energy. Furthermore, the roofs of the city being yellow, the shades of red everywhere,
underscores the emperors role as being the Son of Heaven, holding the Mandate of Heaven and
the power to rule/preserve cosmic order. The precision of the palace, including each gate that
visitors had to pass in order to get to the emperor, is a symbol for the order that the emperor
possesses, as he is compelled by heaven to rule. The power that he has is given by a higher order
spirit. This again emphasizes Yingzoa fashi ideas as it delineates who the emperor is and what
his purpose is.

Ultimately, this palaces purpose is to house the emperor and to hold stately affairs. For instance,
upon massing the Meridian gate, one enters a giant courtyard in from of the Hall of Supreme
Harmony, and this was where officials gathered waiting for the emperors reception to start at 5
am. This would continue for 500 years from when it was first built, but it now the Forbidden City
serves as a museum of Chinese values and history.