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Meridian Gate

The Meridian Gate (Chinese: 午门; pinyin: Wùmén), also known as the Five-Phoenix Tower, is the principal southern entrance to the , the imperial palace complex in , , serving as a symbolic threshold between the outer world and the emperor's sacred domain. Constructed in 1420 during the under Emperor Yongle, it stands 37.95 meters tall on a 12-meter-high red abutment wall featuring three central gates, flanked by two corridor-like wings that connect to side pavilions, creating a concave layout resembling outstretched phoenix wings. The gate's name derives from its alignment with the mythical meridian line—the central axis of the universe in cosmology—positioning the emperor as the "Son of Heaven" at the world's heart. Architecturally, the Meridian Gate comprises five pavilions topped with double-eaved, yellow-glazed tile roofs—a color reserved exclusively for structures, symbolizing the 's authority and connection to and earth. The central pavilion measures 60.05 meters long and 25 meters wide, housing ancient bells and drums used for ceremonial announcements, while the overall design incorporates the auspicious , the 's numeral, such as in the nine bays of the central pavilion and the nine rows of knobs on its door, to evoke and power. Historically, access was strictly regulated: only the passed through the central gate, with rare exceptions for the empress on her wedding day and the top three scholars after triennial exams; officials entered via the eastern gate, and the family via the western one. The gate played a pivotal role in imperial rituals, serving as the site for proclaiming edicts, distributing almanacs, celebrating military victories, and conducting public punishments, such as the infamous rod beatings of officials in 1519. Damaged by fire in 1644 during the Ming-Qing transition, it was rebuilt in 1647 and endured as a key feature through the until the fall of the empire in 1911. Today, integrated into the Palace Museum, it functions as an exhibition hall hosting major cultural displays, underscoring its enduring legacy as a masterpiece of Ming-Qing and imperial symbolism.

History

Construction

The construction of the Meridian Gate commenced in 1406 under the direction of the (Zhu Di) of the , as an integral component of the broader project, which aimed to establish the imperial residence in following the capital's relocation from . The entire complex, including the Meridian Gate, reached completion in 1420 after a 14-year effort, marking the official occupation of the palace by the imperial court. This timeline reflects the ambitious scale of the endeavor, which repositioned the political center of China and integrated the gate as the principal southern entry point to the palace grounds. The project mobilized over one million workers, encompassing laborers, soldiers, and approximately skilled artisans transported from across the empire, who toiled under rigorous conditions to erect the vast complex. Traditional construction techniques dominated the build, particularly intricate methods using interlocking mortise-and-tenon joints that assembled the wooden frameworks without nails, ensuring structural integrity and aesthetic harmony in the upper pavilions and towers. Guided by principles of , the Meridian Gate's design emphasized cosmic alignment and imperial auspiciousness, with its orientation facing due south to harmonize with natural and celestial forces. The structure utilized a core for its foundational walls to provide stability, overlaid with brick facing and a wooden supporting the multi-tiered roofs clad in yellow-glazed tiles, materials sourced from distant regions including timber from southwestern forests and stones from western mountains. As the southern anchor of the Forbidden City's north-south central axis, the gate connected directly to the palace's symmetrical layout, facilitating ceremonial processions into the outer court.

Renovations and Major Events

During the Ming-Qing dynastic transition in 1644, rebel forces led by Li Zicheng captured Beijing and occupied the Forbidden City, resulting in widespread looting and fires that damaged much of the palace complex, including structures near the main southern entrance at the Meridian Gate; this event marked a temporary disruption and symbolic shift as the complex transitioned from Ming to Qing control. The Meridian Gate was subsequently rebuilt in 1647 during the early Qing Dynasty. An earlier major fire in 1557 damaged the Meridian Gate along with the three main halls in the outer court and other buildings; renovations lasted until 1561. Allied forces occupied parts of the during the 1900 , with troops marching through the Meridian Gate as part of the relief efforts, though no confirmed structural damage to the gate itself is reported. Following the establishment of the , major renovations to the complex occurred in the 1950s and 1960s, including efforts to protect wooden architecture from fire and other threats. Partial restoration works on the palace complex in the 1970s addressed decay, though these were later criticized for not fully respecting historical authenticity.

Architecture

Overall Layout

The Meridian Gate is located at the southern end of the central axis of the , serving as the principal entrance and aligned directly with the to the north, emphasizing the symmetrical layout of the imperial palace complex. The structure features a U-shaped base that encloses an inner , with the central measuring 60.05 meters long and 25 meters wide, and an overall of 37.95 meters, creating an imposing facade that dominates the southern approach. At the base, five main arches provide passage, consisting of three central arches—with the narrow middle one exclusively for use—flanked by two side arches integrated into the protruding wings. The is surrounded by a for defensive purposes, but the Meridian Gate is approached directly from the south on foot, enhancing the ceremonial progression to the palace interior.

Structural Features and Symbolism

The Meridian Gate's roof is adorned with five , collectively termed the Five Phoenix Towers, which evoke the mythical as a symbol of renewal and supreme authority in Chinese cosmology. The central among these stands out with its double-layered and yellow-glazed tiles, a design element reserved solely for structures tied to the to signify his divine centrality and the palace's alignment with order. This configuration not only enhances the gate's majestic silhouette but also integrates auspicious avian motifs that reinforce the emperor's role as a mediator between and . The structure's red walls and gold accents draw deeply from the Five Elements () philosophy, where red embodies the element linked to the south direction, representing vitality, prosperity, and the dynamic energy of rule. Gold and yellow elements, symbolizing , underscore the emperor's position at the cosmic center, evoking stability and the that legitimizes dynastic power. These color choices, applied to the gate's facade and decorative details, thus manifest the palace's adherence to directional cosmology, positioning the south-facing entrance as a threshold of auspicious transformation. Flanking the main body are que towers—wing-like protrusions derived from ancient ceremonial architecture—intended to project vigilance and unassailable power, reminiscent of defensive forms in earlier palaces and temples. The overall design further embeds Confucian principles through its strict bilateral symmetry, which promotes harmony and as outlined in classical texts like , and the central hall's nine bays, an auspicious number denoting completeness and the imperial pinnacle in numerical symbolism.

Functions and Significance

Ceremonial and Administrative Roles

The Meridian Gate functioned as the primary venue for proclaiming imperial edicts and to assembled officials and the public during the Ming (1368–1644) and Qing (1644–1911) dynasties. In the Qing era, the emperor personally presented the for the upcoming year—outlining key agricultural activities, festival dates, and ceremonial schedules—on the first day of the tenth from the central pavilion. This ritual underscored the gate's role in disseminating authoritative imperial directives to ensure societal alignment with the court's calendar and policies. It also served as the site for the 's review of victorious generals and military captives, particularly during post-battle ceremonies on the adjacent square. These events included troop inspections, where returning forces paraded before the , and rituals involving the or sacrifice of captives to symbolize and . Additionally, the top three scholars passed through the central gate after their examinations, highlighting the 's oversight of elite selections. In its administrative capacity, the Meridian Gate strictly controlled access to the , enforcing hierarchical protocols through its five arches. The central arch was reserved exclusively for the emperor, with rare exceptions granted to the empress on her wedding day and to the top three candidates of the triennial examinations, who passed through it as a mark of distinction. Officials entered via the eastern arch, while the western arch was designated for the family, and the smaller side gates were used during grand ceremonies and for other authorized entries, thereby regulating the flow of personnel into the palace's outer court.

Cultural and Imperial Importance

The Meridian Gate, known as Wumen, embodied the ancient Chinese concept of the "" (Zhongguo), positioning the as the cosmic and political center of the empire. Emperors believed the gate marked the passage of the central meridian line, which divided the world temporally and spatially, with the imperial palace serving as the pivot of the four quarters and the as the earthly mediator between and humanity. This alignment reinforced the notion of as the civilized core surrounded by barbarian peripheries, a central to imperial during the Ming (1368–1644) and Qing (1644–1911) dynasties. Deeply intertwined with principles and the , the gate's design and placement underscored the emperor's divine legitimacy to rule. The north-south axis, commencing at the Meridian Gate, followed geomantic practices to harmonize earthly structures with celestial patterns, including a slight westward skew aligned with astronomical observations like the sunrise, symbolizing the dynasty's harmony with cosmic order. As the "son of Heaven," the emperor's residence behind the gate was protected from negative energies by features such as the meandering Golden Water River to the south and Jingshan Hill to the north, affirming the through ritual and spatial symbolism that projected imperial authority as a reflection of universal balance. A persistent in holds that the Meridian Gate was the site of beheadings for offending officials, encapsulated in the "chāo Wùmén" (behead outside the Meridian Gate), evoking swift . However, historical evidence indicates that punishments there were limited to measures, such as baculine penalties or flogging with bamboo sticks, administered to disgraced officials along the Imperial Way to publicly enforce discipline without capital execution, which occurred elsewhere like Caishikou. This distinction highlights the gate's role in theater, blending intimidation with restraint to uphold the emperor's moral and cosmic authority. The Meridian Gate's architectural form and symbolic weight influenced subsequent imperial constructions across . Its five-pavilion structure, derived from ancient que towers and adhering to classical texts such as the Treatise on Architectural Methods, emphasized hierarchy and exclusivity, with the central passage reserved solely for the emperor, a convention echoed in later palatial designs to symbolize unbroken imperial legitimacy.

Preservation and Modern Context

Restoration Efforts

Following the establishment of the in 1949, systematic preservation of the , including the Meridian Gate, began with comprehensive surveys to assess structural integrity. In the early , city surveyors conducted detailed mapping and modeling of Beijing's historical structures, culminating in a 1953 scale model that informed subsequent analyses of the palace complex's condition, emphasizing the need for wood reinforcements using traditional techniques to address decay from prior damages like the 1900 [Boxer Rebellion](/page/Boxer Rebellion) events. This effort laid the groundwork for ongoing maintenance, though major structural replacements were limited until later decades. In the , restoration initiatives incorporated advanced digital technologies for the Meridian Gate and surrounding areas. From 2012 onward, and digital scanning were employed by the Palace Museum in collaboration with international experts to document and plan repairs, enabling precise virtual reconstructions for future conservation. A key project from 2013 to 2015 focused on the Meridian Gate's east and west wings, involving for roof tile repairs, wood frame reinforcements, and interior modernization while preserving original methods; funded primarily by the Chinese government with technical input from global partners, this work addressed foundational settling and ensured seismic stability. Preservation faces significant challenges from environmental factors, particularly causing and discoloration of glazed tiles and wooden elements, as well as infestations threatening the ancient timber frameworks. Atmospheric pollutants and have accelerated deterioration of exterior surfaces since the late , while , exacerbated by shifts, have prompted specialized interventions, such as using in 2017 and monitoring devices, to target infestations without damaging artifacts. Solutions include chemical treatments for , such as targeted sprays during peak activity seasons, and the installation of climate-controlled systems for and regulation to prevent further decay, as implemented in select palace sections by the . Ahead of the Forbidden City's 600th anniversary in , a major and repainting initiative was undertaken as part of the broader 2002-2020 master plan, which allocated hundreds of millions of RMB to restore over 110 structures, including gate and color restorations to original palettes. This project, through roof tile replacements and structural bracing for various structures, was funded by the Chinese government and aimed to enhance resilience against natural disasters while aligning with Beijing's priorities.

Visitor Access and Contemporary Use

The Meridian Gate serves as the main entry point for visitors to the Palace Museum in , with access restricted to the central bridge and its three middle archways to honor the gate's imperial symbolism, where only the historically passed through the central passage. Entry requires advance online ticket reservations, presentation of original valid identification such as a , and passage through security checks, including bag scans and metal detectors; large bags and luggage are prohibited inside. The side archways are closed to pedestrian traffic, instead repurposed for facilities like restrooms and storage, preserving the site's ceremonial hierarchy. Flanking the gate are dedicated exhibition halls that regularly host temporary displays of Ming and artifacts, such as , paintings, and architectural models, offering visitors an immediate introduction to the palace's upon entry. Multilingual audio guides, rentable at the ticket counters near the Meridian Gate, provide narrated tours that detail the gate's original administrative and ceremonial roles, enhancing educational engagement for international audiences. In the years leading up to 2020, the Palace Museum attracted more than 19 million visitors annually, prompting the adoption of timed slot reservations and daily caps of around 80,000 entrants (reduced to 40,000 as of 2025) to manage crowds and protect the site's integrity. These measures, combined with peak-hour restrictions, ensure orderly access through the while accommodating diverse groups, including families and tour parties. As of 2024, annual visitors have recovered to approximately 17 million. The gate integrates seamlessly into Beijing's tourism network, positioned adjacent to for convenient linkage between the two landmarks, often forming part of multi-site itineraries. Complementing physical visits, virtual reality tours of the , including interactive explorations of the Meridian Gate and surrounding halls, were launched in 2023, enabling remote global access to high-resolution 3D reconstructions and artifact views.

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