Qianqing Gate (Manchu: kiyan cing men) is the main entrance to the inner court of the Forbidden City in Beijing. Only through this gate can you see the Qianqing Palace, which is named after the Qianqing Palace.
Qianqing Gate was built in the 18th year of Yongle (1420) in the Ming Dynasty and rebuilt in the 12th year of Shunzhi (1655) in the Qing Dynasty. In the Qing Dynasty, this was the place where the emperor "attended the imperial court".
The practice of "imperial gate listening to government affairs" was changed from Taihe Gate to Qianqing Gate since Emperor Shunzhi. The imperial court usually starts at 8 o'clock in the morning. When listening to the government, the emperor sat on a temporary seat in the Qianqing Gate. The officials who came to perform the affairs knelt at the door and reported to the emperor. Then the emperor made a decision, which was called "decree." After the performance, the minister retreated from the east steps. Then it's the next official's turn to step forward.
Among the emperors of the Qing Dynasty, Emperor Kangxi was the most diligent in handling political affairs in this way. During his reign, in addition to the time he went to Changchun Garden and Summer Resort to "escape from the noise and listen to politics" in the spring, summer and autumn, and the time at Mulan and Autumn, he went to Qianqingmen almost every day to listen to politics during the time he lived in the Forbidden City, excluding the winter months. When he was old and ministers advised him to take care of his health, he remained the same.
Many of the major decisions made by Kangxi were made while the Qianqing Gate was in charge. After Yongzheng and Qianlong, they spent more time in Yuanming Sanyuan "to avoid noise and listen to politics". The Qing emperor did not live in the Forbidden City for much time, and the number of political affairs became increasingly sparse. By the time of Emperor Xianfeng, the political listening activities ended.
In addition to being the "imperial gate to listen to government affairs", Qianqing Gate was also the place where ceremonies such as fasting, inviting treasures and receiving treasures were held during the Qing Dynasty.
Architecture
Qianqingmen is behind Baohe Hall and north of Qianqingmen Square. Qianqingmen Square is a rectangular square that is long from east to west and narrow from north to south. To the west of the square is Longzong Gate and to the east is Jingyun Gate. This small square is the boundary between the outer court and the inner court of the Forbidden City: to the north of the square, the three palaces and six courtyards including the Qianqing Palace are regarded as the inner court; to the south of the square, the three main halls plus Wenhua Hall and Wuying Hall are the outer court.
The facade of the Qianqing Dynasty is 5 rooms wide, 3 rooms deep, about 16 meters high, with a single eaves on the top of the mountain, a white marble Xumi pedestal 1.5 meters high, surrounded by carved stone railings, and a gilt copper statue on the left and right in front of the door. lion. There are three steps in front of the door, with a royal stone in the middle.
The Qianqing Gate has three doors in the middle, and the door leaves are set on the back eaves. Between the two ends is a green brick sill wall with square lattice windows. Under the eaves, there are single and three-step dougongs, painted with golden dragons and seals. There are eight-character glazed screen walls on both sides of the door, 8 meters high and 9.7 meters long. The center and corners of the wall are decorated with glazed flowers. There is a high platform and corridor inside the gate leading to the platform of Qianqing Palace.