The Zhai Palace is located south of the Sixth Palace in the East of the Forbidden City and west of the Yuqing Palace. It was the fasting place for the emperor before the ceremony of offering sacrifices to heaven and earth. In the Ming Dynasty and the early Qing Dynasty, fasting before offering sacrifices to heaven and earth was conducted outside the palace. In the late Kangxi period, the princes fought fiercely for the throne. In the end, the fourth prince Yinzhen won the throne, and at the same time he also established political enemies for himself. After Yinzhen ascended the throne, the internal struggle within the palace was still fierce. In order to ensure peace, Emperor Yongzheng built a fasting palace in the Forbidden City in the ninth year of Yongzheng in the Qing Dynasty (1731), and changed the fasting ceremony before offering sacrifices to heaven and earth to be held in the palace. The Zhai Palace is a rectangular courtyard with two entrances, one facing the front and sleeping in the other. The front hall of the Zhai Palace is five rooms wide, with yellow glazed tiles resting on the top of the mountain. There are three Baoxia rooms in the front, with partition doors in the open room and two rooms, and a sill window between the two ends. In the middle of the hall hangs a plaque "Jingtian" written by Emperor Qianlong. The indoor ceiling has a gold dragon pattern and an octagonal gold dragon caisson in the middle. Dong Nuan Pavilion is a study room, and Xi Nuan Pavilion is a Buddhist hall. There are three auxiliary halls in the east and west. The left and right corner corridors of the main hall are connected with the front corridors of the side halls, forming a three-sided courtyard with corners. The back palace was first named Fuyong Hall, and later changed to Chengsu Hall. It has 7 rooms in width and has yellow glazed tiles on the top of the mountain. There are two rooms in the east and west wings of the palace. There are 11 verandahs on the east and west sides, connected to the front hall. The emperor would fast here before performing sacrifices to heaven and earth, praying for grains, and often before offering sacrifices to the gods. When the emperor stayed in the Zhai Palace, he respectfully placed a fasting plaque and a bronze figure on the left side of Danbi in the Zhai Palace. On fasting days, the emperor and the accompanying ministers wore fasting plaques, and each palace hung wooden fasting plaques on the curtains. During the fast, do not have fun, do not drink alcohol, and avoid spicy food.
Ke Jian Jue You, listen carefully to the Yi teachings of Zu Kao;
If there is no good thing, you can foresee the difficulty of farming.
——The throne in the main hall of Yongzheng's title Zhai Palace
A gold jian has no meaning;
The five-night bronze sign warns that it is not young.
——The East Room of Yongzheng Tizhai Palace
Staying at Qinyue Dan at midnight;
Yin Zhongzhao Shi Geweixin.
——Yongzheng Ti Zhai Palace’s Bedroom
Ji Kuan pays tribute three days ago;
Nigewei is sincere and united.
——Qianlong Ti Zhaigong's Bedroom
The Biography of Xixinyoumi Qinxi;
The Book of Rites for Zhide, Smartness and Endowment.
——Yongzheng Ti Zhaigong Bedroom
A single thought of pure and sincere Zhaogeben;
All fates are peaceful and bright.
——Dong Nuan Pavilion of Qianlong's Tizhai Palace
Heavenly Dao admires the eternal preservation of life;
Thousands of amnesties have been saved repeatedly.
——East Nuan Pavilion of Yongzheng Ti Zhai Palace
The bright moon hangs in the sky and the mirror is bright;
Miaoyun embraces the pearl of wisdom.
——Xinuan Pavilion of Yongzheng Tizhai Palace
Be cautious about being alone, as soon as the Emperor Huai is born in the Ming Dynasty;
Think about the difficulty and try to make it easy, remember the people's support on the twilight of the night.
——The rear hall of Yongzheng Tizhai Palace