During the Ming Dynasty, the hall served as the venue where the emperor held court and discussed state affairs. In the Qing Dynasty, the hall was utilized for major imperial ceremonies such as coronations, royal weddings, investitures, birthdays, the Lunar New Year, the Winter Solstice, and the dispatch of generals to the battlefield. The Hall of Supreme Harmony is also the tallest structure within the Forbidden City, situated atop a three-tiered white marble terrace.

 

The columns inside the Hall of Supreme Harmony were made of precious Phoebe Zhennan wood. This rare tree species only grew in the remote forests of Sichuan, Hubei, and Guizhou provinces. After enduring numerous events, including fires, by the Qing Dynasty, the wood used to rebuild the hall was sourced from pine trees in China's northeastern provinces.

 

Outside the hall, there are 18 bronze cauldrons symbolizing the 18 provinces of China at that time [2]. Additionally, a white marble sundial (Rigui) is positioned to the east. Placing the sundial in front of the palace symbolized that the emperor had the supreme power to standardize time for all people in the country.

 

There is also an ancient Chinese measuring device called Jialiang - The Grain Measure located to the west. The grain measure was used for measuring several volume standards. Cast in bronze, the grain measure is plated with gold, and bears an inscription by Emperor Qianlong. There were two jialiangs cast during the reign of the Qianlong Emperor, a square one in front of the Hall of Supreme Harmony and a round one in front of the Palace of Heavenly Purity.

 

The sundial and The Grain Measure in front of the Hall of Supreme Harmony represent the emperor's fairness, integrity and the sovereignty and unity of the imperial reign.

 

[1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoebe_zhennan

[2]: https://www.mybeijingchina.com/beijing-attractions/the-forbidden-city/hall-of-supreme-harmony.htm