During the Ming Dynasty, the palace served as the residence of the Empress. However, after its restoration in the Qing Dynasty, the palace was repurposed as the nuptial chamber for the Emperor and Empress and also functioned as a site for Shamanistic rituals.

 

Distinctively, the main entrance of the palace is positioned off-center towards the east. The two eastern chambers served as the imperial bridal suite, connected by a passageway to the western section of the palace, which was designated for the preparation of sacrificial offerings.

 

The Emperor and Empresses of the Qing Dynasty, being Manchu, held a profound reverence for deities, making sacrificial rituals a pivotal aspect of their culture. In line with Manchu customs, the four western rooms of the Palace of Earthly Tranquility (Kunning Gong) were transformed into altars dedicated to Shamanistic worship. In the third room from the east, two opposing doors were installed, and within, three large cauldrons were placed for cooking sacrificial meat. Offerings were presented twice daily—once in the morning and once in the evening. Significant occasions, such as the Lunar New Year, the first and fifteenth days of each month, were observed here, with both the Emperor and Empress participating.
 

The two eastern rooms of the Palace of Earthly Tranquility served as the bridal chambers for the Emperor and Empress. The walls were painted red, and lanterns adorned with the Chinese character "囍" (representing double happiness) were hung high, creating a warm and joyous atmosphere. The bridal chamber featured two doors—one facing east and the other west—both decorated with the golden character "喜" (happiness), symbolizing joy. This reflects the tradition of displaying the "Double Happiness" symbol on wedding chamber doors. Inside the room stood a large bed known as the "Dragon and Phoenix Union Bed". The exquisite bed curtains and quilts were embroidered with images of 100 playing children, hence referred to as the "Hundred Children Curtains" and "Hundred Children Quilt." Following the wedding night, the room would remain sealed until the next imperial wedding.
 

Following their wedding ceremony, the Emperor and Empress would reside in the Palace of Earthly Tranquility (Kunning Gong) for a few days, typically two. Subsequently, the Emperor would move to the Hall of Mental Cultivation (Yangxin Dian) or the Palace of Heavenly Purity (Qianqing Gong), while the Empress would relocate to another palace within the Forbidden City. If emperors married before ascending the throne, their weddings were not held in this palace. Therefore, only three Qing Dynasty emperors—Kangxi, Tongzhi, and Guangxu—who ascended the throne at a young age, spent their wedding nights in this bridal chamber.

 

A unique feature within the Palace of Earthly Tranquility (Kunning Gong) is the discovery of a concealed couplet behind an ancient painting. A Qing Dynasty-era artwork by the painter Gu Quan was originally hung on the wall of this palace. During restoration efforts, staff at the Palace Museum removed Gu Quan's painting and uncovered a hidden horizontal scroll bearing a couplet. This calligraphic piece has been authenticated as the work of Emperor Xianfeng of the Qing Dynasty. Experts suggest that this couplet is an original artifact placed in the room, as it aligns with the overall decorative style of the space.