Moving behind the Hall of Supreme Harmony, you will find the Hall of Central Harmony. It was built as part of the original design of the Forbidden City, used to be the place for the emperor to do preparations for ceremonies in the Hall Of Supreme Harmony. The current name was designated by the Shunzhi Emperor and derived from the Book of Rites, which states: "Centrality is the foundation of the world; harmony is the way of the world.".

 

Annually, prior to conducting the Heaven worship ceremonies at the altars, the emperor would recite the sacrificial text in the Hall of Central Harmony on the preceding day. During the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), the royal genealogy was revised every ten years. Upon completion, the new genealogy had to be presented to the emperor for approval in a ceremony held in this hall. [1]

 

Inside the Hall of Central Harmony, at the very center, is the emperor's seat. Above it hangs a plaque inscribed with the phrase " Yǔn zhí jué zhōng " ( Faithfully uphold the Middle Way ), written by Emperor Qianlong himself. Here, Middle Way refers to balance and impartiality

 

This phrase is taken from the Book of Documents (Shangshu) and originates from Emperor Shun’s famous advice to Yu the Great before passing the throne:

"The human heart is unpredictable, the heart of the Way is subtle and profound; only through sincerity and steadfastness can one uphold the right path and govern the nation well." The inscription implies that ruling a country requires sincerity, adherence to righteousness, and staying true to one’s moral principles.

 

Next to the throne are two gilded mythical creatures known as Luduan. These creatures are depicted with four legs and a single horn and exist only in legend. According to folklore, the Luduan can travel 9,000 kilometers in a single day, speak multiple languages, and possess the ability to foresee the future. These incense burner statues, designed to burn sandalwood, are placed around the throne as symbols of the emperor's wisdom and foresight. On the floor, there are bronze stoves used for heating during the winter months. Additionally, the hall displays two imperial sedan chairs, which served as the emperor's means of transportation within the palace. During the feudal era, different types of sedan chairs were used by the emperor on various occasions; the ones exhibited here are among the versions utilized within the imperial court.

 

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