Meridian Gate

Coordinates: 39°54′45″N 116°23′28″E / 39.91250°N 116.39111°E / 39.91250; 116.39111
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Meridian Gate
午门
The Meridian Gate, viewed from the south, in wintertime
Map
Alternative namesWumen
General information
LocationForbidden City
Town or cityBeijing
CountryChina
Coordinates39°54′45″N 116°23′28″E / 39.91250°N 116.39111°E / 39.91250; 116.39111
Meridian Gate viewed from north, showing the five arches
Meridian Gate, viewed from the south

The Meridian Gate or Wumen (

que towers traditionally used to decorate the main entrances of palaces, temples and tombs. The gate has five arches. The three central arches are close together in the main, central section; the two flanking arches are farther apart from the three central arches, and are located between the central section and the protruding arms. The centre arch was formerly reserved for the Emperor alone; the exceptions were the Empress, who could enter it once on the day of her wedding, and the top three scholars of the triennial civil service examinations
, who left the exams through the central arch. All other officials and servants had to use the four side arches.

A series of buildings form the superstructure of the gate. The central one is a pavilion of nine bays wide, with double eaves. On each of the protruding side, a 13 bays-long building with a single eave, connects the two pyramidal-roofed pavilions that represented the que towers.

Its superstructure is also called the "Five Phoenix Turrets" because it is composed of five buildings.[1] Imperial proclamations and almanacs were issued from the gate house. After successful campaigns, the Emperor received prisoners of war here, sometimes followed by mass decapitations.[2]

Although

Imperial China
; in reality only corporal punishment was actually carried out.

Behind the viewer is Upright Gate, the principal entrance to the imperial palace grounds.

When proceeding northward through the palace grounds, the next major gate encountered is the Gate of Supreme Harmony.

See also

References

  1. ISBN 0-670-53721-7
    .
  2. ISBN 0-300-02518-1
    .
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