Why is the Forbidden City Also Called Purple Forbidden City? Where Did ‘Purple’ Come From? Learn Some Knowledge!
Let’s talk about the Forbidden City, and everyone is probably familiar with it. However, in ancient times, the Forbidden City was called the Purple Forbidden City. Do you know why? Today, we bring you the imperial palaces of the Ming and Qing dynasties – the Purple Forbidden City. The Beijing Forbidden City is the largest existing palace in China, the best-preserved wooden structure ancient building, a national 5A-level tourist attraction, and one of the first batch of national key cultural heritage sites. It is also a World Heritage Site.
But why were the imperial palaces called the Purple Forbidden City? According to the editor’s investigation, there may be the following reasons. Legend has it that in the Spring and Autumn Period, the founder of Taoism, Lao Tzu, was about to pass through the Gangu Pass. The guards saw purple aura coming from the east, and immediately Lao Tzu rode a cow to pass through. The guards believed that Lao Tzu was a sage, and asked him to write the ‘Tao Te Ching.’ At the same time, this is also the origin of the idiom ‘purple aura coming from the east.’ Purple was considered to have a lucky meaning. The purple in the Purple Forbidden City may come from this. Do you feel like you’ve gained knowledge?
The second explanation is related to astrology. As everyone knows, there is a planet in the sky that can guide us, and its position seems to be unchanged. That’s the North Star. Ancient astronomers regarded the North Star as the residence of the emperor. The North Star was also called Purple Star in ancient times. Therefore, the palace where the emperor lived was called Purple Palace. This is another explanation for the name of the Purple Forbidden City.
And ‘forbidden’ refers to the strict guarding of the imperial palace, so ordinary people could hardly enter, hence the name Purple Forbidden City. Which reason do you like better? Welcome to discuss with us!
Next, the editor will introduce the visiting matters of the Forbidden City. First, the tickets are priced differently during the peak season and off-season, and only online reservations are accepted. To visit the Forbidden City, you need to make an appointment in advance on the official website of the Forbidden City. If you are a student, don’t forget to bring your student ID to purchase student tickets, which are very cheap. Don’t miss it!
In terms of transportation, it is very convenient. Local tourists can choose to take the subway to Tiananmen West or Tiananmen East Station and walk. The bus stops and subway stations are the same. Here, the editor recommends taking buses because driving along the Chang’an Avenue can feel the rich Beijing characteristics and flavor. If you are a foreign tourist, no matter if you arrive by train or high-speed train, you can directly take the subway from the station. For tourists arriving by plane, you can take the Airport Line, which is very fast and convenient!
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(Image from the Internet)
