Palace of Eternal Spring

The Palace of Eternal Spring (Chinese: 长春宫, pinyin changchungong) is one of the Six Western Palaces of the Forbidden City in Beijing, which used to be residences of imperial concubines. The palace is north of the Hall of the Supreme Principle, west of the Palace of Earthly Honour and north-west of the Palace of Eternal Longevity.[1]

Concubine Wenxiu in the Palace of Eternal Spring courtyard

History

The palace was built during the Yongle era in 1420, like most of the palaces in the Forbidden City, as the Palace of Eternal Spring (corresponding with eternal youth symbolized by spring). In 1535, the name of the palace was changed to "Palace of Eternal Tranquility" (永宁宫). The palace regained its current name after the ascension of the Qing dynasty and was renovated in 1689.[2] In 1859, the inner gate of the palace was dismantled so as to connect with the neighbouring Hall of the Supreme Principle.[3]

The most remarkable detail of the palace is a corridor painted with 18 Suzhou-style frescos depicting scenes from the "Dream of the Red Chamber" by Cao Xueqin. The palace also has a veranda near Tiyuan hall converted into an opera stage, where Peking opera performances were performed for Empress Dowager Cixi.

Residents

Ming dynasty
Year Imperial Consort Emperor Notes
1623-1627 Consort Cheng[4] Tianqi Emperor

Qing dynasty
Year Imperial Consort Emperor Notes
1735-1748 Empress Xiaoxianchun Qianlong Emperor She died during Southern Tour in Dezhou.
1735-1755 Imperial Noble Consort Shujia[5]
1861-1875 Empress Dowager Cixi Xianfeng Emperor She lived there during her regency under Tongzhi Emperor
1885 She celebrated there her 50th birthday
1908-1913 Empress Dowager Longyu Guangxu Emperor She moved out from Zhongcui Palace[6]
1913-1922 Imperial Noble Consort Xianzhe Tongzhi Emperor She lived also in Taiji Hall, which was connected with palace
1922-1924 Wenxiu Puyi She was evicted in 1924 together with her husband[7]

References
  1. 魏/Wei, 莉/Li (2004). 从北京故宫到避暑山庄/"A review of the Forbidden city in Peking". 山东画报出版社/Shandong Typography. p. 42.
  2. "长春宫". 2013-10-30. Archived from the original on 2013-10-30. Retrieved 2020-10-01.
  3. "Palace of Eternal Spring (Changchungong), Forbidden City, Beijing". www.travelchinaguide.com. Retrieved 2020-10-01.
  4. 梅/Mei, 毅/Yi (2010). 縱慾時代：大明朝的另類歷史/"Biographies of notables of great Ming dynasty". 達觀出版事業有限公司/Daguan Typographical Company. p. 390.
  5. 《雍和宮滿文檔案譯編》.
  6. 清宫述闻：正续编合编本/ "Residences of Qing dynasty. Revised edition". Forbidden City Press. 1990. pp. 757–765.
  7. "末代皇妃文绣的结局（图）_新华书画_新华网". 2013-11-16. Archived from the original on 2013-11-16. Retrieved 2020-10-01.
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