Palace of Universal Happiness

The Palace of Universal Happiness (Chinese: 咸福宫; pinyin: Xiánfú Gōng) is one of the six western palaces and was a residence of imperial concubines. The palace is north of the Palace of Eternal Spring, east of the Palace of Gathering Elegance and southeast of the Palace of Earthly Honour in Beijing, China.[1]

History

The palace was built in 1420 as "Palace of Peaceful Longevity" (Chinese: 寿安宫; pinyin: Shòuān Gōng) and obtained an actual name in 1535. It was renovated in 1683 and in 1897.

In 1741, when court painters created the series of paintings depicting virtues of ancient imperial consorts, the palace received a painting "Consort Feng Yuan fighting with a bear" symbolising courage.[2]

Although it was mainly reserved for imperial concubines, several emperors lived there occasionally. In 1799, Jiaqing Emperor used the main hall of the palace to mourn his father, Emperor Emeritus Qianlong. In 1850, Xianfeng Emperor mourned his father there. The back hall, Hall of the Alignment with Dao (同道堂), became a storage of imperial seals for two empress dowagers Ci An and Ci Xi who were acting as regents during the reign of emperors Tongzhi and Guangxu.[3]

The palace has a hip roof covered with yellow glazed tiles and a square layout, similar to the Palace of Great Brilliance on the eastern side of inner court.

Residents
Ming Dynasty
Year Imperial Consort Emperor Note
until 1597 Consort Jing[4] Wanli Emperor
Qing Dynasty
Year Imperial Consort Emperor Note
1735-1799 Imperial Noble Consort Huixian Qianlong Emperor He lived there occasionally
1799 Jiaqing Emperor He mourned his father
1827-1850 Consort Chang Daoguang Emperor She was twice demoted and moved out from Yanxi palace and Chengqian palace,

her former residences[5]

1831-1850 Noble Consort Tong She was once demoted in 1844[6]
1837-1842 Imperial Noble Consort Zhuangshun She moved out to Chengqian palace[7]
1845-1850 Noble Consort Cheng Her former residence, Yanxi palace, burnt down[8]
1850-1853 Empress Xiaojingcheng She lived there before moving to Shoukang palace[9]
1850 Xianfeng Emperor He mourned his father[10]

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. 清宫述闻：正续编合编本/ "Residences of Qing dynasty. Revised edition". Forbidden City Press. 1990. pp. 755–757.
  3. "Hall of Alignment with the Dao (Tongdao tang)|The Palace Museum". en.dpm.org.cn. Retrieved 2020-10-02.
  4. "Palace of Universal Happiness (Xianfugong), Forbidden City, Beijing". www.travelchinaguide.com. Retrieved 2020-10-02.
  5. 《清實錄咸丰朝實錄》/"Chronicles of the Xianfeng era".
  6. 《日記檔》.
  7. 《內務府奏銷檔》.
  8. 《奏为延禧宫失火率领官员兵丁扑救事折》/ "A report on the fire of the Palace of Prolonging Happiness".
  9. "清代宫廷陈设浅论（下）_收藏资讯_华夏收藏网". 2013-10-29. Archived from the original on 2013-10-29. Retrieved 2020-10-02.
  10. "Palace of Universal Happiness (Xianfu gong)|The Palace Museum". en.dpm.org.cn. Retrieved 2020-10-02.
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