Editing Forbidden City (section)

==== Back Three Palaces ====
At the centre of the Inner Court is another set of three halls (L). From the south, these are:
*[[Palace of Heavenly Purity]] ({{linktext|乾|清|宮}})
*[[Hall of Union]]
*[[Palace of Earthly Tranquility]]
Smaller than the Outer Court halls, the three halls of the Inner Court were the official residences of the Emperor and the Empress. The Emperor, representing [[Yin and Yang|Yang]] and the Heavens, would occupy the Palace of Heavenly Purity. The Empress, representing [[Yin and Yang|Yin]] and the Earth, would occupy the Palace of Earthly Tranquility. In between them was the Hall of Union, where the [[Yin and Yang]] mixed to produce harmony.<ref name="Yu 75">p. 75, Yu (1984)</ref>

[[File:Transmongolie-676 (27131815114).jpg|thumb|The throne in the [[Palace of Heavenly Purity]]]]
[[File:Neun-Drachen-Mauer.jpg|thumb|The Nine Dragons Screen in front of the [[Palace of Tranquil Longevity]]]]
[[File:故宫御花园 - panoramio.jpg|thumb|The Imperial Garden]]

The [[Palace of Heavenly Purity]] is a double-eaved building, and set on a single-level white marble platform. It is connected to the [[Gate of Heavenly Purity]] to its south by a raised walkway. In the Ming dynasty, it was the residence of the Emperor. However, beginning from the [[Yongzheng Emperor]] of the [[Qing dynasty]], the Emperor lived instead at the smaller [[Hall of Mental Cultivation]] (N) to the west, out of respect to the memory of the [[Kangxi Emperor]].<ref name="CCTV2" /> The Palace of Heavenly Purity then became the Emperor's audience hall.<ref name="Yu 78">p. 78, Yu (1984)</ref> A caisson is set into the roof, featuring a coiled dragon. Above the throne hangs a tablet reading "Justice and Honour" ({{zh|c={{linktext|明|光|大|正}}|p=míngguāng dà zhèng}}).<ref>p. 51, Yang (2003)</ref>

The [[Palace of Earthly Tranquility]] ({{linktext|坤|寧|宮}}) is a double-eaved building, 9 bays wide and 3 bays deep. In the Ming dynasty, it was the residence of the Empress. In the Qing dynasty, large portions of the Palace were converted for Shamanist worship by the new Manchu rulers. From the reign of the Yongzheng Emperor, the Empress moved out of the Palace. However, two rooms in the Palace of Earthly Harmony were retained for use on the Emperor's wedding night.<ref name="Yu 80-83">pp. 80–83, Yu (1984)</ref>

Between these two palaces is the [[Hall of Union]], which is square in shape with a pyramidal roof. Stored here are the 25 Imperial [[Chinese seal|Seals]] of the Qing dynasty, as well as other ceremonial items.<ref name="CCTV3" />

Behind these three halls lies the Imperial Garden (M). Relatively small, and compact in design, the garden nevertheless contains several elaborate landscaping features.<ref name="Yu 121">p. 121, Yu (1984)</ref> To the north of the garden is the Gate of Divine Might.

Directly to the west is the [[Hall of Mental Cultivation]] (N). Originally a minor palace, this became the ''de facto'' residence and office of the Emperor starting from Yongzheng. In the last decades of the Qing dynasty, empresses dowager, including Cixi, held court from the eastern partition of the hall. Located around the Hall of Mental Cultivation are the offices of the [[Grand Council (Qing dynasty)|Grand Council]] and other key government bodies.<ref name="Yu 87">p. 87, Yu (1984)</ref>

The north-eastern section of the Inner Court is taken up by the Palace of Tranquil Longevity ({{linktext|寧|壽|宮}}) (O), a complex built by the [[Qianlong Emperor]] in anticipation of his retirement. It mirrors the set-up of the Forbidden City proper and features an "outer court", an "inner court", and gardens and temples. The entrance to the Palace of Tranquil Longevity is marked by a glazed-tile [[Nine Dragons Screen]].<ref name="Yu 115">p. 115, Yu (1984)</ref>