Editing Forbidden City (section)

==== Six Western and Six Eastern Palaces ====
To the west and to the east of the three main halls of the inner court are the Six Western Palaces (西六宫; ''xīliùgōng'') and the Six Eastern Palaces (东六宫; ''dōngliùgōng''). These palaces were the residences of the imperial [[Imperial Chinese harem system|consorts]]. Six palaces lay to the west and six to the east of the three main halls, hence the name. The architecture of the twelve palaces, connected by passageways, is more or less the same. The Western and Eastern Palaces each have a layout of three palaces on either side of an alley that runs from north to south. Every palace has its own courtyards, main halls, and side-halls. The main halls stand in the middle and the side-halls are in the east and west. The front courtyard and its main hall was used for receptions, while the back courtyard and its main hall served as living quarters.

An imperial consort with the rank of concubine and above was given a residence in the main section of a palace and was the manager of that palace, an honor in itself. Lower ranking imperial consorts (noble ladies and below) lived in the side halls of the palaces and were supervised by the higher ranking imperial consort.

The twelve palaces were the place where many of the Qing emperors were born and grew up, and they formed the daily life of the imperial family.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.travelchinaguide.com/attraction/beijing/forbidden/six_western.htm |title=Six Western Palaces, Xiliugong - Forbidden City, Beijing |website=www.travelchinaguide.com |access-date=20 April 2019 |archive-date=10 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210110051017/https://www.travelchinaguide.com/attraction/beijing/forbidden/six_western.htm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.travelchinaguide.com/attraction/beijing/forbidden/six_eastern.htm |title=Six Eastern Palaces, Dongliugong - Forbidden City, Beijing |website=www.travelchinaguide.com |access-date=9 May 2020 |archive-date=10 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210110051123/https://www.travelchinaguide.com/attraction/beijing/forbidden/six_eastern.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

During the late Qing era, [[Empress Dowager Cixi]] resided in one of the Western Palaces and became known as the "western empress", while her co-regent [[Empress Dowager Ci'an]] lived in one of the Eastern Palaces and was thus known as the "eastern empress".

The names of the palaces were:

'''Western Six Palaces''' 
*[[Palace of Eternal Longevity]] (永寿宫; ''Yǒngshòugōng'')
*[[Hall of the Supreme Principle]] (太极殿; ''Tàijídiàn'')
*[[Palace of Eternal Spring]] (长春宫; ''Chǎngchūngōng'')
*[[Palace of Earthly Honour]] (翊坤宫; ''Yìkūngōng'')
*{{interlanguage link|Palace of Gathering Elegance|ko|저수궁|vi|Trữ Tú cung|zh|儲秀宮}} (储秀宫; ''Chǔxiùgōng'')
*[[Palace of Universal Happiness]] (咸福宫; ''Xíanfúgōng'')

'''Eastern Six Palaces'''
*{{interlanguage link|Palace of Great Benevolence|vi|Cảnh Nhân cung|zh|景仁宮}} (景仁宫; ''Jǐngréngōng'')
*[[Palace of Heavenly Grace]] (承乾宫; ''Chéngqiángōng'')
*{{interlanguage link|Palace of Accumulated Purity|vi|Chung Túy cung|zh|鍾粹宮}} (锺粹宫; ''Zhōngcuìgōng'')
*[[Palace of Prolonging Happiness]] (延禧宫; ''Yánxǐgōng'')
*{{interlanguage link|Palace of Great Brilliance|ko|경양궁|vi|Cảnh Dương cung|zh|景陽宮}} (景阳宫; ''Jǐngyánggōng'')
*{{interlanguage link|Palace of Eternal Harmony|vi|Vĩnh Hòa cung|zh|永和宮}} (永和宫; ''Yǒnghégōng'')