Forbidden City: Photo Gallery

For a preview of some of the most unique objects from Splendors of China’s Forbidden City, look to the picture gallery below. Here you will find a dazzling array of some of China’s most important national treasures, many of which are designated as “Class One” objects: artifacts of the highest degree of historical and artistic value. The images are grouped according to five key themes, which are also explored in the exhibition.

	Symbols of Power How did the symbols that surrounded the emperor help to support and legitimize his rule?
	Effective Leadership What were the many different roles that an emperor had to fill, in order to successfully rule his empire?
	Family Life What was life like for members of the imperial family, and particularly for women of the court?
	The Private World of the Emperor How did the emperor spend his moments of relaxation, and what can the objects that he surrounded himself with tell us about Emperor Qianlong?
	Religion How did the emperor participate in—and support—China’s diverse religions?

photos courtesy of Palace Museum, Beijing