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imported>Darman36
→‎Gallery: Added. I think we have a few more pics of the city via cutscenes? Need to check
imported>Sol Pacificus
Complete rewrite due to all content being plagiarized from the database entries. The explanation of the name meaning was also copied from Wikipedia.
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{{Imageneed}}
{{Imageneed}}
[[File:ACC China DB Forbidden City.png|thumb|250px|The Forbidden City]]
[[File:ACC China DB Forbidden City.png|thumb|250px|The Forbidden City]]
The '''Forbidden City''' was an Imperial Palace used from the [[Ming dynasty]] to the end of the {{Wiki|Qing dynasty}}. Located in [[Beijing]], [[China]], it is now a museum under the charge of the Palace Museum, whose extensive collection of artwork and artifacts were built upon the imperial collections of the Ming and Qing dynasties.
The '''Forbidden City''' was an imperial palace used from the [[Ming dynasty]] to the end of the {{Wiki|Qing dynasty}}, serving as the primary residence for the emperor and his court during these two regimes. Located in [[Beijing]], [[China]], it is now {{wiki|UNESCO}} site and a museum with an extensive collection of artwork and artifacts from the Ming and Qing periods.


==Structure==
==Layout==
Shaped as an immense rectangle in the middle of the capital, legend has it that it contained 9,999 rooms. This number, as well as the various names of the structures of the City, were part of the sacred and symbolic aspect of the locations.<ref name="Database">''[[Assassin's Creed Chronicles: China]]'' – [[Database: Forbidden City]]</ref>
The Forbidden City is a a palace complex shaped as an immense rectangle with the main buildings positioned along a central axis. The rectangular perimeter is formed by a wall and its moat, and at each of the four corners is an enormous watchtower. It is partitioned between two zones: the outer court and an even more restrictive inner court. Its main gate is the {{wiki|Meridian Gate}} situated at the southern end in front of {{wiki|Tiananmen Square|Tian'anmen Square}}.<ref name="Database">''[[Assassin's Creed Chronicles: China]]'' – [[Database: The Forbidden City]]</ref> From this gate, there is the first court and then another gate called the {{wiki|Gate of Supreme Harmony}}, which leads to the most iconic area at the heart of the palace,<ref name="Database" /> the {{wiki|Hall of Supreme Harmony}}.<ref name="Wikipedia">{{WP|Forbidden City}}</ref> Deeper into the palace is the Gate of Heavenly Purity, the primary entryway to the inner court, which can also be accessed by three other gates. With 980 buildings, legend has it that it contains 9,999 rooms. Symbolism played a role in this number and a substantial one in the naming, colours, decorations, architecture, and layout of the palace.<ref name="Database" />


Four gigantic towers are located on the corners of the walls, while four gates allow access to the inner city. From Tian'anmen square, the main gate of the City is called the Meridian Gate, and leads the way through the City, across multiple areas and gates.<ref name="Database" />
==History==
The Forbidden City was built at the beginning of the 15th century to serve as the primary residence for the imperial family of the Ming dynasty and as the epicentre of government affairs. Heavily fortified, it was more than just a residence and was designed to offer them protection from those who would threaten their lives.<ref name="Database" />


After crossing a first court, another interior wall leads to the most famous area, through the Gate of Supreme Harmony. Farther inside the city, the Gate of Heavenly Purity leads to the inner court which was even more protected. Symbolism has a great part in the architecture of the city, influencing colors, shapes, names and decorations.<ref name="Database" />
Apart from the Emperor of China and his relatives, the emperor's [[concubines]] lived there as well, and they were strenuously guarded by the [[eunuch]]s to ensure that they could not bear offspring with other men.<ref name="Database" /> Some concubines who were children, like [[Shao Jun]] and [[Zhang Qijie]], were essentially raised in the Forbidden City.<ref name="Scroll 1">''[[Assassin's Creed Chronicles: China]]'' – [[Database: Scroll 1 (China)|Scroll 1]]</ref><ref name="Empress Zhang">''[[Assassin's Creed Chronicles: China]]'' – [[Database: Empress Zhang]]</ref> On the other hand, the [[Zhengde Emperor]] preferred a life of leisure outside the confines of the Forbidden City<ref name=">''[[Assassin's Creed Chronicles: China]]'' – [[Database: The Zhengde Emperor]]</ref> while his successor, the [[Jiajing Emperor]], refused to live in it entirely so as to be avoid his duties as ruler.<ref name="Jiajing">''[[Assassin's Creed Chronicles: China]]'' – [[Database: The Jiajing Emperor]]</ref>
 
==History==
The Forbidden City was built at the beginning of the 15th century, and was made of 980 buildings of typical Chinese architecture. Emperors used to live there with their families, concubines and government. It was at the same time a fortress, designed to protect the Emperor and his own, and the shelter for countless concubines guarded by eunuchs, so they could only bear the child of the Emperor.<ref name="Database" />


During the early 16th century, in the Ming Dynasty, the Forbidden Palace was the birthplace of the Empress of the [[Jiajing Emperor]], [[Empress Zhang|Zhang]], and the [[Mentor]] of the [[Chinese Assassins]], [[Shao Jun]], under the rule of the [[Zhengde Emperor]].<ref name="ACC">''Assassin's Creed Chronicles: China'' – {{Cite|30 July 2021. Memories/in-game files needed}}</ref>
===Shadow war in the palace===
The negligence of the Zhengde Emperor allowed the group of eunuchs known as the [[Eight Tigers]] to influence the government from behind-the-throne. As the leaders of the [[Shanghai Rite of the Templar Order|Chinese Rite]] of the [[Templars|Templar Order]], the Eight Tigers were locked in a shadow conflict against the [[Chinese Brotherhood of Assassins|Chinese Assassins]] who were also based in the Forbidden City. Since the Zhengde Emperor had left behind no heirs, there was a brief interregnum as the government decided upon his successor.<ref name="Scroll 5">''[[Assassin's Creed Chronicles: China]]'' – [[Database: Scroll 5 (China)|Scroll 5]]</ref> Having recently identified the Assassin [[Mentor]] to be the official [[Wang Yangming]], the Eight Tigers seized upon this moment of uncertainty to expunge the Assassins from the capital.<ref name"Scroll 6">''[[Assassin's Creed Chronicles: China]]'' – [[Database: Scroll 6 (China)|Scroll 6]]</ref>


However, after Zhengde's death in April 1521, Shao Jun saw a chance for freedom in the Assassins and decided to contact the [[Assassins|Assassin Order]] through [[Wang Yangming]]. Shao Jun, along with several other concubines, were rescued after the Assassins broke into the Forbidden City.<ref name="ACC" />
By chance, the concubine Shao Jun discovered this plot and alerted Yangming,<ref name="Scroll 6" /> who organized an attack first,<ref name="Scroll 7">''[[Assassin's Creed Chronicles: China]]'' – [[Database: Scroll 7|Scroll 7]]</ref> but the Templars still prevailed, and they enacted their extensive and brutal purge, which saw countless Assassins, associates of the Assassins, and innocent sympathizers or dissidents executed by [[lingchi]]. The surviving Assassins withdrew from the Forbidden City with their allies, including Shao Jun, who was subsequently recruited as an Assassin in her own right.<ref name="Scroll 7" />


Years after her rescue, Jun, now an Assassin, and her Mentor returned to the Forbidden City to save the remaining concubines whom she had grown up with. Before leaving, Shao Jun took the incredible risk of infiltrating the Forbidden City to free her friend, Zhang. Jun found Zhang and was astonished to hear that she wanted to stay, being happy as the Imperial Concubine and asked her old friend to leave in peace. With that, Jun then left the Forbidden City.<ref name="ACC" />
Several years later, the Templars exploited the [[Great Rites Controversy]] to hunt the remaining Assassins.<ref name="Scroll 9">''[[Assassin's Creed Chronicles: China]]'' – [[Database: Scroll 9 (China)|Scroll 9]]</ref><ref name="Scroll 10">''[[Assassin's Creed Chronicles: China]]'' – [[Database Scroll 10 (China)|Scroll 10]]</ref> Before leaving Beijing, Shao Jun sneaked back into the Forbidden City to visit her childhood friend Qijie, hoping to help whisk her away to freedom. Because Qijie by then was rising in the concubinage hierarchy and saw an opportunity to even become empress, she was unwilling forsake the life of the palace, so Shao Jun could only bid farewell to her.<ref name="Scroll 11">''[[Assassin's Creed Chronicles: China]]'' – [[Database: Scroll 11 (China)|Scroll 11]]</ref>


In 1530, [[Zhang Yong]] and [[Qiu Ju]] used Zhang to set a trap for Shao Jun in the Forbidden City. As Shao Jun dueled Qiu while Zhang Yong fled, lanterns dropped during the fight and spread fire across the city. Shao Jun escaped after killing Qiu by jumping into the nearby river.<ref name="ACC" />
In 1530, the Tigers [[Zhang Yong]] and [[Qiu Ju]] used Zhang Qijie, now empress, to set a trap for Shao Jun in the Forbidden City. They had the empress issue a secret message to Shao Jun alleging to have information on the whereabouts of Zhang Yong for her counter-hunt. The Assassin not only trusted her former best friend's word but also returned out of fear that she would need to rescue concubines whose assistance to her could potentially have been discovered by the Templars.<ref name="An Old Friend">''[[Assassin's Creed Chronicles: China]]'' – [[An Old Friend]]</ref> Although Shao Jun fell right into the trap, she slew Qiu Ju in personal combat, a furious duel that started a fire across the palace. Zhang Yong fled the inferno with Shao Jun following after, and both successfully escaped with their lives.<ref name="Demon Fire">''[[Assassin's Creed Chronicles: China]]'' – [[Demon Fire]]</ref>


Eventually, by the 20th century, the Forbidden City became a UNESCO protected site.<ref name="Database" />
===Post-Ming period===
The Forbidden City remained standing and in use throughout the Ming dynasty, and when the [[Qing dynasty|Qing]] conquered [[China]] and established their capital in Beijing, they appropriated it as their imperial palace in turn. In the present-day, the palace has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and has been converted into a museum displaying artifacts collected from the Ming and Qing periods.<ref name="Database" />


==Behind the scenes==
==Behind the scenes==
The common English name, "the Forbidden City", is a translation of the Chinese name Zijin Cheng (Chinese: 紫禁城; pinyin: Zǐjinchéng; literally: "Purple Forbidden City"). The name "Zijin Cheng" is a name with significance on many levels. ''Zi'', or "Purple", refers to the North Star, which in ancient China was called the Ziwei Star, and in traditional Chinese astrology was the heavenly abode of the Celestial Emperor. The surrounding celestial region, the Ziwei Enclosure, was the realm of the Celestial Emperor and his family. The Forbidden City, as the residence of the terrestrial emperor, was its earthly counterpart. ''Jin'', or "Forbidden", referred to the fact that no one could enter or leave the palace without the emperor's permission. ''Cheng'' means "a city".
The Forbidden City features in the 2015 spin-off game ''[[Assassin's Creed Chronicles: China]]'' as a playable level in a few memories. The English name for the palace, the Forbidden City, is a calque of its Chinese name Zǐjìnchéng (紫禁城, literally 'purple forbidden city').


==Gallery==
==Gallery==

Revision as of 23:43, 30 July 2021


Error creating thumbnail: Unable to save thumbnail to destination Where are the paintings?

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The Forbidden City

The Forbidden City was an imperial palace used from the Ming dynasty to the end of the Qing dynasty, serving as the primary residence for the emperor and his court during these two regimes. Located in Beijing, China, it is now UNESCO site and a museum with an extensive collection of artwork and artifacts from the Ming and Qing periods.

Layout

The Forbidden City is a a palace complex shaped as an immense rectangle with the main buildings positioned along a central axis. The rectangular perimeter is formed by a wall and its moat, and at each of the four corners is an enormous watchtower. It is partitioned between two zones: the outer court and an even more restrictive inner court. Its main gate is the Meridian Gate situated at the southern end in front of Tian'anmen Square.[1] From this gate, there is the first court and then another gate called the Gate of Supreme Harmony, which leads to the most iconic area at the heart of the palace,[1] the Hall of Supreme Harmony.[2] Deeper into the palace is the Gate of Heavenly Purity, the primary entryway to the inner court, which can also be accessed by three other gates. With 980 buildings, legend has it that it contains 9,999 rooms. Symbolism played a role in this number and a substantial one in the naming, colours, decorations, architecture, and layout of the palace.[1]

History

The Forbidden City was built at the beginning of the 15th century to serve as the primary residence for the imperial family of the Ming dynasty and as the epicentre of government affairs. Heavily fortified, it was more than just a residence and was designed to offer them protection from those who would threaten their lives.[1]

Apart from the Emperor of China and his relatives, the emperor's concubines lived there as well, and they were strenuously guarded by the eunuchs to ensure that they could not bear offspring with other men.[1] Some concubines who were children, like Shao Jun and Zhang Qijie, were essentially raised in the Forbidden City.[3][4] On the other hand, the Zhengde Emperor preferred a life of leisure outside the confines of the Forbidden City[5] while his successor, the Jiajing Emperor, refused to live in it entirely so as to be avoid his duties as ruler.[6]

Shadow war in the palace

The negligence of the Zhengde Emperor allowed the group of eunuchs known as the Eight Tigers to influence the government from behind-the-throne. As the leaders of the Chinese Rite of the Templar Order, the Eight Tigers were locked in a shadow conflict against the Chinese Assassins who were also based in the Forbidden City. Since the Zhengde Emperor had left behind no heirs, there was a brief interregnum as the government decided upon his successor.[7] Having recently identified the Assassin Mentor to be the official Wang Yangming, the Eight Tigers seized upon this moment of uncertainty to expunge the Assassins from the capital.[8]

By chance, the concubine Shao Jun discovered this plot and alerted Yangming,[9] who organized an attack first,[10] but the Templars still prevailed, and they enacted their extensive and brutal purge, which saw countless Assassins, associates of the Assassins, and innocent sympathizers or dissidents executed by lingchi. The surviving Assassins withdrew from the Forbidden City with their allies, including Shao Jun, who was subsequently recruited as an Assassin in her own right.[10]

Several years later, the Templars exploited the Great Rites Controversy to hunt the remaining Assassins.[11][12] Before leaving Beijing, Shao Jun sneaked back into the Forbidden City to visit her childhood friend Qijie, hoping to help whisk her away to freedom. Because Qijie by then was rising in the concubinage hierarchy and saw an opportunity to even become empress, she was unwilling forsake the life of the palace, so Shao Jun could only bid farewell to her.[13]

In 1530, the Tigers Zhang Yong and Qiu Ju used Zhang Qijie, now empress, to set a trap for Shao Jun in the Forbidden City. They had the empress issue a secret message to Shao Jun alleging to have information on the whereabouts of Zhang Yong for her counter-hunt. The Assassin not only trusted her former best friend's word but also returned out of fear that she would need to rescue concubines whose assistance to her could potentially have been discovered by the Templars.[14] Although Shao Jun fell right into the trap, she slew Qiu Ju in personal combat, a furious duel that started a fire across the palace. Zhang Yong fled the inferno with Shao Jun following after, and both successfully escaped with their lives.[15]

Post-Ming period

The Forbidden City remained standing and in use throughout the Ming dynasty, and when the Qing conquered China and established their capital in Beijing, they appropriated it as their imperial palace in turn. In the present-day, the palace has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and has been converted into a museum displaying artifacts collected from the Ming and Qing periods.[1]

Behind the scenes

The Forbidden City features in the 2015 spin-off game Assassin's Creed Chronicles: China as a playable level in a few memories. The English name for the palace, the Forbidden City, is a calque of its Chinese name Zǐjìnchéng (紫禁城, literally 'purple forbidden city').

Gallery

  • Concept art
    Concept art

Appearances

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Assassin's Creed Chronicles: China – Database: The Forbidden City
  2. ↑ Forbidden City on Wikipedia
  3. ↑ Assassin's Creed Chronicles: China – Scroll 1
  4. ↑ Assassin's Creed Chronicles: China – Database: Empress Zhang
  5. ↑ Assassin's Creed Chronicles: China – Database: The Zhengde Emperor
  6. ↑ Assassin's Creed Chronicles: China – Database: The Jiajing Emperor
  7. ↑ Assassin's Creed Chronicles: China – Scroll 5
  8. ↑ Assassin's Creed Chronicles: China – Scroll 6
  9. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Scroll 6
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Assassin's Creed Chronicles: China – Scroll 7
  11. ↑ Assassin's Creed Chronicles: China – Scroll 9
  12. ↑ Assassin's Creed Chronicles: China – Scroll 10
  13. ↑ Assassin's Creed Chronicles: China – Scroll 11
  14. ↑ Assassin's Creed Chronicles: China – An Old Friend
  15. ↑ Assassin's Creed Chronicles: China – Demon Fire

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