Hall of Central Harmony

Zhonghedian, the Hall of Central Harmony, was originally built in 1420 and restored in 1627 and again 1765. It is square in shape rather than rectangular as the other two in the Outer Court. It is the smallest in the three main halls in the Outer Court. It served as a restroom when emperors were going to present ceremonies held in the Hall of Supreme Harmony on their way there. Here they would interview their ministers of rite. Annually before their departure to important sacrifice rites held at Temple of Heaven, Temple of Earth and etc., emperors would browse elegiac addresses in the hall. Before their departure to the Temple of Ancestor Farmer, they would also inspect seeds and farming tools they would use in the ceremony. In the Qing dynasty, it was prescribed that the imperial genealogy should be revised every ten years. The ceremony of presenting the revision to the emperor and His Majesty's approving would also be held here.

 

Inside of the hall, visitors can see there is one golden unicorn on each side of the throne in the center of the hall. The couple of golden unicorns, called luduan in Chinese, were believed capable of traveling 9,000 kilometers a day and speaking many languages. Since the divine beast foresees faraway, it was put beside the throne to indicate emperors' wisdom and brilliantness. They used to be sandalwood burners. Beside the throne, there are also two sedan chairs, which was used as emperors' vehicles to shuttle around in the Forbidden City.

 

The last hall in the Outer Court - Baohedian (Hall of Preserved Harmony).