Speaking of this Jiaotai Hall, according to the ancient geomantic omen in China, this hall was built in the backyard of the Forbidden City, which actually destroyed the geomantic omen. Why do you say that? Because before the establishment of the Jiaotai Hall, the architectural planning of the Forbidden City was completely in accordance with the ancient geomantic theory. The former dynasty in the city belonged to Yang and the harem belonged to Yin.
So at that time, the former dynasty was composed of three halls, namely Hall of Supreme Harmony, Hall of Zhonghe and Hall of Baohe, and the harem was composed of two halls, namely Gan Qing Palace and Kunning Palace, which were mainly even.
Then, why did Jiajing Emperor build this Jiaotai Hall between Gan Qing Palace and Kunning Palace? It is said that this was related to Ming Taizu's belief in Taoism at that time.
Because, after middle age, this Ming Yingzong wants to live forever, so he worships Taoism.
According to the Taoist Eight Diagrams of Zhouyi. Doing it in front of Kun is a negative divination. And Kun is doing it above and doing it below. According to this divination, Ming Yingzong found out whether Gankun Qing Palace in the Forbidden City was in the front and whether Kunning Palace was in the back. Among the 8864 divinations in the Book of Changes, negative divination is the worst one.
In this way, of course, Ming Yingzong will correct this negative divination. what should he do ？ Gan Qing Palace and Kunning Palace are impossible to move, so Yingzong finally added a palace between Gan Qing Palace and Kunning Palace, which is the origin of Jiaotai Hall.
After the completion of this hall, due to the change of the overall geomantic omen of the Forbidden City, Emperor Jiajing rebuilt all the temples in Beijing according to regulations, and the outer city was also added by half a mile. In this way, the Forbidden City became bigger.
At the same time, after the completion of Jiaotai Hall, the two royal palaces in the Forbidden City became three royal palaces.
Jiaotai Hall is named after the meaning of "Gankun Jiaotai Hall" in the Book of Changes. The existing buildings in the Forbidden City were rebuilt during the Jiaqing period of the Qing Dynasty. This is the place where the emperor and queen live.
This hall is square in plane, with three rooms wide and three rooms deep. The four corners of yellow glazed tiles are covered with gilded roofs, and the building scale is smaller than that of Zhonghe Hall. The roof is a pyramid-shaped roof with single eaves and four corners, with gold-plated copper roof, yellow glazed tiles, double-sided beams and painted seals of dragons and phoenixes.
There are four sides, three intersecting six diamonds, four doors on the dragon and phoenix skirt, sill windows on the south side and walls on the other three sides.
There is a throne in the temple, on which is a plaque inscribed by Emperor Kangxi, with red columns on both sides and a couplet on it: eternal salt and harmony, day off.
Guan Yu's toes are the starting point of Wang Hua.
There are four screens behind the throne, with the inscription of Jiaotai Hall inscribed by Qianlong. In the center of the temple is a panlong pearl-holding algae well, and the ground is covered with gold bricks.
In this temple, there is a copper pot that drips between things, which can also be called a leaky pot. It is an ancient timer in China. As early as 3,000 years ago, the ancients in China invented the water drop leakage timing method.
The copper pot dripping water exhibited in Jiaotai Hall was made in 1745, and it is still a well-preserved leaky pot in China. It is said that this kind of clepsydra is no longer used after years of dry growth.
There is also a bell on the west side of Jiaotai Hall, which is the largest existing ancient clock in China.
This clock was made in the third year of Jiaqing, and the time in the palace is based on it. Its shell is a wooden cabinet imitating China Pavilion, about 6 meters high, which is divided into upper, middle and lower floors.
There is a small staircase behind the bell tower. Climbing stairs can wind the clock. When the bell rings, it will automatically show the time on time. Today, this clock has gone through 200 years, but it can still walk normally and accurately, and the sound when it strikes the time is crisp and loud. This shows that its manufacturing process is very sophisticated.
In addition, in this hall, there are 25 imperial seals symbolizing the emperor's exercise of power. These imperial seals are held by the cabinet and supervised by the palace supervisor. It must be used at the request of the emperor and with permission.
These jade seals are made by 1748, and each seal has its own purpose. Among them, "the treasure of the emperor" is used to publish imperial edicts and lists when recruiting Jinshi; "The treasure of making laws" and "the treasure of life and morality" are used to formulate imperial edicts and reward officials; The "treasure of controlling the Sixth Division" is used in the military. The precious seal is put in a treasure box, covered with yellow silk. The boxes are still displayed in the Jiaotai Hall according to their original positions.
Jiaotai Hall is the place where the Queen receives the Millennium Festival celebration ceremony, and it is also the place where the Queen receives the birthday celebration ceremony. In the first month of each year, the Qin dynasty chose an auspicious day to set up a case to open Chen Bao, where the emperor came to burn incense and salute.
In view of the lesson of eunuch's autocracy in Ming dynasty, the ancestors of Qing dynasty stipulated that eunuchs should not interfere in state affairs, and the iron sign of "Inner Palace is not allowed to interfere in political affairs" once stood in this hall. When the emperor got married, he set up a queen ceremony and a security hall.
In addition, every spring, the first silkworm is sacrificed, and the queen must first check the mulberry picking equipment in Jiaotai Hall for one day.