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A Chinese palace is an imperial complex where the court, civil government, royal garden and defensive fortress resided. Its structures are considerable and elaborate. The Chinese character gong (宮; meaning "palace") represents two connected rooms (呂) under a roof (宀). Originally the character applied to any residence or mansion, but it was used in reference to solely the imperial residence since the Qin dynasty (3rd century BC).
A Chinese palace is composed of many buildings. It has large areas surrounded by walls and moats. It contains large halls (殿) for ceremonies and official business, as well as smaller buildings, temples, towers, residences, galleries, courtyards, gardens, and outbuildings.
The world's largest palace to have ever existed,[1] the Weiyang Palace, was built by the Western Han dynasty on the order of the Emperor Gaozu. The world's largest palace currently still in existence,[2][3][4] the Forbidden City, was constructed by the Ming dynasty during the reign of the Yongle Emperor.
- ^ Spilsbury, Louise (2019). Ancient China. Capstone. p. 20. ISBN 9781515725596.
- ^ Bhutoria, Sundeep (2019). China Diary. Pan Macmillan. ISBN 9781529045284.
- ^ Bushell, Stephen (2012). Chinese Art. Parkstone International. p. 41. ISBN 9781780429243.
- ^ Bandarin, Francesco; van Oers, Ron (2012). The Historic Urban Landscape: Managing Heritage in an Urban Century. John Wiley & Sons. p. 17. ISBN 9781119968092.