THE FORBIDDEN CITY, Introduction Part Ii

Before your visit to the Forbidden City, it might be useful to have some general information to give you a better understanding of this centuries-old palace complex and the functions of its various buildings.

First of all, the complex was home to thousands of people, not just the emperor and his family, including the empress, the concubines and secondary wives, children, siblings, aunts and uncles and cousins. Some emperors had as many as 70 secondary wives and almost as many children.

The various pavilions you can see around the main buildings were used by hundreds of servants and guards, officials, ministers and, above all, slaves, who took care not only of the women, but of the whole imperial family.

It was here that numerous public ceremonies such as coronations, marriages and celebrations were held. State affairs were also conducted here, as well as the administration of the whole country.

State officials were selected through extremely rigorous examinations, which were held all over China and involved thousands of students, not only from the noble classes, from a very young age....