Palaces of the Forbidden City

Contents

Introduction / Yu Zhuoyun. History -- Construction -- Famous craftsmen and their work -- The art of architecture -- The principles of yin and yang and the five elements in architectural design. Main structures of the forbidden city. The city walls and moat -- The outer court -- The inner court -- Gardens -- Theatrical stages -- Buddhist and Taoist halls and other places of worship -- Reading rooms and libraries -- Government offices. Architectural composition and decoration. Terraces and balustrades -- Timber construction -- Bracketing -- Roof forms and their decoration -- Inner and outer eave fittings -- Caissons and ceilings -- Painted decoration of structural members -- Glazed ornaments. Services. Bridges and culverts -- Water supply and drainage -- Heating -- Lighting. Appendices. Plans of the main structures of the Forbidden city -- Chronology -- Outline of the major dynasties of China.