Treasures
in Forbidden City Countless
and priceless treasures are on display in Forbidden City. The following
are but a few of them:
Imperial
seals
The 25 imperial seals were made of such materials as jade, gold of sandalwood.
There is a handle on the top of each seal in the shape of dragons in
various postures.
Ivory
Mat
The Ivory Mat is 2.16 meters (6ft 10in) by 1.39 meters (4ft7in) and
woven of ivory filaments less than three millimeter (0.12 inches wide
and 1 millimeter (0.04 inch ) thick. Five ivory mats were made during
the reign of Yongzhen. Three of them have remained till now.
Jade
Carving of "dayu Harnessing Floods"
Jade Carving of "dayu Harnessing Floods" is the largest piece
of jade carving in China today. It is 2.24 meters (7ft4in) high and
weighs five tons. It was quarried in Xinjiang, Northwest China, and
transported to Yangzhou for carving. When the carving was done, the
jade piece was shipped to Beijing. Transportation and carving altogether
took ten years. Two other big pieces of jade carving on display are
also very famous. One is a big jade jar with the carving of sea waves,
meaning the emperor's happiness was as endless as water in the Eastern
Sea. The other is a mountain with pine trees, representing the emperor's
life as long lasting as the old pine in the southern Mountain.
Ruyi
Ruyi was made of stone, bone, metal, jade coral, lacquer, etc., and
used to be just a scratchback in the early days. During the Qing Dynasty,
it became a symbol of good luck and ornament. On such festive occasions
as the emperor's coronation and birthday, the ministers and princes
would present Ruyi to the emperor as a gift, and the emperor would also
give Ruyi to his official and his favorite concubines. While the young
emperor was choosing his wife, he would convey his affection by giving
ruyi to the girl he liked best. Ruyi was also used as a kind of decoration
in the halls and placed by the throne in the imperial palace.
Treasures
in Forbidden City