Table Thumping Talk about the Forbidden City - Decoding the Mysterious Cases of the Ming and Qing Dynasties

Author: Li Meng
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2007-01-01
Features: This book describes the Forbidden City through the lens of various cases, focusing on the thrilling, suspenseful, and intricate mysteries and unsolved cases that have occurred over the six hundred years in the Forbidden City. It emphasizes the content related to ancient guards, modern security, and cultural heritage protection. Since its construction, the Forbidden City has been destroyed and rebuilt multiple times; its national treasures have been moved and preserved through turbulent times, which is truly a miracle. In the past, the Forbidden City was the imperial family's "forbidden zone," where countless cases were baffling and assassination attempts were shocking. Today, the Forbidden City is a museum for the people, a shining gem in the cultural treasures of the Chinese nation, opening its vast arms to welcome visitors from all over the world. Let us step into the Forbidden City, uncover its secrets, and understand it.
In the first half of 2006, the China Society of Law, where I was employed, published a series of reports titled "Speaking of the Forbidden City." This series was under my responsibility, and I wrote most of its content. After the reports were completed, I received many letters from readers expressing strong interest in the Forbidden City. This gave me the confidence to extensively expand and revise the original reports, eventually compiling them into this book. The creation of this book is first and foremost a debt of gratitude to Editor-in-Chief Li Mingxin of the "Democracy and Rule of Law" magazine for establishing and upholding the "Speaking of the Forbidden City" series. Without his persistence, I might have given up on the project early in the planning stages. I also want to thank Deputy Editor-in-Chief Zhao Xiaoqian, Zhang Jianhua, Ruan Ying, and other leaders and teachers at the magazine for their guidance and assistance.
Secondly, during the reporting process, Vice Director Si of the Library of the Palace Museum, Director Jin Yunchang of the Ancient Calligraphy and Painting Department, and Mr. Ling Bing, a retired teacher from Beijing Normal University and author of "The Biography of Zaifeng," served as consultants, ensuring the authenticity and academic rigor of the reports. I am particularly grateful for the interview I conducted with Minister of Culture Zheng Xinsmiao, Director of the Palace Museum, who, despite his busy schedule, answered many questions raised by readers in his interview. In his remarks, he provided profound insights into the historical significance and cultural value of the Forbidden City, reviewed its past and future, and shared his unique perspectives on the meaning of cultural relics and their protection, which benefited me greatly. Therefore, I placed his interview at the beginning of this book and appended my article "The Beginning of the Construction of the Forbidden City 600 Years Ago" to give readers a comprehensive and detailed understanding of the Forbidden City from the very beginning.
During the writing process of this book, I referred to a vast amount of historical records, books, and publications related to the Forbidden City. I extend my gratitude to all the original authors.
The Forbidden City, also known as the Purple Forbidden City, was the residence of the emperor and the political center of the Ming and Qing dynasties. It was heavily guarded, yet over the centuries, numerous assassination cases, theft cases, fire cases, and palace intrigue cases occurred, with ordinary people and even some managing to infiltrate the palace. After the fall of the Qing Dynasty, the Forbidden City became a treasure trove of cultural relics. At the time, the last emperor Puyi still resided in the palace, leading to the theft of many valuable artifacts by eunuchs, maids, and officials. They also set fire to the palace to cover up their crimes. Before leaving the palace, Puyi also stole thousands of artifacts, taking them to Northeast China and causing significant losses. After the establishment of the Palace Museum in 1925, that generation of intellectuals devoted their efforts to protecting the cultural relics. During the war of resistance against Japan, they transported the treasures thousands of miles, ensuring that the relocated artifacts remained unharmed despite multiple relocations.
After the founding of the People's Republic of China, cultural relics from the Forbidden City gradually returned, and security measures within the museum were continuously strengthened. Although five theft cases occurred, the culprits were ultimately apprehended by the authorities.