Shake the Table and Speak of the Forbidden City: Decoding the Mysteries of Ming and Qing Dynasty Odd Cases

Author: Li Meng
Publisher:
Publishing 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 trials and tribulations, which is truly a miracle. In the past, the Forbidden City was the imperial "forbidden zone," where countless cases were baffling and assassination attempts were shocking. Today, the Forbidden City is a museum of the people, as a dazzling pearl in the cultural treasures of the Chinese nation, it warmly welcomes 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, while employed at the China Society of Law, I worked on 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, ultimately 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 persisting with the "Speaking of the Forbidden City" series. Without his persistence, I might have given up on the planning process long ago. I am also grateful to 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 Shi 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 of the Palace Museum after the reports were completed. In his busy schedule, he answered many questions raised by readers in their letters. In the interview, he provided profound insights into the historical status and cultural value of the Forbidden City, reviewed and looked ahead to its past and future, and shared his unique views on the connotation of cultural relics and their protection. His insights benefited me greatly, so I placed his interview at the beginning of this book. I also appended an article I wrote titled "The Beginnings of the Construction of the Forbidden City Six Hundred Years Ago," so that readers can gain a comprehensive and specific understanding of the Forbidden City from the very beginning.
During the writing process of this book, I referred to a large number of historical records, books, and periodicals 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 even managing to infiltrate the palace. After the fall of the Qing Dynasty, the Forbidden City became a treasure trove of cultural relics, but the last emperor Puyi still resided there, 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 and took them to Northeast China, resulting in significant losses. After the founding 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 artifacts thousands of miles, ensuring that the southward relocation of the relics remained unharmed despite multiple transfers.
After the founding of the People's Republic of China, cultural relics were gradually returned to the Forbidden City, and security measures were continuously strengthened. Although five theft cases occurred, the culprits were ultimately caught and brought to justice.