Hall of Mental Cultivation
TBD — verify against 故宫博物院
- Where Qing emperors lived and worked. Empress Dowager Cixi ruled from behind a curtain here.
The Hall of Mental Cultivation became the true center of power during the Qing Dynasty. Eight emperors lived and worked here, making it the most politically significant building after the throne halls. It was here that Empress Dowager Cixi famously ruled from behind a curtain, listening to court proceedings while her young nephew sat on the throne. The hall contains the emperor's study, bedroom, and a small theater for private performances.
Image: Ermell (CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons)