Forbidden City

The Great Within

This chronicle of the Forbidden City of Beijing, a rich blend of history, anecdotal narrative, biographical portraits and illustrations, carries readers through 500 years of imperial China. The palace's supreme political significance is described through the main events of an emperor's ceremonial life. The book then evokes the secret, stultifying world of the Inner Court, where the emperor and his concubines lived their private lives, served by eunuchs and palace maids. Finally it recounts how the impact of the West, through missionaries, diplomats and traders, eventually led to the collapse of the glittering corrupt court. A new chapter deals with the treasures and paintings collected under imperial patronage - their dramatic dispersal, painstaking recovery and restoration - and ends in the triumphant establishment of the Palace Museum.

This rich blend of history, anecdotal narrative, biographical portraits and illustrations evokes 500 years of imperial China through the story of its palace, the Forbidden City. It describes the emperor's ceremonial life, the stultifying world of his concubines, eunuchs and palace maids, and the devastating impact of the West in the late 19th century. A new chapter deals with the treasures and paintings collected under imperial patronage - their dramatic dispersal, painstaking recovery and restoration - and ends in the triumphant establishment of the Palace Museum.

Images . View More

Biographies

Caroline Courtauld - Author
Jonathan D. Spence - Author
Hu Chui - Photographer

Specifications

Online Bookshop Links

1. Buy at B & N
2. Buy at Book Depository
3. Buy at Waterstones
4. Buy at Foyles

Buy Through Amazon

1. Buy on Amazon USA
2. Buy on Amazon Canada
3. Buy on Amazon UK
4. Buy on Amazon Germany
5. Buy on Amazon France
6. Buy on Amazon Italy
7. Buy on Amazon Spain
8. Buy on Amazon Japan

View on Google Books

View at Publishers Weekly