Forbidden City - Religion

The Chinese emperors during the Ming dynasty were Han while the Chinese emperors during the Ching Dynasty were Manchu. The Han and Manchu had different religions even though they were both Chinese. Han believed in Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism. Differently, Manchu believed in Lamaism. Manchu�s ancestors �followed a tradition of shamanistic practices based on their beliefs in supernatural forces� (Secret). Since the Forbidden City was built during the Ming Dynasty, there were many existing halls for worshipping Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism. After Manchu took control of China, they added some buildings to practice their own religion � Lamaism. Since Lamaism was not popular in China before the Ching Dynasty, the Manchu brought it to China as well as to the Forbidden City. Lamasism became the country�s religion in the Ching Dynasty. However, Manchu still maintained Han�s traditional religions such as worshipping the ancestors. They renovated these religious buildings from the Ming Dynasty in the Forbidden City. Hence, Chinese emperors in different dynasties changed the Forbidden City based on their own religions.

Figure 2.1: Buddhist Building
(Click on the image to enlarge it)

Even though the Forbidden City had some halls for religions such as the Hall for Worshipping Buddha, the Hall for Worshipping the Great Buddha, and the Buddhist Building (as shown in figure 2.1), the Chinese emperor Jia Jing in the Ming Dynasty built some new buildings related to religions during his reign in the Forbidden City. During the reign of Jia Jing, religious halls were built such as the Hall of Imperial Peace and the Hall for Worshipping Ancestors.

Ching Dynasty (Emperor Qian Long):
After the Manchu took control of China, their imperial family moved to and lived in the Forbidden City. In the beginning of the Ching Dynasty, the Forbidden City had many religious buildings from the Ming Dynasty such as the Hall of Imperial Peace and the Hall for Worshipping Ancestors. None of the religious buildings has dedicated to Lamaism, which is the Manchu�s religion. Therefore, the Chinese emperor Qian Long in the Ching dynasty built the Pavilion of the Rain of Flowers. He also maintained the religions from the Ming Dynasty. For example, he renovated the Hall of Worshipping Ancestors from the Ming Dynasty.