游客朋友们好，欢迎游览沈阳故宫!
沈阳故宫，是中国现存两座古代帝王宫殿之一，也是举世仅存的满族风格建筑群，具有很高的历史价值、文化价值和艺术价值。20xx年，联合国教科文组织正式将沈阳故宫列入《世界遗产名录》。
沈阳故宫位于沈阳老城区中心，即沈河区沈阳路。初建时叫“盛京宫阙”，清迁都北京后又称“陪都宫殿”、“留都宫殿”，并被尊为“国初圣迹”。它始建于后金天命十年(1620xx年)，建成于崇德元年(1636年)，是清太祖努尔哈赤和清太宗皇太极营造和使用过的宫殿。
清世祖福临也在这里继位称帝，改元“顺治”，并于当年入关，统治全中国。清王朝入主中原后，康熙、乾隆、嘉庆、道光等皇帝先后10次“东巡”盛京祭祖，都到此“恭瞻”，或驻跸处理朝政和举行盛大庆典，并有所改建。
沈阳故宫是清王朝定鼎中原前在东北地区的统治中心，也是清统一全国后在东北地区的政治和经济中心。
沈阳故宫现占地面积6万多平方米，分为东路、中路和西路三部分。东路建筑为努尔哈赤时期所建，具有浓郁的民族特色;中路建筑，主要是皇太极时期所建，曾演绎过许多的历史故事;西路建筑，建于清乾隆年间，以储藏《四库全书》而闻名。
接下来，我们按照时间顺序自东向西游览。
一、沈阳故宫东路建筑
沈阳故宫东路建筑主要包括大政殿和十王亭。从建筑形式上看，它们都是“亭子式”建筑，好像十一座“帐殿”依次排列在宽阔的广场中。这种建筑形式脱胎于女真戎马生涯中的帐殿，是游牧民族“帐殿制”在皇宫建筑上的反映。
从建筑布局上看，大政殿居中，两旁分列10个亭子，从北向南，呈八字形展开，在视觉上使大政殿更为深远，这种空间的处理方式在中国宫殿中仅此一例。
这种把汗王听政的大殿与八旗王公大臣后朝议事的亭子建在一起的格局，正是努尔哈赤崛起之初实行军政合一的八旗制度所决定的，反映了努尔哈赤晚年一汗独尊、八和硕贝勒共治国政的历史风貌。
1、大政殿
大政殿俗称“八角殿”，外高18米，是一座八角重檐攒尖顶“亭子式”建筑，下面约有1.5高的须弥座式台基，周围绕以青石围栏，栏上有各种精美的雕刻。其东南西北四面都有“踏跺”伸出，南面最大，并有“御路”联通平地。
殿身八面均由“斧头眼”式木隔扇们组成，不砌砖石，可以任意开启，周围出廊有朱漆圆柱18根，正门两柱子上盘绕着栩栩如生的金龙，昂首舞爪，双双朝向悬于梁上正中的一颗红光熠熠的火焰宝珠，造型极为丰富。
殿顶是黄琉璃瓦镶绿剪边，重檐上下各有8条五彩琉璃脊背，即体现了满足对鲜艳色彩的热爱，又象征着满足从森林草原上的崛起。
殿顶正中为宝瓶火焰珠攒尖顶，宝瓶为佛教法器，被视为神之圣物。火焰宝珠为如意珠，据说得此珠者可满足各种欲望。攒尖顶体现了“殿帐”风格，反映了清初政权刚刚建立时的观念意识。8条垂脊上各站着一个蒙古力士，面侧对“宝顶”，腿略弯曲，两臂前后分开，侧身牵引，象征“八方归一”。
大政殿内这8根彩绘云龙的红色巨柱顶天离地，支撑殿顶，中间是皇帝御用的九龙金漆宝座屏风。上方这块“泰交景运”的匾额，为乾隆皇帝御笔，两旁的橙联有6米长，写的是“神圣相承，恍睹开国宏猷，一心一德;子孙是守，长怀绍庭永祚，卜世卜年。”这是一副为清王朝歌颂功德的楹联，意在警示其后代永葆大清江山国运绵长。
屋顶上是腾飞的金龙彩凤，正中最高处为圆形木雕金漆祥龙藻井，周围是梵文天花彩画装饰，靠里侧为万福、万禄、万寿、万喜8个篆书汉字图案，为这座殿堂增加了增添了吉祥、神圣的气氛。
大政殿作为17世纪初的建筑杰作，融汇了满、汉、蒙、藏等多民族建筑艺术风格，是沈阳故宫最著名的建筑之一。
2、十王亭
十王亭，又称“八旗亭”，在广场两侧呈八字形排开，每边5个。从北至南，东边为左翼王亭、镶黄旗亭、正白旗亭、镶白旗亭、正蓝旗亭;西边为右翼王亭、正黄旗亭、正红旗亭、镶红旗亭、镶蓝旗亭。
左右翼王亭是当时左右两翼王爷办公的地方。八旗亭是八旗旗主办公的地方，也是在大政殿举行朝会和典礼时各旗官员的集结之处。他们之间的主要区别之处是左右翼王是从事政的，而八旗旗主是从事军事的。
这种建筑形式是以八旗制度为核心的军政体制在宫殿建筑上的反映。八旗制度是政治、军事合二为一的组织形式，是当时国家制度的基本组成部分。皇帝对国家的治理主要通过八旗来实现，遇有重要事情必须与八旗旗主商量决定，可见八旗在清入关前国家制度中占有重要地位。
二、沈阳故宫中路建筑
沈阳故宫中路建筑自成体系，共有三进院落。由南至北依次是大清门、崇政殿、凤凰楼、清宁宫。它们都排列在一条中轴线上，两侧还有一些对称式的附属建筑。这些建筑虽然保持了满足的建筑特色，但受汉族传统文化的影响十分明显，是汉满等多民族建筑艺术的融汇，并真实的记录了皇太极时期波澜壮阔的历史风云。
1、第一进院落
第一进院落，南有大清门，北有崇政殿，东有飞龙阁，东七间楼，西有翔凤阁，西七间楼。飞龙阁、翔凤阁都是二层，为五间硬山式建筑，里面陈列着乾隆东巡时带到沈阳故宫的乐器。
(1)大清门
大清门，俗称午门，也就是沈阳故宫的正门，为五间硬山式建筑，是当时文武群臣候朝的地方，也是清太宗皇太极接受群臣谢恩之处。按规定，文武群臣候朝时，只能站在门内和门南，东西对面而立，而不允许“背阙”(背向北)或“面阙”(面向北)。当官员们升迁、调任或是获罪恩免时，都要到这里向门北的崇政殿叩谢天恩。
(2)崇政殿
十王亭，又称“八旗亭”，在广场两侧呈八字形排开，每边5个。从北至南，东边为左翼王亭、镶黄旗亭、正白旗亭、镶白旗亭、正蓝旗亭;西边为右翼王亭、正黄旗亭、正红旗亭、镶红旗亭、镶蓝旗亭。
左右翼王亭是当时左右两翼王爷办公的地方。八旗亭是八旗旗主办公的地方，也是在大政殿举行朝会和典礼时各旗官员的集结之处。他们之间的主要区别之处是左右翼王是从事政的，而八旗旗主是从事军事的。
这种建筑形式是以八旗制度为核心的军政体制在宫殿建筑上的反映。八旗制度是政治、军事合二为一的组织形式，是当时国家制度的基本组成部分。皇帝对国家的治理主要通过八旗来实现，遇有重要事情必须与八旗旗主商量决定，可见八旗在清入关前国家制度中占有重要地位。
二、沈阳故宫中路建筑
沈阳故宫中路建筑自成体系，共有三进院落。由南至北依次是大清门、崇政殿、凤凰楼、清宁宫。它们都排列在一条中轴线上，两侧还有一些对称式的附属建筑。这些建筑虽然保持了满足的建筑特色，但受汉族传统文化的影响十分明显，是汉满等多民族建筑艺术的融汇，并真实的记录了皇太极时期波澜壮阔的历史风云。
1、第一进院落
第一进院落，南有大清门，北有崇政殿，东有飞龙阁，东七间楼，西有翔凤阁，西七间楼。飞龙阁、翔凤阁都是二层，为五间硬山式建筑，里面陈列着乾隆东巡时带到沈阳故宫的乐器。
(1)大清门
大清门，俗称午门，也就是沈阳故宫的正门，为五间硬山式建筑，是当时文武群臣候朝的地方，也是清太宗皇太极接受群臣谢恩之处。按规定，文武群臣候朝时，只能站在门内和门南，东西对面而立，而不允许“背阙”(背向北)或“面阙”(面向北)。当官员们升迁、调任或是获罪恩免时，都要到这里向门北的崇政殿叩谢天恩。
(2)崇政殿
凤凰楼，建在3.8米高的青砖台基上，是一座三层歇山式建筑，原名叫翔凤楼，是皇太极休息、宴会和读书之所。清入关后用以存放帝王画像、行乐图及清初皇帝玉玺。康熙二十年(1681年)重修，乾隆八年(1743年)改成今名。
凤凰楼正门上方悬挂的“紫气东来”金字横匾，是乾隆皇帝御笔，意思是大清朝国力强盛的福气是从东方盛京而来，表达了清代皇帝对先祖创业之地的顶礼膜拜。下层的门洞是连接台上台下的通道，凤凰楼既是后宫的大门，又是当时盛京城的最高建筑，所以有“凤楼晓日”、“凤楼观塔”等传称，并被列为盛京八大景之一。
3、第三进院落
第三进院落，南起凤凰楼，北至清宁宫，东西各有二宫，是一组典型的北方四合院建筑，这里是皇太极的后宫，为皇太极和后妃们的住所。
整个后宫建在高台之上，并高于前朝的宫殿。这种“宫高殿低”的特色反映了满族的传统和习惯。满族先人曾是一个以游猎为主的山地民族，常年生活在山林之中，逐渐形成了代代则高而居、把山寨首领的住宅建在地势最高处的生活习惯。因此，沈阳虽地处平原，但仍用人工堆砌高台，在高台上建寝宫。
另外，清入关前，后金政权一直处于烽火硝烟的战乱年代，满族作为一个弱小民族在其发展过程中受到的威胁，使他们不论在心里上还是现实中都必须时刻保持警惕，而后宫建在高处，随时可以登高远眺，起到防御作用。
(1)清宁宫
清宁宫，原名“正宫”，为五间硬山式建筑，是沈阳故宫最具满足住宅特色的建筑。
东一间是皇太极和孝庄文皇后博尔吉特氏的寝宫，称“暖阁”，寝宫分为南北两室，各有火炕，又称“龙床”。崇德八年(1643年)皇太极就在南炕“无疾端坐而终”，终年52岁，后葬于昭陵。东侧第二间的北窗下设两口大锅，南宫门旁设一口锅，是祭祀时煮肉和烧炕用的。
西侧三间通连北西南三面搭成相连的环炕，称为“万字炕”，是帝后日常隐居及会见、宴请亲眷的厅堂。
西四间还有一个十分重要的用途，就是作为宫内举行萨满教祭祀的“神堂”。萨满教是一种以信奉“万物有灵”为特点的原始宗教，也是过去满足民间普遍流行的一种信仰习俗。
(2)索伦杆
索伦杆在清宁宫正门前的庭院南端，满族人称之为“神杆”。木杆下方上圆，底部镶有石座，顶端安有锡斗，全部用红漆涂染。它是满族人用来祭天的，祭天时在锡斗里放上五谷杂粮或猪杂碎，以敬乌鸦。这反映了满足萨满教的灵禽崇拜观念。
(3)东西配宫
清宁宫两侧的东西配宫，都是皇太极和妃子们的居住之所。东配宫有关雎宫、衍庆宫，西配宫有麟趾宫和永福宫，每宫5间，建筑风格与清宁宫相同，只是体谅和装饰等级略低。
四宫中以永福宫最为著名，崇德三年(1638年)，清世祖福临就出生在永福宫。崇德八年(1643年)，6岁的福临走出了永福宫开始了皇帝的生涯。第二年，清军入关，福临成为清王朝统治全国的第一个皇帝。
(4)烟囱
这个平地而起的烟囱，是沈阳故宫里唯一的一个烟囱。它不是附建于山墙之上，而是在离墙不远的地方建起，好像一座小塔。当年设计这个烟囱时，颇费一番心思，工匠们将宫内的地下挖空修成地沟，上面盖方砖，叫火地，又在室外修有烧火的灶门，所以宫内即取了暖，又不受烟熏，由此可以充分体会到满足建筑的精妙之处。
宫内把这种挖有地下火道的房子称之为暖阁，清宁宫的冬暖阁就是这种结构。因为皇宫只有这一个烟囱，所以皇太极下旨，盛京城内所有烟囱都不得高于它，这就叫大清朝一统天下，这里取的是“统”的谐音。
三、沈阳故宫西路建筑
沈阳故宫西路建筑，是为了适应皇帝东巡时的需要而增设的一组建筑，套院相接，多而不乱，是文化气息较浓之处。
文溯阁，建于乾隆四十六年(1781年)至乾隆四十八年，为西路建筑中的主体建筑，是仿照明代浙江宁波大藏书家范钦的“天一阁”修建的，专门收藏乾隆时期编纂的大型图书《四库全书》，也是全国存放《四库全书》的著名阁楼之一。
阁名是乾隆皇帝钦定的，因其位于“祖宗发祥之地”盛京，所以取“溯源求本”之意，命名为文溯阁。《四库全书》共7部，其中1部当年就存放在文溯阁，后因战备考虑将其移交到甘肃省图书馆保存。
文溯阁也是硬山式建筑，面阔6间，从外面看是重檐2层，从里面看则是3层，明显带有江南建筑的风格样式。与其他建筑不同，文溯阁顶盖用的是黑琉璃瓦绿剪边，这在沈阳故宫建中是独一无二的。
根据五行八卦之说，黑是代表水，书最忌火，以黑瓦为顶象征着以水克火之意。此外，文溯阁的所有门窗都漆为绿色，外檐彩画也已蓝绿白相间的冷色调为主，梁枋间彩绘“白马献书”图案，给人以古雅清新之感。
阁内还悬有乾隆手书的对联“古今并入含茹，万象沧溟控大本，礼乐仰承基绪，三江天汉导洪澜”。
文溯阁东有方形碑亭1座，内立石碑一块。正面刻有乾隆帝撰写的《御制文溯阁碑记》，背面刻有乾隆撰写的《宋孝宗论》。碑文详细记录了建阁经过和《四库全书》的收藏情况。
文溯阁后为仰熙斋，是皇帝读书之所。阁前宫门外有嘉荫堂，左右有出廊，南面有戏台，是乾隆、嘉庆时期皇帝东巡赏戏的场所。
各位游客朋友，今天的游览就到此结束了，谢谢大家!
Hello,everyone!Please allow me to express a warm welcome on behalf of Shenyang citizens.I'm with great pleasure to be your tourist guide and from now on I will show you around Shenyang Imperial Palace,shere the founder of Qing Dynasty Nuerhachi and his son Huangtaiji lived.Shenyang Imperial Palace ,Fuling tomb and Zhaoling Tomb made in the early period of Qing Dynasty are the three famous historical sites in Shenyang .
Shenyang Imperial Palace with a history of over 360 years started in 1625 and was roughly accomplished in 1636 during the reign of Nuerhachi and HuangTaiji. After them four emperors of Qing Dynasty had come back from Beijing to this palace for 10 times and enlarged its area and added its buildings.They were Emperor Kangxi,Qianlong,Jiaqing and Daoguang.Therefore,until 1783 the palace was finally finished.
Shenyang Imperial Palace is one of the two royal palaces well kept in China.The other one is Forbidden City in Beijing.Shenyang Imperial Palace was entitled "Historic Culture Relics Preserved Buildings" in 1961 by the State Council.This palace is an emperor museum combining the architectual styles of the minorities of Man,Han and Mongolia.
This palace covers an area of 60,000 square meters,comprising over 20 courtyards,300 houses and 70 buildings.The whole construction is divided into three sections: the east, middle and west.
First let's pay a visit to the buildings in the buildings in the middle section.The layout of middle section is similar to a Chinese compound with three courtyards.The first courtyard is the office area.It starts from the Grand Qing Gate on the south and ends at Holy Administration Hall.From Phoenix Tower to Purity and Tranquility Hall is the residential area.They all lay out on the same line.
The main entrance to the palace is the Grand Qing Gate,also called Meridian Gate because the emperor considered himself as the son of Heaven and the palace should be the center of universe .The Grand Qing Gate was bulilt in 1632 and is was the place where the civilian offcials and military ministers to present themselves before the emperor daily .The special feature of the gate is the tile color.They are all yellow tiles but engraved with green borders.Yellow synbolizes the ground and the royal right while green represents sea and mountains.The combination of them means controlling the vast areas on the earth.
The building to the east of Grand Qing Gate is called Ancestor Temple(Taimiao)with yellow tile roof,where Nuerhachi's descendants offeredsacrifices to their ancestors for blessings.So Ancestor Temple is the most important.
Please follow me into the gate.This path in the middle links the gate to Holy Administration Hall with Flying Dragon Pavilion (Feilongge) and Flying Phoenix Pavilion(Xiangfengge) on each side.The Hall of Holy Administration is the main building in the middle part of the palace and it was the center of the military,administrative affairs in eatly Qing Dynasty and had witnessed many national ceremories.Flying Dragon and Flying Phoenix Pavilions were for storing music instruments.
Holy Administration Hall was Emperor Huangtaiji's office.In front of the hall are Rigui and Jiangliang,which were used as measure instruments and supposed to be the symbol of unity.
In accient construction,office area is usually in the front part and residential area is in the rear.Since we have visted the place where the Emperors worked and now we'll pay a visite tothe place where empress and concubines lived.Here is the Phoenis Tower.It served as an entrances to the rear chambers and also the entertainment area of Huangtaiji and his concubines,and some gatherings or banquets were held occasionally.The tower was built on a terrace 3.8 meters tall.It was the tallest building in Shenyang at that time .It is amazing watching sunrise in the morning on the tower and Phoenix Sunrise is one of the famous Eight fascinating Scenes in Shenyang.
Look upward ,we will see a board hanging up on Phoenix Tower ,on which Emperor Qianlong inscribed "Ziqidonglai",which meant the Qing Dynasty in Beijing immigrated fron Shengjing,the old name for Shenyang to the east .There are 24staircases leading to Phoenix Tower representing 24 seasonal divisions points in chinese lunar calendar.In Shenyang Imperial palace chambers are higher than halls, which is contrary to the architectural style in Forbidden city in Beijing.
Walking through the tower are the rear chambers.The one on the north in the middle was called Purity and Tranquility Hall,which was prepared for emperor and empress.The other four lying on both sides were fo concubines .Purity and Tranquility Hall has five rooms and the First from the east was where Huangraiji passed away here at the age of 52 without any disease.His throne passed to his ninth son,Fulin.In early Qing Dynasty,the construction style was summed up like this: bag-like house,zigzag bed and chimney sitting on the ground.The main buildings here were different from other buildings with a door was opende in the wall of the east room and the other rooms were connected together like a bag.The zigzag beds,made of mud and brick and with fire and smoke tunnels were called"kang"in Chinese.In order to get heat and keep room warm in winter,tunnels was made under the ground of Purity and Tranquility Hall to put fire and smoke through .Now notice the pole standing on the ground for smoke through.Now notice the pole standing right in the middle of the courtyard.This red pole is called Suolun pole,or Holy Pole.Its round tin container near the top was filled with food for feeding crows.It was said that Nuerhachi was savedby crows.Crows are considered sacred in Manchurian culture though in Chinese culture crows are regarded as birds bringing bad luck.
Emperor Huangtaiji had four concubines.Among the four concubines Chen was loved best by Huangtaiji and Concubine Zhuang was the wisest and the mother of the next emperor,Fulin.Therefore ,she had a special status among the concubines.
The only chimney was built on the rear of Purity and Tranquility hall from the ground with 11 layers ,representing the 11 emperors from Emperor Huangtaiji to the last emperor Puyi.This chimney was the highest one at that time.In Chinese ,the sound of chimeny"tong" is the same as that of unity.
To the north further is rear courtyard called Yuhua Garden.
After visiting the middle section of the palace ,we come to the eastern section.Its representative building is the Great Administration Hall,flanked by Ten Princes Pavilions.This part was built in 1625,and they were the earliest building in Shenyang Imperial Palace.Great Administration Hall is the place ceremonies and handled state affairs.
Great Administration Hall was built with eight sides representing the style of military tent and also Eight Banner military system.Now please look at the ten pavilions,five on each side,which were the offices of the commanders at that time.Here I will give you an introduction to the military system of early Manchurian Period .Nuerhachi divided his troops in four parts and each part was identified by the color of its banner .There sere then four kinds of banner:red,blue,white and yellow banner.As the troops expanded quickly ,another four parts were added and therefore another four kinds of banner were needed .By then there were altogether eight kinds of banner.This army was therefore well known for Eight Banner Army .
The last part of Shenyang Imperial Palace is the western section,built from 1782 to 1783 and during Emperor Qianlong's reign.Its main construction is Book Source Pavilion (Wensuge) with Theater Platform and Good Descendant-benefiting Hall(Jiayintang) in front,Prosperity Administration Stydy (Yangxizhai) and Nine Halls behind.Book Souurce Pavilion(wensuge) was specially designed for storing the encyclopedia compiled at that time,Si Ku Quan Shu.This encyclopedia collected most of the books in Chinese history .Its complication started in 1773.This set of history books is composed of seven sections,more than 36,000 volumes.It took educated persons over 10 years to finish is.When finished,the sholecneyclopedia was duplicated in seven pavilions across China.The other six copies were either damaged during wars or lost.This set is the only one well kept.But the real copy is no longer here and now is restored in the Palace Museum in Beijing and Gansu province library.We can see that Book Source Pavilion covered with black tiles.In Chinese philosophy,black refers water.The pavilion was built for storing books and its biggest threat was fire.So black tiles hinting water covering it on the top as a way of protection .Good Proserty Admiration Study was for Emperor reading while Descendant-benefiting Hall and the Theater Platform consisting of a couryard for Emperor ,his empress and concubines watching plays.
Shenyang Imperial Palace is one of the cultural relics in China and it is the symbol of this city .It is a good combination of diferent nationalities as well as a tourist attraction.And now we have to end our visiting ,I hope you all enjoy it and thank you for your cooperation,goodbye.
Hello, everyone! Please allow me to express a warm welcoeon behalf of Shenyang citizens. I'm with great pleasure to be your tourist guide and from now on I will show you around Shenyang Imperial Palace, where the founder of Qing Dynasty Nuerhachi and his son Huangtaiji lived.
Shenyang Imperial Palace, Fuling tomb and Zhaoling Tomb made in the early period of Qing Dynasty are the three famous historical sites in Shenyang. Shenyang Imperial Palace with a history of over 360 years started in 1625 and was roughly accoplishedin 1636 during the reign of Nuerhachi and Huangtaiji. After them four emperors of Qing Dynasty had coeback from Beijing to this palace for 10 times and enlarged its area and added its buildings. They were Emperor Kangxi, Qianlong, Jiaqing and Daoguang. Therefore, until 1783 the palace was finally finished. Shenyang Imperial Palace is one of the two royal palaces well kept in China. The other one is Forbidden City in Beijing. Shenyang Imperial Palace was entitled "Historic Culture Relics Preserved Buildings" in 1961 by the State Council. This palace is an emperor museum cobiningthe architectural styles of the minorities of Man, Han and Mongolia. This palace covers an area of 60,000 square meters, coprisingover 20 courtyards, 300 houses and 70 buildings. The whole construction is divided into three sections: the east, middle and west.
First let's pay a visit to the buildings in the buildings in the middle section. The layout of middle section is similar to a Chinese copoundwith three courtyards. The first courtyard is the office area. It starts from the Grand Qing Gate on the south and ends at Holy Administration Hall. From Phoenix Tower to Purity and Tranquility Hall is the residential area. They all lay out on the same line. The main entrance to the palace is the Grand Qing Gate, also called Meridian Gate because the emperor considered himself as the son of Heaven and the palace should be the center of universe .The Grand Qing Gate was built in 1632 and is was the place where the civilian officials and military ministers to present themselves before the emperor daily .The special feature of the gate is the tile color. They are all yellow tiles but engraved with green borders. Yellow symbolizes the ground and the royal right while green represents sea and mountains. The cobinationof them means controlling the vast areas on the earth. The building to the east of Grand Qing Gate is called Ancestor Temple (Taimiao) with yellow tile roof, where Nuerhachi's descendants offered sacrifices to their ancestors for blessings. So Ancestor Temple is the most important. Please follow me into the gate. This path in the middle links the gate to Holy Administration Hall with Flying Dragon Pavilion (Feilongge) and Flying Phoenix Pavilion (Xiangfengge) on each side. The Hall of Holy Administration is the main building in the middle part of the palace and it was the center of the military, administrative affairs in early Qing Dynasty and had witnessed many national ceremonies. Flying Dragon and Flying Phoenix Pavilions were for storing music instruments. Holy Administration Hall was Emperor Huangtaiji's office. In front of the hall are Rigui and Jiangliang, which were used as measure instruments and supposed to be the symbol of unity. In accident construction, office area is usually in the front part and residential area is in the rear.
Since we have visited the place where the Emperors worked and now we'll pay a visit to the place where empress and concubines lived. Here is the Phoenix Tower. It served as an entrance to the rear chambers and also the entertainment area of Huangtaiji and his concubines, and some gatherings or banquets were held occasionally. The tower was built on a terrace 3.8 meters tall. It was the tallest building in Shenyang at that time .It is amazing watching sunrise in the morning on the tower and Phoenix Sunrise is one of the famous Eight fascinating Scenes in Shenyang. Look upward, we will see a board hanging up on Phoenix Tower ,on which Emperor Qianlong inscribed "Ziqidonglai", which meant the Qing Dynasty in Beijing immigrated from Shengjing, the old name for Shenyang to the east .There are 24staircases leading to Phoenix Tower representing 24 seasonal divisions points in Chinese lunar calendar.
Now notice the pole standing right in the middle of the courtyard. This red pole is called Suolun pole, or Holy Pole. Its round tin container near the top was filled with food for feeding crows. It was said that Nuerhachi was saved by crows. Crows are considered sacred in Manchurian culture though in Chinese culture crows are regarded as birds bringing bad luck. Emperor Huangtaiji had four concubines. Among the four concubines Chen was loved best by Huangtaiji and Concubine Zhuang was the wisest and the mother of the next emperor, Fulin. Therefore, she had a special status among the concubines. The only chimney was built on the rear of Purity and Tranquility hall from the ground with 11 layers, representing the 11 emperors from Emperor Huangtaiji to the last emperor Puyi. This chimney was the highest one at that time. In Chinese, the sound of chimney "tong" is the same as that of unity. To the north further is rear courtyard called Yuhua Garden. After visiting the middle section of the palace, we coeto the eastern section. Its representative building is the Great Administration Hall, flanked by Ten Princes Pavilions. This part was built in 1625, and they were the earliest building in Shenyang Imperial Palace. Great Administration Hall is the place ceremonies and handled state affairs. Great Administration Hall was built with eight sides representing the style of military tent and also Eight Banner military system.
Now please look at the ten pavilions, five on each side, which were the offices of the comandersat that time. Here I will give you an introduction to the military system of early Manchurian Period. Nuerhachi divided his troops in four parts and each part was identified by the color of its banner .There sere then four kinds of banner: red, blue, white and yellow banner. As the troops expanded quickly, another four parts were added and therefore another four kinds of banner were needed .By then there were altogether eight kinds of banner. This army was therefore well known for Eight Banner Army.
The last part of Shenyang Imperial Palace is the western section, built from 1782 to 1783 and during Emperor Qianlong's reign. Its main construction is Book Source Pavilion (Wensuge) with Theater Platform and Good Descendant-benefiting Hall (Jiayintang) in front, Prosperity Administration Study (Yangxizhai) and Nine Halls behind. Book Source Pavilion (wensuge) was specially designed for storing the encyclopedia copiledat that time, Si Ku Quan Shu. This encyclopedia collected most of the books in Chinese history .Its coplicationstarted in 1773.This set of history books is coposedof seven sections, more than 36,000 volumes. It took educated persons over 10 years to finish is. When finished, the whole encyclopedia was duplicated in seven pavilions across China. The other six copies were either damaged during wars or lost. This set is the only one well kept. But the real copy is no longer here and now is restored in the Palace Museum in Beijing and Gansu province library. We can see that Book Source Pavilion covered with black tiles. In Chinese philosophy, black refers water. The pavilion was built for storing books and its biggest threat was fire. So black tiles hinting water covering it on the top as a way of protection. Good Property Admiration Study was for Emperor reading while Descendant-benefiting Hall and the Theater Platform consisting of a courtyard for Emperor ,his empress and concubines watching plays. Shenyang Imperial Palace is one of the cultural relics in China and it is the symbol of this city. It is a good cobinationof different nationalities as well as a tourist attraction.
And now we have to end our visiting, I hope you all enjoy it and thank you for your cooperation, goodbye.