Why did Li Zhi, Emperor Gaozong of the Tang Dynasty, abandon the Taiji Palace where Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty lived and build the Daming Palace?
In the history of ancient Chinese architecture, the Daming Palace of the Tang Dynasty can be said to be one of the most glorious masterpieces. However, the famous emperors Tang Gaozu and Tang Taizong in the history of the Tang Dynasty never lived in Daming Palace. Daming Palace was not officially built until Tang Gaozong "deposed the king and established Wu". Long before the establishment of the Tang Dynasty, the Sui Dynasty had already built a large-scale Tai Chi Palace in Chang'an City. The first two emperors of the Tang Dynasty, Tang Gaozu and Tang Taizong, both lived in the Tai Chi Palace. In this case, why did Li Zhi, Emperor Gaozong of the Tang Dynasty, abandon the existing Tai Chi Palace and build the Daming Palace? Daxing City in the Sui Dynasty (Chang'an City in the Tang Dynasty) was the first planned and constructed capital city in Chinese history. The chief designer Yu Wenkai was well-read and used everything he learned in the design of Daxing City. In addition to practicality, the planning of Daxing City also incorporates knowledge of astronomy, Feng Shui, etc.
According to the ancient Chinese concept of "the North Pole is respected", Yu Wenkai placed the Taiji Palace in the center of the north of Daxing City. However, Yu Wenkai's design pursued political principles too much and ignored the actual terrain, so the Tai Chi Palace was placed in a low-lying depression.
As a result, the Tai Chi Palace was unbearably hot and humid in the summer, causing the Sui Dynasty and the first three emperors of the Tang Dynasty who did not build the Ming Palace to leave the Tai Chi Palace every year to escape the summer heat. At that time, Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty wanted to build a summer palace for his father north of Taiji Palace, but the project was suspended due to the death of Emperor Gaozu of the Tang Dynasty.
Tang Gaozong, who had been frail and sickly since he was a child, really couldn't bear the heat and humidity in the Tai Chi Palace and the running around every summer. The older he got, the more he couldn't stand it. So after the imperial power was basically stabilized, Emperor Gaozong of the Tang Dynasty ordered the construction of the Daming Palace to be restarted and moved it here after completion.
In addition, the political situation of the Tang Dynasty underwent major changes after the "Abolition of the King and the establishment of Wu", and the Guanlong noble group completely withdrew from the political stage. Emperor Gaozong of the Tang Dynasty also thought about rebuilding the Daming Palace to announce to the world the major historical changes in the Tang Dynasty.