The Forbidden City is magnificent, but why is there not an ancient tree in the three main halls and the three back palaces?
The absence of an ancient tree in the three main halls and the three back palaces is mainly for safety and to express the supremacy of imperial power. Many ancient city ruins are actually planted with trees, and even a thousand-year-old tree will become a beautiful scenery in a tourist area, such as Li Shimin's ginkgo tree. The same is true for the Forbidden City. There are many lush trees in the palace, but strangely, there are no trees only in the three main halls and the back three palaces. I think the reasons are as follows.
The first point is that there are no trees in the three main halls and the back three palaces, which can reduce many safety hazards. During the Jiaqing period, a man from Lin Qing led the "Tianli Sect" rebel uprising. At that time, the rebels broke into the Forbidden City, climbed trees and climbed over the palace wall, and fought all the way to the outside of the emperor's palace. Fortunately, the army arrived and captured the invading rebels. Jiaqing was furious and cut down all the trees in the three main halls and the back three palaces to prevent the assassins from hiding.
The second point is Feng Shui taboos. The Forbidden City is laid out according to Feng Shui. The three main halls belong to earth, and wood overcomes earth, which is equivalent to restraining the imperial power. As the most solemn place, the imperial palace pays more attention to Feng Shui than other places. According to the speculations of Feng Shui and Yin Yang and the Five Elements, the three main halls located in the center of the Forbidden City belong to the earth. Naturally, trees that restrain the earth cannot be planted to avoid oppressing the emperor. Authority, breaking the supremacy of imperial power.
The third point is that the emperor is the real dragon emperor and cannot be trapped. The entire Forbidden City is a closed "mouth". If trees are planted in the three main halls and the back three palaces, they will form a The word "sleepy" is used, but how can the emperor be trapped in the palace? This is very taboo for the emperor. Therefore, for this reason, there are no trees in the three main halls near the emperor and the three back palaces.