Standing statue of Confucius at Chaotian Palace 20040505

The Chaotian Palace (, lit. "Palace of Heaven Veneration") is located in

Nanjing Nanjing or Nanking is the capital of Jiangsu, a province in East China. The city, which is located in the southwestern corner of the province, has 11 districts, an administrative area of , and a population of 9,423,400. Situated in the Yang ...

China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. With population of China, a population exceeding 1.4 billion, it is the list of countries by population (United Nations), second-most populous country after ...

. It was built as an imperial palace in the

Ming dynasty The Ming dynasty, officially the Great Ming, was an Dynasties of China, imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol Empire, Mongol-led Yuan dynasty. The Ming was the last imperial dynasty of ...

,Nanjing Municipal Museum Website
/ref> and today it is known as the Nanjing Municipal Museum. Chaotian Palace area has the largest preserved traditional Chinese architectural complex in

Jiangnan Jiangnan is a geographic area in China referring to lands immediately to the south of the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, including the southern part of its delta. The region encompasses the city of Shanghai, the southern part of Jiangsu ...

Overview

The palace is a complex of buildings, in the center of which is the Wen Temple, which was built with precious materials, including yellow glazed tile was from Jingdezhen in Jiangxi province. It is a total of 70,000 square meters, consisting of three lines. Within the palace are more than 100,000 cultural relics.

History

The site of the palace is located on Ye Mountain, once a place for metal casting in the ancient time of State of Wu in

Zhou dynasty The Zhou dynasty ( ) was a royal dynasty of China that existed for 789 years from until 256 BC, the longest span of any dynasty in Chinese history. During the Western Zhou period (771 BC), the royal house, surnamed Ji, had military ...

, named Ye Cheng, literally the city of metallurgy, the first name of the city of Nanjing. The Imperial Central University, at the time called Zongmingguan, was located there in Former Song dynasty. Chaotian Palace, or called Mingtian Palace, as a Taoist temple was originally named Ziji Palace built on the site of Zongmingguan in the era of Southern Wu, the Kingdom of Wu in the ending of

Tang dynasty The Tang dynasty (, ; zh, c=唐朝), or the Tang Empire, was an Dynasties of China, imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 618 to 907, with an Wu Zhou, interregnum between 690 and 705. It was preceded by the Sui dynasty and followed ...

. It was rebuilt as Chaotian Palace by the

Hongwu Emperor The Hongwu Emperor (21 October 1328– 24 June 1398), also known by his temple name as the Emperor Taizu of Ming, personal name Zhu Yuanzhang, courtesy name Guorui, was the List of emperors of the Ming dynasty, founding emperor of the Ming dyna ...

during the early

(in the late 14th century). In Ming dynasty it was used primarily by members of the royalty for "veneration of ancestors".Chaotian Palace, Nanjing, China.
Asian Oriental Architecture. Retrieved May 11, 2014. The complex was burnt down during the

Taiping Rebellion The Taiping Rebellion, also known as the Taiping Civil War or the Taiping Revolution, was a civil war in China between the Qing dynasty and the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom. The conflict lasted 14 years, from its outbreak in 1850 until the fall of ...

Qing dynasty The Qing dynasty ( ), officially the Great Qing, was a Manchu-led Dynasties of China, imperial dynasty of China and an early modern empire in East Asia. The last imperial dynasty in Chinese history, the Qing dynasty was preceded by the ...

, and the present buildings were built from 1866 to 1870 when Nanking Academy (Jiangning Fuxue) moved to the site. During the ROC rule the place became Examination Yuan, Capital High Court, Ministry of Education (once named Tahsueh Yuan), as well as Palace Museum Nanjing Branch. In the PRC it became the Nanjing Municipal Museum.

Architectural Pattern

Chaotian Palace is located in the west gate of Qinhuai District, Nanjing. It is the highest grade, the largest scale and the most complete preservation of ancient buildings in Jiangnan area. Emperor

Zhu Yuanzhang The Hongwu Emperor (21 October 1328– 24 June 1398), also known by his temple name as the Emperor Taizu of Ming, personal name Zhu Yuanzhang, courtesy name Guorui, was the founding emperor of the Ming dynasty, reigning from 1368 to 1398. In ...

Ming Dynasty The Ming dynasty, officially the Great Ming, was an Dynasties of China, imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol Empire, Mongol-led Yuan dynasty. The Ming was the last imperial dynasty of ...

named Chaotian Palace, meaning "to worship heaven" and "to see the emperor", is the highest view of Ming Dynasty royal Taoism. Chaotian Palace is a typical Ming and Qing dynasty palace style architecture, and its architectural pattern, style, and construction technology are important and rare physical materials for studying ancient

Chinese architecture Chinese architecture () is the embodiment of an architectural style that has developed over millennia in China and has influenced architecture throughout East Asia. Since its emergence during the early ancient era, the structural principles of ...

, especially Ming and Qing architecture. It has extremely high historical, artistic, and scientific value. In the Chaotian Palace, there is a

Confucian Temple A temple of Confucius or Confucian temple is a temple for the veneration of Confucius and the sages and philosophers of Confucianism in Chinese folk religion and other East Asian religions. They were formerly the site of the administration of ...

, to the east is the Fuxue Temple, and to the west is the Bianzhu Temple. In the south of the Confucian Temple is surrounded by the screen wall of "Ten Thousand Ren Palace Wall". In the palace wall is Panchi, and on the east and west sides are brick memorial archway. The front is Lingxing Gate. On both sides of the gate, there are Wenli Zhai and Si Shen Ku in the east, Wuguan Zhai and Si Ya Ting in the west. Across the Lingxing Gate to the north, there are Dacheng Gate, Dacheng Hall, Chongsheng Hall, and Jingyi Pavilion in turn. The east and west sides of Dacheng Hall have twelve verandas and corridors respectively. In the east of Jingyi Pavilion, there are Feiyun Pavilion, Feixia Pavilion, and Imperial Stele Pavilion.

Introduction to Exhibition Hall

Nanjing Museum is located in Chaotian Palace, covering an area of more than 50,000 square meters, exhibition hall area of more than 8000 square meters, collecting more than 100,000 cultural

relic In religion, a relic is an object or article of religious significance from the past. It usually consists of the physical remains or personal effects of a saint or other person preserved for the purpose of veneration as a tangible memorial. Reli ...

s. These collections date back to the Republican period. It is rich in connotation and of high historical, artistic and scientific value.

Nanjing Urban History Exhibition

A total of more than 1,600 artifacts are on display in five parts, ranging from ancient times to the Qin and Han dynasties, Sui, Tang, Song and Yuan dynasties, Ming and Qing dynasties and the Republic of China.

Chaotian Palace History Exhibition

It is divided into three units: "Yecheng Spring and Autumn", "Chaotian Yun Song" and "Human Story".

Fine Collection Exhibition

The best collection of cultural relics, including "Zhenguan treasure" Xiao Heyue chasing Han Xin earth plum bottles, Ming Dynasty royal tombs unearthed

gold Gold is a chemical element; it has chemical symbol Au (from Latin ) and atomic number 79. In its pure form, it is a brightness, bright, slightly orange-yellow, dense, soft, malleable, and ductile metal. Chemically, gold is a transition metal ...

silver Silver is a chemical element; it has Symbol (chemistry), symbol Ag () and atomic number 47. A soft, whitish-gray, lustrous transition metal, it exhibits the highest electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, and reflectivity of any metal. ...

and

jade Jade is an umbrella term for two different types of decorative rocks used for jewelry or Ornament (art), ornaments. Jade is often referred to by either of two different silicate mineral names: nephrite (a silicate of calcium and magnesium in t ...

. The

interior design Interior design is the art and science of enhancing the interior of a building to achieve a healthier and more aesthetically pleasing environment for the people using the space. With a keen eye for detail and a Creativity, creative flair, an ...

of the

exhibition An exhibition, in the most general sense, is an organized presentation and display of a selection of items. In practice, exhibitions usually occur within a cultural or educational setting such as a museum, art gallery, park, library, exhibiti ...

hall is typical of Jiangnan style. Depending on the

material A material is a matter, substance or mixture of substances that constitutes an Physical object, object. Materials can be pure or impure, living or non-living matter. Materials can be classified on the basis of their physical property, physical ...

and characteristics of the

, it will be displayed in groups of two to three people in about 10 theme spaces.

Collection of Song and Ming Clothes exhibition

The exhibition hall, located in Nanjing Chongsheng Temple Museum, houses clothing from the Song and Ming Dynasties. Silk garments are beautifully and comfortably patterned, and various

jewellery Jewellery (or jewelry in American English) consists of decorative items worn for personal adornment such as brooches, ring (jewellery), rings, necklaces, earrings, pendants, bracelets, and cufflinks. Jewellery may be attached to the body or the ...

techniques are exquisite and dazzling. It shows the

image An image or picture is a visual representation. An image can be Two-dimensional space, two-dimensional, such as a drawing, painting, or photograph, or Three-dimensional space, three-dimensional, such as a carving or sculpture. Images may be di ...

s, costumes and living habits of the ancients in Song and Ming Dynasties from the three dimensions of image, dress, decoration and living habits.

Cultural Activities

* Hold the premiere of 'Jinling Aristocratic Family'. * Hold the opening ceremony of the "Book Fragrance Chaotian Palace · Reading Accompanying Me" reading activity. * A cultural research and learning activity called "Teacher Worship Ceremony" was held.

Transportation

The palace is accessible within walking distance west of Zhangfuyuan station of

Nanjing Metro The Nanjing Metro is a rapid transit system serving the List of administrative divisions of Nanjing, urban and suburban districts of Nanjing, the capital city of Jiangsu Province in the People's Republic of China. Proposals for a metro system ...

Line 1. Chaotian Palace is located about 1000 meters southwest to Xinjiekou, the center of Nanjing, and about 800 meters east to Mochou Lake, hedged off by Qinhuai River and linked by Jianye Road Bridge. Take Nanjing Metro Line 2 to Shanghailu station, walk 1 km south along Mochou Road to the artificial canal "Yundu", walk 100 meters southeast around the red outer wall of Chaotian Palace, and walk 50 meters northeast along the outer wall to the entrance of Chaotian Palace. Take Nanjing Metro Line 1 to Zhangfuyuan Station, exit 3 and cross the intersection south. Walk 950 meters west along Jianye Road. Take 43 Road, 306 Road to Chaotian Palace East Station, along Wangfu Street southbound 180 meters, to the junction right turn northwest 90 meters can be reached. Take No. 28, 41, 80, 82, Y7 to Jianye Road Station and walk 300 meters west. Take 4, 48, 83, Y4 to Chaotian Palace Station, walk 170 meters south, walk 100 meters southeast around Chaotian Palace infrared wall, walk 50 meters northeast, to Chaotian Palace entrance.

Notes

External links

Official website
{{Ming dynasty topics Buildings and structures in Nanjing Palaces in China Royal residences in China Ming dynasty architecture Tourist attractions in Nanjing Museums in Nanjing