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In the early Ming Dynasty, it was named Jin Sheng Dian (Hall of Scrupulous Behavior). During the Qing Dynasty, in 1562, it was renamed Jian Ji Dian (Hall of the People's Sovereign) and then Bao He Dian in 1645. The hall is nine bays wide, and four bay deep, with a gable roof and carved overhanging eaves. It has an area of 1,240 square meters. The construction of the hall adopted a special "pillar-reduction" method. By omitting six pillars from under the front eaves, the hall is given a spacious feeling. Above the throne, at the center of the hall, hangs a board with an inscription written by emperor Qianlong. The inscription reads " Huang Jian Jou Ji", meaning "The Highest Norms for the Emperor to Found a Regime".
During the Ming Dynasty, the emperor changes clothes in this hall before an important ceremony. In the Qing Dynasty, the emperor held banquets here for his princes, dukes ans ministers of ethic minorities on the lunar new Year's Eve and the Lantern Festival.
In the early Qing Dynasty, before the renovation of the three rear halls was completed, Emperor Shunzhi and Emperor Kangci lived here and it was named Wei Yu Gong (Palace of Proper Places and Cultivation of Things) and Qing Ning Gong (Palace of Peace and Tranquility), respectively during their reigns. The wedding ceremony of Emperor Shunzhi was held here. In 1789, the emperor supervised the final stage of examinations to select officials among scholars from all over the country. The word "Bao He" are from the "Bool of Changes" and means "maintening harmony between all things on earth to have a long period of peace and stablility". |
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