Chinese Palaces are elaborate structures. There is a long history of imperial rule in China, and the palaces were the sites where the royal court resided, as well as many government bureaucrats and functionaries.
The English word "gong" is used to translate the Chinese word 宮 (pronounced "gōng" in Mandarin). This character represents two rooms connected (呂), under a roof (宀). Originally the character applied to any residence or mansion, but starting with the Qin Dynasty (3rd century BC) it was used only for the residence of the emperor and members of the imperial family.
Chinese palaces are different from post-Renaissance European palaces because they do not consist of a single building only. Instead, Chinese palaces are huge spaces surrounded by one or more walls and moats and containing large separated halls (殿 diàn) for ceremonies and official business, as well as smaller buildings, temples, towers, residences, galleries, courtyards, gardens, and outbuildings, more like the Roman or Carolingian palatium.
Read more about Chinese Palaces: Main Imperial Palaces, in Chronological Order, Other Places
Famous quotes containing the word palaces:
“Give a boy address and accomplishments and you give him the mastery of palaces and fortunes where he goes.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)