Chaotian Palace

Chaotian Palace
Native name Chinese: 朝天宫; pinyin: Cháotiān Gōng'

Front gate to the Chaotian Palace
Location Mochou Road, Nanjing, China
Coordinates 32°02′06″N 118°46′30″E / 32.035°N 118.775°E / 32.035; 118.775Coordinates: 32°02′06″N 118°46′30″E / 32.035°N 118.775°E / 32.035; 118.775
Architectural style(s) Ming dynasty

The Chaotian Palace (Chinese: 朝天宫; pinyin: Cháotiān Gōng), is located in Nanjing, China. It was built as an imperial palace in the Ming dynasty,[1] and today it is the Nanjing Municipal Museum.[1] Chaotian Palace area has the largest preserved traditional Chinese architectural complex in Jiangnan.

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.[1]

Within the palace are more than 100,000 cultural relics.[1]

History

The site of the palace is located on Ye Mountain, formerly a place for metal casting. The Imperial Central University (Chinese: 總明觀; pinyin: Zǒngmíngguān) was located there in the Liu Song dynasty. Chaotian Palace was first built by the Hongwu Emperor in late 14th century during the early Ming dynasty. It was used primarily by members of the royalty for "veneration of ancestors".[2]

The complex was burnt down during the Taiping Rebellion in Qing dynasty, and the present buildings were built from 1866 to 1870 when Nanking Academy (Jiangning Fuxue) moved from its former site south of Qintian mountain to the site.[2] During ROC it became Capital High Court and Examination Yuan. In PRC it became Nanjing Municipal Museum.

Transportation

The palace is accessible within walking distance west of Zhangfuyuan Station of Nanjing Metro 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.

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 Nanjing Municipal Museum Website
  2. 1 2 Chaotian Palace, Nanjing, China. Asian Oriental Architecture. Retrieved May 11, 2014.

External links

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