揭秘紫禁城里的宫廷生活

Core Viewpoint - The book "Palace Life Chronicles" by Dr. Zhou Qian, a researcher at the Palace Museum, reveals the daily life and cultural practices of the Ming and Qing dynasties through four perspectives: daily living, dining, entertainment, and customs, supported by over 300 valuable images [5][6][7][8][9]. Group 1: Daily Living - The "Daily Living" section uncovers various historical cultural details related to court life, including the daily routines of princes, anecdotes about the Daoguang Emperor, and the operations of eunuch schools [6]. - A notable finding is that the "Ruyi," a symbol of good fortune, originally served as a "scratcher" for back itching, evolving into a royal gift over time [6]. Group 2: Dining - The "Dining" section documents the rich culinary culture of the palace, including dining etiquette and the favorite dishes of emperors like the Qianlong Emperor and Empress Dowager Cixi [7]. - An interesting anecdote is that wine helped cure the Kangxi Emperor's severe heart palpitations, showcasing the influence of Western medicine [7]. Group 3: Entertainment - The "Entertainment" section details various royal leisure activities, such as watching operas, fireworks, and playing sports, including the establishment of a "Western band" in the palace [8]. - The introduction of Western music into the Forbidden City is highlighted, with emperors like Kangxi and Qianlong showing interest in Western instruments and music [8]. Group 4: Customs - The "Customs" section examines historical details of palace festivities, including the distribution of "red envelope blind boxes" during the New Year and the grand "thousand-person lantern performance" during the Lantern Festival [9]. - The impressive scale of the Lantern Festival performance, held at the Yuanmingyuan, is described, emphasizing its artistic impact and the coordination of thousands of performers [9].