PURPLE FORBIDDEN CITY 65 



the central arch. It is flanked on the east by a Sun Dial, 

 Jih Kuei # on the west by a "Good Measure" (of grain) 

 Chia Liang "M ft . As the sun dial is useless if the light of 

 the sun is obscured by clouds, so the light of the Emperor's 

 virtue does not shine if clouds (i.e. evil counsellors), interfere 

 between him and the people. It also suggests that the Ruler 

 is the Sun whose light shines on low and high alike, and is 

 a reminder to him to follow the immutable ways. The Grain 

 Measure is a symbol of the full measure of justice, mercy, 

 and virtue which should be meeted out to each being irres- 

 pective of his station, the measure should be "level" — 

 filled to over-flowing with benefits for the people. Being 

 four-sided it represents the whole Empire, it is in fact in 

 the form of the original character for "kingdom" which was 

 a simple square. In conjunction the two symbols form that 

 saying which is the basis of Chinese behaviour; the Jih Kuel 

 is the '.'Kuei" j& or "Circle within which is Right Conduct;" 

 the Measure is the Chii $g or "Square of Right Action," — 

 which among us has not appealed countless times to the 

 Kuei Chti %L $i of the country? 



Passing under the Wu Men one enters an immense 

 courtyard through which runs a stream, symbol of the Yin 

 or Negative and earthly influence in Nature, known as the 

 Golden Water River ^ 7jc M x ; it is spanned by five white 

 marble bridges corresponding to the Five Virtues, 2 the Five 

 Relationships, the Five Happiness, the Five Colours and so 



jft 7k m t & *mm # £ mm to & u & &* m 



A paraphrase of the above runs ; the Jade River has its 

 source in the Western Hills — arrived at the present 

 summer Palace it forms the Kun Ming Lake, it divides, 

 flows in at the west water gate of the City then into 

 the Forbidden City, before the T'ai Ho Gate and out 

 through the eastern water gate. It is also called the 

 Imperial Water, during Yuan Dynasty its name was 

 changed to Golden Water River. 



2 3L fs Five Happinesses. 



fig Shou (Longevity). 

 ^ Fu (Riches). 

 g| *gj Kang Ning (Health). 

 ifc. £F i& ^ u K° Te (Love of virtue only ; single-heartedness). 

 "% $£ $$ Kao Chung Ming (Natural Death). 



3£ ^ Five Relationships. 

 jft ¥?. Ruler and Official. 

 3£ ■=£ Father and Son. 



ft, ffc Elder brother and Younger brother. 

 5£ j|r Husband and W T ife. 

 59 #C Friend and Friend. 



3l & Five Colours. 

 W $C ft fi £& Blue, Yellow, Red, White, Black. 



