Meridian Gate - Definition and Overview

Meridian Gate

Meridian Gate (Traditional Chinese: 午門; Simplified Chinese: 午门; Pinyin: Wǔmén ) is the southern (and largest) gate of the Forbidden City. It has five archs, the central one was formerly reserved for the Emperor alone; the exceptions were the Empress, who could enter it once on the day of her wedding, and the top three scholars of the triennial civil service examinations, who left the exams through the central arch. All other officials and servants had to use the four side archs.

Above the archs are a collection of nine buildings; from this location during the Ming and Qing dynasties the Emperor of China reviewed his troops.

Although urban myth has it that senior officers were executed here in Imperial China, only corporal punishment were actually carried out.

When proceeding northward through the palace grounds, the next major gate encountered is the Gate of Supreme Harmony.