Chinese Guided Tour on “The Grand Imperial Celebrations” Exhibition

Among the grand ceremonies throughout a year, the three most important ones are New Year Imperial Audience, Winter Solstice Sacrifice to Heaven, and the Emperor’s Birthday, also known as the “Three Imperial Festivals.” The emperor would hold a banquet at the Hall of Supreme Harmony after receiving the guests’ homage. Imperial clans, major government officials, and envoys from tributary states would enjoy a convivial feast with the emperor himself. The Hall of Supreme Harmony also served as the venue for events such as the imperial weddings of the emperors marrying consorts, and the honorary roll call ceremony for top-ranking candidates of the Palace Examination. Divided into the Grand Banquets, the Great Festivals, the Imperial Weddings, and the Imperial Examinations, this exhibition displays documents of the archives of the Grand Secretariat as a textual compendium testifying to the legislation and actual operation of grand imperial celebrations.