Dragon Chair in the Forbidden City: Even if you pay, experts wouldn't dare touch it!

Dragon chairs are symbols of the power of the emperor, so the materials used to make them are not ordinary!

The Forbidden City is a famous architectural work in Beijing, China. Here, we can not only explore the royal life of the ancients but also learn about their clothes, food, housing and daily life.

However, there is a place called the Main Hall that is not open to visitors. There is a very delicate dragon chair placed in the middle. The dragon chair is a symbol of the authority of the emperor. It is rumored that only worthy people can sit here, and anyone who dares to offend will be punished.

So this item is carved with dragons and various relief decorations. From a distance, one can see a magnificent golden masterpiece.

In fact, most ancient objects are made of wood. The simple reason is that it is easy to process and wood is extremely common. Looking at the masterpieces in the Forbidden City, some people ask: Was the dragon chair used by the emperor also carved from wood or was it made of gold inside and out?

In ancient times, the king was the head of a country, possessing countless gold and silver. Casting a chair from pure gold was not impossible. However, gold was precious but sitting on it for a long time was not comfortable. The emperor had to sit on the dragon chair every day to handle state affairs, so it was not good for his health for a long time.

The dragon chair is for the king only.

Therefore, most dragon chair models are made of wood and then plated with a layer of gold on the outside.

However, the material used to make the dragon chair is not the usual furniture wood but a very precious wood called nanmu. The nanmu used to make the dragon chair is the best selected type, with a golden core. It not only has a faint fragrance but is also extremely durable.

Yellow Nanmu will have a similar shine to satin. This type of wood has the ability to last a long time, so it was used to make coffins for officials and nobles in ancient times. At the same time, this material can also prevent insects, mold and harmful bacteria. Beds made of Nanmu wood are also rumored to be warm in winter and cool in summer, very good for weak people.

Unfortunately, through the vicissitudes of history, dynasties change, and the dragon chair left by predecessors may be lost. In Chinese history, many cultural relics of previous dynasties have been greatly damaged.

Although people later wanted to repair it, the unique techniques and materials of that time were long lost, and no matter how hard later generations tried, they could not restore it to its original state.

According to the Palace Museum, it would take three years to repair a small defect on the dragon chair. Therefore, even experts dare not touch it. The dragon chair in the Forbidden City is also kept in the Main Hall and is not allowed to be visited by visitors.

The truth about the two characters who died after sitting on the dragon chair

Ancient Chinese documents mention that the dragon chair is a very sacred treasure that is only reserved for people of noble status, the Son of Heaven. Other ordinary people who have sat on it have met the same end.

First was Li Zicheng . In 1627, Chongzhen ascended the throne as Emperor of the Ming Dynasty. But the court was corrupt, and he could not turn things around. One of the strongest uprisings in China at that time was led by Li Zicheng.

After overthrowing the Ming Dynasty, Li Zicheng seized the throne and proclaimed himself Emperor. He sat on the dragon throne in the Forbidden City and forced officials to come and pay homage. Just one day later, Li Zicheng burned down the Forbidden City and led his troops to flee Beijing. After being on the throne for more than 40 days, he was usurped by Wu Sangui.

According to historical records, Li Zicheng died in Hubei in April 1645. There are still many questions surrounding his death.

Portrait of Yuan Shikai (Photo: WK).

Next came Yuan Shikai. In February 1912, he threatened Puyi, the Qing emperor, to abdicate in order to gain access to the throne. In preparation for his coronation, Yuan Shikai removed the Qing throne in the Taihe Hall and replaced it with his own new dragon throne. In December 1915, Yuan Shikai donned a dragon robe and held a ceremony to worship heaven at the Temple of Heaven in eastern Beijing. In June 1916, he suddenly passed away.

Faced with conflicting opinions about the mysterious curse surrounding the dragon throne, many experts believe that the above-mentioned characters all appeared during times of war, as generals leading rebel movements. In the historical context, they lived in a chaotic, turbulent time, so it was normal for them to die unexpectedly.