Detail on the Vat
The Hall of Supreme Harmony is huge, it is huge and it is in the way. There is no way to go through the hall itself since it is closed. The only way onward is to go around it. Fortunately, there are still some interesting things to see along the way. In particular there were these huge copper and iron vats on both sides of the Hall of Supreme Harmony. These vats were significant fire fighting equipment, they are normally filled with water to help douse fires. In the colder months, they might be heated to prevent them from freezing.
Copper and Iron Vats Outside the Hall of Supreme Harmony 太和殿
It is also an example of the differences of Ming and Qing designs. The Ming vats had simple rings on both side of the vat, while the Qing vats had beasts on each side. Some of the vats are also lined with gold! And they’re just fire fighting equipment! Such is the opulence that pervaded the life of these emperors. There were more than 300 vats in the Forbidden City, fortunately, these vats were cordoned off, if not, people like mewould have wanted a nick of that golden vat.
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