In the Forbidden City, there are a total of 308 water vats, of which only 18 are gold-plated.
Those who have visited the Forbidden City will find it quite interesting that there are many large metal vats placed in the courtyards. So, what is their actual purpose? Are they merely decorative items?
The water vats come in different types: gold-plated, bronze, and iron, with various materials reflecting the period of their creation. The iron vats were cast during the Ming Dynasty, while the gold-plated and bronze vats were made during the Qing Dynasty.
Produced in different time periods, the designs of the water vats also show certain changes. For instance, the vats cast during the Ming Dynasty have simple iron rings on both handles, while during the Qing Dynasty, the iron rings were replaced with intricate animal motifs, giving them a luxurious and majestic appearance.
The designs on the water vats changed through the dynasties (Source: Kknews)
Producing gold-plated vats is quite costly, as these vats are made of bronze and then covered with a layer of gold. Historical records indicate that during the Qianlong era, a gold-plated vat with a diameter of 1.66 meters and weighing approximately 1696 kg required at least 1500 taels of silver to create.
Within the Forbidden City, there are a total of 308 vats, with only 18 of them being gold-plated, typically placed on both sides of the main halls, such as the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the Hall of Preserving Harmony, and in front of the red wall outside the Meridian Gate.
Gold-plated vat (Source: Kknews)
The original purpose of these vats was for firefighting. The vats were filled with water, and when a fire broke out, water from the vats would be used to extinguish the flames. It is worth noting that fires in the Forbidden City were common occurrences, making these water vats very important.
So, what happens in winter when the water in the vats freezes?
Every winter, these water vats are “dressed” and carefully covered. Additionally, at the bottom of the vat, there is a “iron base” – a stand shaped like a flower made of iron. Inside the base, a fire is continuously lit to keep the water in liquid form.
In the 1900s, the Eight-Nation Alliance invaded and looted the Forbidden City. The thieves wanted to take the gold-plated bronze vats from the main hall, but because the vats were too heavy to carry away, they resorted to scraping off the gold layer as an act of vandalism. As a result, to this day, visitors can see many knife marks on the gold-plated water vats.
