If you want to know why ancient emperors’ bedrooms were so cramped, read the article below.
Owning a large, spacious house is a dream for many, but ancient people believed that bigger is not always better, especially when it comes to bedrooms.
Emperors of China’s feudal dynasties were regarded as the supreme beings in the realm, living in unparalleled luxury like the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties in the Forbidden City, known as the largest wooden royal palace in the world.
However, those who have visited the Forbidden City (the current name for the Forbidden City) may discover that the emperor’s bedroom often did not exceed 10 square meters. Why is it that this ruler, who lived in extravagance in many aspects, had such a “modest” bedroom?
The reason stems from an ancient Chinese feng shui theory. There is an old saying: “A large bedroom with few inhabitants is a bedroom of great misfortune.” An excessively large bedroom will draw away a person’s vital energy. The occupant must expend a lot of energy to fill the space. Therefore, the larger the room, the greater the physical toll. When energy is depleted, one’s health suffers, leading to a tired appearance, reduced cognitive ability, and increased chances of making mistakes.
The emperor’s bedroom and bed are both very small.
Additionally, it was believed that a bedroom that is too spacious would hinder the couple from having children. People thought that each bedroom should only be between 15-20 square meters. Sleeping in a room larger than 20 square meters would make it difficult for couples to conceive since they would expend too much energy to fill the space, leading to a decline in health and fertility. However, this is merely a folk belief, and there is no scientific research to support this claim.
“The Dragon Bed” (the bed of emperors) is actually not much larger than a commoner’s bed. When the emperor slept, he would draw two layers of curtains on either side.
Experts studying the Forbidden City point out that Beijing is located in a humid continental climate, influenced by monsoons. Summers are hot and humid, while winters are cold with snow and dryness. Spring often faces sandstorms from the Mongolian steppes. In that era, there were no modern devices to mitigate weather effects. Therefore, the design of the emperor’s bedroom needed to ensure warmth and protection against sandstorms. The bedroom was surrounded by thick walls, and the courtyard was also enclosed.
Moreover, both the roof and walls were very thick. This helped retain heat in winter while minimizing the impact of summer heat.
These are the reasons why emperors’ bedrooms were often quite small. This design ensured warmth in winter and coolness in summer while satisfying feng shui principles to help the emperor maintain good health and pursue longevity.
Furthermore, a small bedroom was very advantageous for guarding and ensuring the emperor’s safety at all times. A larger bedroom would complicate the movement of soldiers for timely support and could even provide hiding spots for assassins attempting to kill the emperor.
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