Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture ProCon Money Videos
Wu Gate
References
Images
central Beijing map
Britannica AI Icon

Wu Gate

architectural structure, Beijing, China
Also known as: Meridian Gate, Wu men
Written by
The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

The Information Architects maintain a master list of the topics included in the corpus of  Encyclopædia Britannica, and create and manage the relationships between them.
The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Last updated

Quick Summary

central Beijing map
central Beijing map Central Beijing.

The Wu (Meridian) Gate is the imposing southern entrance to the Forbidden City in Beijing, China. Commissioned in 1406 by the Yongle emperor of the Ming dynasty, the Forbidden City served as the imperial palace complex for centuries. The Wu Gate's auxiliary wings extend outwards, resembling a guardian lion or sphinx. Standing 125 feet (38 meters) high, it was a significant backdrop for imperial appearances and proclamations. Beyond this gate, a large courtyard leads to the Gate of Supreme Harmony, marking the entrance to the Outer Court, the ceremonial heart of the Forbidden City. The architecture strictly follows the principles of feng shui, with buildings and spaces arranged to emphasize imperial power.1

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
2 Britannica Sources
  1. Forbidden City
  2. Beijing - Public and commercial buildings

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.