Secrets of the Forbidden City | Full Documentary | NOVA

Secrets of the Forbidden City | Full Documentary | NOVA | PBS

Рет қаралды 1,331,702

Күн бұрын

Пікірлер: 901

@louisdabest3055 Ай бұрын

Fun fact, the Forbidden City was literally the smallest palace in Chinese history. Some of China's palaces from previous dynasties were 3-7 times bigger than Forbidden city (e.g. just search Daming palace, Weiyang Palace), but they were all burned down by rebels and hostile factions eventually. So technically the Forbidden City is not the largest palace complex built anytime in history. But it is definitely the last remaining Chinese palace complex in the world.

@xuyahfish Ай бұрын

Don't forget the Summer Palace. The YiHe Yuan 颐和园. Though much was constructed for Cixi, it's not all "traditional."

@fantasticandrealchina4200 26 күн бұрын

多学一些知识再来发言吧，沈阳故宫，承德避暑山庄，颐和园都是“皇家宫殿建筑群”。

@never4ever386 13 күн бұрын

No one said it was the smallest palace in Chinese history. It just wasn’t the largest.

@Nib97 12 күн бұрын

Amazing. Thanks for the information 😊

@frank-js9nf Күн бұрын

咸阳宫，阿房宫，大明宫规模也都非常大

@ethelinthewild 5 ай бұрын

I was in awe when I visited Beijing. Forbidden City walls already tells you how great it’s going to be inside, passing thru the massive red gates and its majestic form welcomes you. Truly a fantastic experience, lots of walking because it is indeed very large. Unforgettable.

@luongo7886 3 ай бұрын

The architect of the Great Forbidden City is a VIETNAMESE genius by the name of An Nguyễn. He was a prisoner of war who was captured when he invaded china as part of the Vietnamese Army. To save his life, he built the Great Forbidden City plus important dams and cultural temples for china. The very symbol of the chinese people and china was built by a VIETNAMESE. For more information, please read "The Eunuchs in the Ming Dynasty" by Shih-shan Henry Tsai. Nobody believes chinese FAKE history and LIES. china wants everyone to believe that Taiwan belongs to china since ancient times. False! china has claims to the Nine Dash Line area since ancient times. FALSE! china invented pizza. FALSE! china invented paper, rice agriculture and Far East Asian architecture. All completely FALSE! The Forbidden City was designed by the great VIETNAMESE architect An Nguyễn. He not only built and designed the Forbidden City, but modern day Peking’s layout plus important dams and cultural temples for China as well. Nobody ever heard of any recently MADE UP chinese this person, or that person because most likely, that person NEVER existed! This is well documented in history books, especially chinese ones! There’s NO denying this whatsoever. Without Vietnam, there will be NO Chinese inventions or inventions, since China always loves to LIE about stealing cultures and achievements from other nations, especially from VIETNAM.

@rita2774 3 ай бұрын

@@luongo7886no. One of the greatest wonders of the world is not going to be credited to one man. Lol

@luongo7886 3 ай бұрын

@@rita2774 Too bad for you, the Great Forbidden City would NOT have existed without the great An Nguyễn, a VIETNAMESE architect. Without him, this world famous structure would NOT have existed. Does the Truth hurt your fake pride, little kiddo?

@Luiri61 3 ай бұрын

@@luongo7886 It is true that Ruan'an was born in Jiaozhi (today's Vietnam region), but at that time the Central and South Peninsula, including the current Vietnam region, was actually under the direct jurisdiction of the Ming Dynasty of China, and it was not even a vassal state. And the highest administrator of the Ming dynasty who directly managed Jiaozhi was Zhang Fu. Historically, he had recommended a group of boys with better appearance, castrated and sent to the palace of the Ming Dynasty, and Ruan'an was among this group of boys. Because he was diligent and studious, he was favourably received by the emperor Zhu Di, who allowed him to learn to write and gradually learnt about architecture. History books have described that after decades of study, he finally became proficient in mathematics and architecture, and became an official historian eunuch in the imperial palace. It was only when he was fifty years old that he began to replace Cai Xin, the original designer of the Beijing palace, to build the nine gates of the Beijing citadel and deepen the moat. He received credit for the successful completion of the palace. He was indeed talented, but he was only responsible for part of the construction supervision in the original design plan of the Beijing Palace. It was never possible to rely on the ability of a few people to complete such a large project, and the Beijing Palace was designed only because of the vast experience and technology accumulated in the history of Chinese palace building. In fact, there are many other palace builders like Ruan An, and the reason why Ruan An's deeds are published is not because of his contribution to the construction of the Forbidden City in Beijing. It was only because in 1452, he was ordered to manage a famous water conservancy project of the Ming Dynasty, ‘Zhangqiu River’, and he died on the way, with less than 10 taels of silver, because of his good virtues, so the people and good friends in the court made a poem for him, and also recorded his deeds in stone. --《Yingjian Jiejicheng Poem》 and 《Yingjian Ji》, recorded 500 years ago, were discovered in the 20th century.

@mariarussell603 3 ай бұрын

@tansayno 2 ай бұрын

I visited the Forbidden City and the Great Wall a few weeks ago. All I can say is… amazing!! I seldom get really awestruck by man-made structures. But these two are just one of its kind, literally. Just beautiful.

@Johnnydoenyc Ай бұрын

Most non Chinese view Chinas modern rise as unique and surprising. All they see is the last 100 years or so. That is all they can see based on their short histories. But, the reality is China was always thousands of years ahead of most of the world and has always been a nation of engineering marvels and economic might, with little hiccups of 100 years or so along the way. Those 100 years of lows are now behind China. It will rise for many more centuries to come, judging by its 4000-5000 year long history. Also, most people cannot even fathom a way of thinking different from their own, much less the complete opposite way of thinking. The way these wooden buildings were built is the epitome of that. These Chinese buildings were literally built the opposite way of how the modern/western world thinks of building. Long live Chinese engineering.

@haniahannslew4108 Ай бұрын

It’s absolutely true. I totally agree 👍

@kimpark283 Ай бұрын

A parallel to dat is Cantonese cuisine -- even tastier than Italian or French, but healthy . All the flavor from the later comes from fat. To get mind blowing tasty food without relying on dat and make it healthy simultaneously is a nearly impossible feat.

@sodazman 6 күн бұрын

Very well said

@barrymoore4470 7 ай бұрын

I had seen this years ago when originally aired on television, but it was just as engaging and rewarding to watch it again here. The technological prowess and artistic brilliance of those who came before us never ceases to amaze.

@luongdo8938 Ай бұрын

@GuangGao-qn8oj Ай бұрын

@@luongdo8938 The Palace of forbidden city is basically the same as Nanjing Palace designed by 刘伯温. The chief planners and architects in charge of the construction of the Forbidden City are 陈珪, 蒯祥,吳中. Nguyễn An was taken as tribute to China in his childhood and later became an eunuch in service to the Chinese emperors. He was also trained by his Chinese masters into an architect and assigned some tasks of the whole project like rebuilding some halls in the Forbidden City , strengthening the city walls of Beijing and dredging some rivers. Building the Forbidden City required a lot of manpower, and he was just one of some foreign laborers trained by Chinese. Vietnam has used Chinese characters as its official language for more than 1,100 years. It's ridiculous to claim "chinese culture" or "chinese civilization" were copied and stolen from Vietnamese people.🤣🤣🤣

@mikegao2394 Ай бұрын

@@luongdo8938 I just checked the information about the construction of. Beijing Forbidden Palace. Here is the information. According to UNESCO, the Beijing Forbidden Palace was built between 1406 and 1420. BUT according to historical information, Vietnamese eunuch Nguyen An was born in either 1407 or later. So when the construction of Beijing Forbidden Palace was completed, the Vietnamese eunuch Nguyen An was still a very young boy with around 10 years of age. So claiming Nguyen A designed and built the Beijing Forbidden Palace, vietnam make s themselves and their history textbooks laughing stocks.

@melodylgreen2013 7 ай бұрын

It's a life sized Chinese box puzzle. No screws, nails or brackets, it was made to withstand an earthquake and hold. 🤜🏻 That's it's purpose. Absolutely beautiful ❤️

@LUIS-ox1bv 5 ай бұрын

Chinese, wooden buildings employ bracketing.

@luongo7886 3 ай бұрын

@michaell.445 3 ай бұрын

Wish we could make something like here to live in but they'd take 6 months for each bracket assembly to go through a bunch of building permit inspections. 😖

@夏士莲欧莱雅 2 ай бұрын

@@luongo7886 Don't be funny, Vietnamese people are so ignorant

@mooian 2 ай бұрын

@@luongo7886 An Nguyễn出生时紫禁城已建成大部分别像韩国人一样乱叫

@patricialong5767 7 ай бұрын

The Chinese were especially adept at adapting circumstances to their own advantage, simply amazing!

@helensimmons1869 7 ай бұрын

This is the only thing on my bucket list. I would absolutely positively love to be able to go there just to see the forbidden city. What fantastic! architecture architecture architecture

@Rye_Toast 7 ай бұрын

It's fantastic to see in person, I hope you make it there! You hear about how big it is but you don't really realize the size until you walk through those gates.

@luongo7886 5 ай бұрын

@fuethao8633 5 ай бұрын

@@luongo7886 You're overestimating his involvement just because you're Vietnamese. He worked as a eunuch under the the chief architect Cai Xin. While a Vietnamese man was involved the chief engineers of this project were Kuai Xiang and Lu Xiang and other Chinese people.

@luongo7886 5 ай бұрын

@@fuethao8633 WRONG!!! This VIETNAMESE genius worked ONLY under the Ming emperor. NO ONE ever heard of that Chinese person that you just named, whatever his name is. This is probably ANOTHER cHINESE LIE RECENTLY MADE UP like ALL the other things to make china and chinese look good. Because of VIETNAMESE people like An Nguyễn and MANY THOUSANDS of VIETNAMESE engineers, architects, historians, scholars and learned people, the chinese have “chinese culture” and civilization today. Just look at all the trashy 🚮 🗑️ junk buildings, bridges and products that you chinese build today; they fall apart and KILL PEOPLE ON A DAILY BASIS!!! I am saying this because it is the Truth. And if you are finished by the Truth, then that is your problem, not anyone else problem 😢😭😱

@ikomind5273 2 ай бұрын

U wont be able see at all..last time i go they most place is close to public and when i see the king throne it is super crowd and people push each other to see it up close😂😂

@MrsLovelyPendragon 5 ай бұрын

China’s ancient architecture is so innovative, it’s functional, beautiful and strong! ❤

@kimpark283 Ай бұрын

And so far ahead of Europe's !

@tedbomba6631 7 ай бұрын

Thank you to everyone single person who was involved in bringing us this amazing story of the history of an equally amazing city ! I was especially impressed with how the earthquake tests proved that construction method was, and remains, far superior to almost every other method in the ability to endure the most severe temblor possible to test with the equipment at hand.

@robertwheeler4068 7 ай бұрын

This documentary takes me back to high school, where I had a World History teacher, who was a retired US Army colonel. Many fragments of this triggered memories of his incredible educational motivation! Thank you, and RIP Colonel Scott!🙏

@udiclays 7 ай бұрын

I look forward to new documentaries. Their new uploads are becoming part of my routine

@carlito_148 7 ай бұрын

That's great. Keep it up. Watch those docs girl

@lifevest1 7 ай бұрын

Great for sleep. No ads!

@thomasweatherford5125 7 ай бұрын

Me too!

@davidbrown4271 7 ай бұрын

Where can I find more new docs ?

@davidbrown4271 7 ай бұрын

Originally aired October 2017

@paranoidhumanoid 5 ай бұрын

The most important contribution to their culture was the writing system which has endured relatively unchanged since more than 3,200 years ago. That one literary achievement alone allowed them to record and recall information ensuring the continuation of their thoughts and ideas throughout millennia including the Forbidden City.

@luongdo8938 Ай бұрын

@annilanta9054 Ай бұрын

@@luongdo8938 Stop spamming with the ridiculously false information. Stop fooling yourself. This is really humiliating for u.

@mochiita9938 Ай бұрын

@@luongdo8938 Stop trolling dude. What evidence do you have to say that a vietnamese An Nguyễn was the architect of the Beijing Forbidden Palace? As we all know the Beijing Forbidden Palace was built between 1402-1420. But An Nguyễn was born after 1407. Why do you keep posting such false information everywhere and claiming the Beijing Forbidden Palace built by a vietnamese An Nguyễn?

@mochiita9938 Ай бұрын

@@luongdo8938 Dude. Tell me. Annamese (aka today's vietnam) didn't have writing system until the Han Chinese came to teach them how to write their first ananamese/vietnamese letter in Chinese characters. So how could you say there was no Chinese civilization or culture without annamese/vietnamese?????

@mochiita9938 Ай бұрын

@@luongdo8938 And to these day, vietnam people are still following Chinese culture and economic development very closely so that vientam can imitate and follow and use Chinese culture such as using Chinese lastnames, traditional Chinese medicine, calligraphy, Chinese ancient architectures, Chinese traditional instruments, Chinese language and even imitate how China develope their tourism industry. And why do you keep spreading such false information about vietnam and China?

@brettyma866 4 ай бұрын

The concept that a free-standing column provides greater stability to the structure than a deep-rooted one is counterintuitive. Pure genius.

@AnJean3tte 2 ай бұрын

Yes it makes it able to move ever so slightly about when the earth under it quakes. It is incredible beast strength architecture! Why isn't everything in LA built this way?

@feimao2003 Ай бұрын

中国智慧，但是怕闪电😂现在都装避雷针了

@JDKempton 7 ай бұрын

I so appreciate Nova PBS sharing on KZbin

@yvonneplant9434 3 ай бұрын

Trump's white supremacists horde will dismantle PBS if he wins. Count on it. So let's enjoy this while we still can.

@aaabbb-py5xd 2 ай бұрын

Lol, they don't have a choice because torrents. So Nova PBS mights as well publicize it to bring viewers to their channel.

@jamesnguyen7069 2 ай бұрын

sam. theyre smart like meeh

@tesfaikifle7170 2 ай бұрын

First of:/ civilization did not start in the ( new world) the west. But in the South.you fill the --/ blank.

@aaabbb-py5xd 2 ай бұрын

@@tesfaikifle7170 There's no the west, call it the "free world", that's the fastest way to make the word "free" stink to high heavens

@JOHN----DOE 7 ай бұрын

The historical architecture NOVAs, like this and ones on the Parthenon and Notre Dame, are among the best. Thanks.

@pierrefireball2505 2 ай бұрын

A few years ago I visited the Forbidden City, you can not do so and not be amazed that such marvels are still standing centuries after it was built. They knew so much more than given credit for. Of course, I do understand all the work that was and still needs to be able to preserve such magnificent buildings. It costs a fortune to do so, but when you see the many objects that used to be owned by those former Emperors or Empress, concubines, eunuchs, etc... It is mind-blowing that these treasures are what are left from looting, stealing, priors fires from those eunuchs wishing to hide their despicable crimes.

@lauramcelhiney 2 ай бұрын

Hey 👋

@m_wu 4 күн бұрын

最珍贵华丽，都被英国，法国，意大利，匈牙利，德国等8个国家在100年前抢走了，他们甚至刮走了镶嵌在水缸上的黄金

@qianqiuzhao1321 9 сағат бұрын

10.1 magnitude earthquake, it’s not how strong the buildings rather how flexible the structures to stand such strong earthquakes, the Taoist philosopher application in architecture design. Ancient wisdom of the Chinese people.

@qianqiuzhao1321 9 сағат бұрын

@pierrefireball2505 7 сағат бұрын

@@qianqiuzhao1321 I agree with you, the Chinese are far more aware about earthquakes than many modern countries are, and taking the proper measure about it. I saw some videos on how great their palaces and residences are built to prevent eartrhquakes, they did suffer damages, but nothing so bad that they are destroyed. I am also aware it is not the case about all buildings in China.

@darkwolfe6986 7 ай бұрын

I find it amazing how well the wood has managed to stay intact and preserved after 600 years 😳

@AngkatanNamwaran 3 ай бұрын

With enough care, wooden structures could last for centuries. The paint also helps protect it from the elements.

@jamesnguyen7069 2 ай бұрын

yep. theyre the best

@Indigo518 2 ай бұрын

The Chinese reconstruct the building time to time to preserve it. I've been to Beijing they always work on preserving it. If not it would have been not that beautiful.

@AngkatanNamwaran 2 ай бұрын

@@Indigo518 All buildings would quickly deteriorate without proper maintenance. Look at the abandoned châteaus, mansions and churches in France, Italy and other parts of Europe. They don't look good either.

@Indigo518 2 ай бұрын

@@AngkatanNamwaran yeah, but I'm in china for 2 years, these old construction's didn't attracted me that much cause everywhere same design and same history. That's why I was a little disappointed when I went to Beijing, the construction looks new and the same as the palaces I visited in the province I stayed in.

@vintang1960 7 ай бұрын

In fact, the Forbidden City is not the largest building in Chinese history. The Daming Palace（大明宫） of the Tang Dynasty was 4 to 5 times larger than the Forbidden City.

@quechinguyen8172 7 ай бұрын

You don't get it.

@TL-fe9si 6 ай бұрын

Sadly it was burnt to the ground...

@luongo7886 5 ай бұрын

@LUIS-ox1bv 5 ай бұрын

Correct. Not only the size of the location of the palace, but the buildings themselves.

@aaabbb-py5xd 4 ай бұрын

@luongo7886 Lol, so you're saying that the vietnamese had been the Mexicans for China. Lol, notice how I didn't bother to challenge your fairytale at all. There was no need to. After all, there's nothing in vietnam that can compare, and so I didn't need to challenge the spin you required to conjure up your claims. And even when one does entertain your fantasy, here's an analogy in rebuttal: If the USA were to fall today, there will be people who say that the pride and joy of all American tech is entirely built by the Chinese. Without Chinese electrical engineers, there is no American tech. Now this statement would be infinitely more correct than the makeup you tried to apply to the vietnamese. Worse yet for you, no Chinese would stoop to vietnam's level to make such claims. The Chinese simply don't need to talk like the vietnamese. So thank you for your bedtime stories against China. Of all the vietnamese chest beating, you just admitted to your inferiority complex

@ay-dionne 7 ай бұрын

The dougongs turn the roof into the perfect counterweight, watching the section at 36:00 was like watching that video of the tuned mass dampener in Taipei 101 swinging during the earthquake last month. Crazy engineering from chinese craftsmen, Emperor Yongle should only get so much credit

@ezs855 Ай бұрын

Yongle was the most powerful period of the Ming Dynasty.Admiral Zheng He’s Voyages to the “West Oceans”

@cebuanostud 7 ай бұрын

Now I know why the word "balance" means so much more by the Chinese people in more ways than one.

@haniahannslew4108 Ай бұрын

Yes you got it

@TANHT75 7 ай бұрын

This was awesome to learn about this magnificent structure! Hope I can visit it one day 👍👍👍👍👍

@banlee8357 7 ай бұрын

Wish I know all these information when I visited. Thank you PBS.

@nzmoonlight7602 Ай бұрын

What an Excellent documentary in English! Thank you! I was born in Beijing, lived there 19 years, visited a few times, Still fascinated about it, so proud of the forbidden city.

@markokada7311 7 ай бұрын

So an amazing, stupendous, & even phenomenal imposing edifice of superlatives that is earthquake-resistant built as early as the 15th century! It indeed almost defies imagination & even belief w/o watching this doc.; it did not collapse against the violent jolt of magnitude 10.1. Those ancient brilliant architects, engineers, craftsmen, etc. unequivocally deserve a pat on the back for their ingenious works exceptionally well done. Finally we are able to enjoy & appreciate its entirety w/o being interrupted its continuity by the annoying ads. My heartfelt gratitude to you all concerned in the production. PBS must be undoubtedly the invaluable asset & pride of the USA.,,,,,(05/05/24, Sun)

@markokada7311 6 ай бұрын

So ingenious, innovative designs w/o any use of nails & glue, paying such meticulous attention to its minute detail, it certainly gives me the impression that it seems to go beyond the bounds of possibility any other edifices could arise again & surpass this one, esp. in terms of the seismical durability or resistibility of this imposing palace. So impressive, stupendous, & even phenomenal that it almost defies imagination & even belief unless you witnessed it w/ your own eyes, or am I the only one? Incidentally, Nova PBS must be the invaluable great asset, & pride of the USA w/ no qualms at all! Soundly enjoyed & appreciated it to the core at the opulent comfort of my residence today again,,,(06/16/24)

@jivvyjack7723 Ай бұрын

Not to mention that building massive, technologically complex and sound structures in an extremely short time-frame had always been done by the Chinese, and with basic tools to boot. I had thought it is only a recent phenomenon with modern technology. The Chinese always knew how to innovate to overcome difficulties. They even invented the first lock-system when they built the Grand Canal.

@rachelblair8232 7 ай бұрын

We can learn so much from the past... love nova

@踩点迟到专业户 Ай бұрын

很遺憾的是故宮是中國文獻記錄裡留存至今面積最小的宮殿群，比如2000年前西漢時期的未央宮遺址面積就差不多是故宮的七倍，而在第二次鴉片戰爭（1856--1860）中被英法聯軍焚燒的圓明園面積幾乎有故宮的五倍，如果圓明園沒有被英法聯軍焚燒損毀那麼它將是中國最著名的一張名片❤❤❤

@kermitefrog64 4 ай бұрын

It is great to have NOVA on KZbin. We have lost access to our local PBS because of forest fire. One of the channels finally come back after a month but 3 other PBS channels have not come back yet.

@Bubbaist 7 ай бұрын

I remember visiting a palace in West Sumatra, Indonesia, in which all the wooden pillars were set at a slight angle, and that made it resistant to earthquakes. It’s a replica however, as the original was resistant to earthquakes, but not fires.

@brandenmanuel2037 7 ай бұрын

I’ve been looking for this documentary for years Thanks pbs

@gingercake0907 7 ай бұрын

Wow what a feat. The ingenuity and creativity and the perseverance to build the Forbidden City is amazing. It’s too bad the people who actually built it weren’t allowed inside the city. They couldn’t enjoy what their sacrifices built.

@luongdo8938 Ай бұрын

@GuangGao-qn8oj Ай бұрын

@kennykhoo1689 5 күн бұрын

@@luongdo8938 omg..you again...An Nguyễn must be rolling knowing you are spewing nonsense here. Think without you, Vietnam would be better off rather than getting ridiculed for false info.

@Heru2088 2 ай бұрын

This is Great Documentary on The Forbidden City China 🇨🇳,👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾🌹🌹🌹👑💎🌟💯., A Great Masterpiece of Design of City at Time, especially Today How The Great City Last and, Surviving a Several Centuries God Bless China 🇨🇳. Certainly, very impressed with There knowledge of Building. 🤔🌹🌹💯💎

@ronobrien7187 5 ай бұрын

The weight of the roof is like a mass tuned damper used in modern skyscrapers to counter wind and seismic events.

@WendyInCollingwood 4 ай бұрын

🇨🇦👋 Spectacular Ambition, Engineering, Craftsmanship 🙌 Thank You, Very Much, For This Most Enthralling Historical Documentary 🌟

@chantaln6843 6 ай бұрын

Excellent documentary. Very impressive technical skills… working WITH the rythme of nature.😊

@MrFfrenchh 6 ай бұрын

Im impressed with how the timber can take all that tensile stress without nails or glue with all the vertical load on top as well.

@dannil9106 7 ай бұрын

What a well written documentary!!!! 10/10 ❤

@luongdo8938 3 ай бұрын

Too bad it did not mention that it was designed and built by a VIETNAMESE architect, An Nguyễn. An Nguyễn was a prisoner of war who was captured when he INVADED AND ATTACKED china as part of the Vietnamese Army. So he was NOT a little child when he came to china and he did NOT learn about chinese architecture because there is NOTHING to learn. Without An Nguyễn, the Forbidden City would not be as great as it is today. He also built many important dams, cultural temples plus laid out the foundation for modern day Peking, the chinese capital. Without Vietnam, there would be NO "chinese culture" or "chinese civilization." No one needs to apologize for telling the Truth. If the Truth hurts your false chinese pride, that's YOUR problem, not ours.

@skraskraa._.5371 2 ай бұрын

@@luongdo8938 False information, the chief architect of Forbidden City was 蒯祥(Kuai xiang) who is 100% Chinese. Use your brain, how can a country far less developed than China be allowed to design the most esteemed spot of land in the Chinese empire? Nearly all the architecture, art, writing and civilised things that exist in Vietnam were copied from China, the rest were copied from France.

@luongdo8938 2 ай бұрын

@@skraskraa._.5371 kuai xinga who? Nobody ever heard of this person because he is probably another made up lie by chinese racists. The ancient and advanced cultures of the 100 Baiyuet or Bách Việt nations that existed south of the Yangtze River were as great as those of Mesopotamia, Greece and Egypt. The han chinese were this time still nomadic like their Mongol, Manchu and Turkic cousins. It was only when the han chinese nomads invaded and came into contact with the much more superior Bách Việt nations that they learned about agriculture, homes, animal domestication and culture. So of course the Bách Việt peoples taught the han chinese nomads about civilization. And it's no wonder that the Forbidden City, the very symbol of the chinese, was designed and built by An Nguyễn, a Vietnamese architect. He also built many important dams, cultural temples plus laid out the foundation for modern day Peking, the chinese capital. Without Vietnam, there would be NO "chinese culture" or "chinese civilization." No one needs to apologize for telling the Truth. If the Truth hurts your false chinese pride, that's YOUR problem, not ours.

@jsyo9639 Ай бұрын

@@luongdo8938nice bs for toilets

@Diasdeverano 3 ай бұрын

Muy buenos subtítulos. Gracias por tan buenísima información. Muy interesante. Gran trabajo de los artesanos chinos.

@tammycox9789 7 ай бұрын

This is just mind blowing

@hermeslimkin8906 2 ай бұрын

Been there five times, different seasons, three to fours hours each time. Probably only covered a fraction of it. Can’t get enough really.

@ZayyanMahshaf 5 ай бұрын

The kindness in these comments is overwhelming. Thank you all!

@angelitabecerra 7 ай бұрын

Thing is, this isn't the biggest palace they ever built, that would be the Daming Palace which is 3.5x the size of the Forbidden City

@larryparis925 7 ай бұрын

Citations? It's easy to make claims. But what are your sources of information?

@joshuaharper372 7 ай бұрын

It was the Tang dynasty palace in Chang'an, if I remember correctly.

@joshuaharper372 7 ай бұрын

The size comparison is given on the Wikipedia page, and includes the courtyards and garden complexes. en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daming_Palace

@quechinguyen8172 7 ай бұрын

It's not about the size.

@jameslee4830 5 ай бұрын

Love this PBS NOVA documentary. For those who are interested, another equally wonderful documentary about the Daming Palace from 10 years ago…. kzbin.info/www/bejne/iaC2eqONl9aGbJIsi=lHgfs1uIzQr5kMAL

@dennisbashore7626 7 ай бұрын

Phenomenal!!!…….from the subject to the presentation of the program. 🤙🤜🤛

@marileebigelow6517 5 ай бұрын

I am so thankful I got to go there! Many thanks to my teacher, Arelene Wolinski who made it happen! Thank you Arelene!

@yankj7647 Ай бұрын

The Forbidden City is a Masterpiece of Human Creative Genius, with a Richter scale of 10.1 that is impossible to collapse, the Highest-grade materials and the Highest-grade Feng Shui.

@luongdo8938 Ай бұрын

The architect who designed the Forbidden City was An Nguyễn, a Vietnamese soldier who was captured when the Vietnamese Army invaded china. Because of this great Vietnamese gifted man, the Forbidden City was built which became the very symbol of china and chinese. He also built many important dams and cultural temples for china. He also designed the layout for modern day Peking, the chinese capital. Without Vietnam, there would be no "chinese culture" or "chinese civilization" as both were copied and stolen from Vietnamese people. For more information about An Nguyễn, you can read the excellent book, The Eunuchs in the Ming Dynasty by Tsai, Shih-shan Henry (1996). @annilanta9054 Stop spamming everywhere with your ignorance. Stop showing off your ignorance because this is really humiliating for you that you don't know that china has been copying and stealing culture, civilization and inventions from Vietnam, India, and others. @haniahannslew4108 Vietnam successfully defeated the han chinese in the Great 1,000 Year War so northern Vietnam never belonged to china. So according to your delusional logic, china belongs to Mongolia, Manchuria, Japan, America, Great Britain, France, Russia, Italy, Holland, Portugal, Germany, Austria-Hungary because they invaded china, too? Vietnam, like so many other nations, changed our names from Au Lac, Giao Chi, Dai Viet, etc...but we are always Vietnamese. @haniahannslew4108 An Nguyễn was born in 1381. Can you do the Math to see that this great Vietnamese man was only 26 years old when he designed the Forbidden City, the very symbol of china and the chinese? He also designed the layout for modern day Peking, china's capital, plus many important cultural temples and important dams. If you don't know your own history, then it's your problem, not ours. Without Vietnam and Vietnamese people, there would not be any "chinese culture" or "chinese civilization." And thank you so much for lying that the book "The Eunuchs in the Ming Dynasty" said nothing about An Nguyễn because it has a whole chapter about this great Vietnamese man. @haniahannslew4108 Stop being so ignorant about An Nguyễn and thousands of other Vietnamese contributing to "chinese culture" and "chinese civilization" because without Vietnam, there would be neither. Too funny that chinese believe their own cheap lies and propaganda. @haniahannslew4108 I don't care what losers like the French (and chinese) have to say about Vietnam because we beat all our enemies. But I do care about what the Japanese, Mongolians, Americans, British, French, Germans, Italians, Russians, Manchurians, Dutch, Austrians, Hungarians and others say when they wrote that chinese are the most cowardly losers in the world. Tiananmen Square Massacre Falun Gong persecutions

@haniahannslew4108 Ай бұрын

@@luongdo8938 BOT. STOP TROLLING. I just checked the information about the construction of. Beijing Forbidden Palace. Here is the information. According to UNESCO, the Beijing Forbidden Palace was built between 1406 and 1420. BUT according to historical information, Vietnamese eunuch Nguyen An was born in either 1407 or later. So when the construction of Beijing Forbidden Palace was completed, the Vietnamese eunuch Nguyen An was still a very young boy with around 10 years of age. So claiming the young Vietnamese boy Nguyen A designed and built the Beijing Forbidden Palace, vietnam people make themselves and their history textbooks laughing stocks. That is how Vietnamese history textbooks distort all facts and are written with full of fake and illogical information to ingrain incorrect information into its people. Lol

@haniahannslew4108 Ай бұрын

@@luongdo8938 Northern Vietnam used to be a part of China. Then those separatists took away China’s southern territory. There was no country named “Vietnam “ existed before. Qing emperor gave the name “Vietnam”. Saying that China invaded Vietnam is the funniest joke. 😂

@haniahannslew4108 Ай бұрын

@@luongdo8938 How old was the Vietnamese boy Nguyen An when he designed the Beijing Forbidden Palace? When was he born? Book The Eunuchs in the Ming Dynasty said nothing about the Vietnamese boy Nguyen an designed the forbidden palace. Too funny 😂

@haniahannslew4108 Ай бұрын

@@luongdo8938 Stop claiming things that don’t belong to Vietnam. Too funny 😂

@AnJean3tte 2 ай бұрын

❤ The secret of its longevity is the brilliance or genius rather of its engineering and architecture!

@oobrocks 7 ай бұрын

Yes I was there in 2004; so many buildings! 🎉❤

@pquach00 7 ай бұрын

Incredible engineering!

@ziggystardust1751 2 ай бұрын

Incredible story.I loved it! Thanks YT and Nova.😮

@lesliedavidson9027 7 ай бұрын

I love the narrator's voice ❤!

@quechinguyen8172 7 ай бұрын

and the music too

@gypsylake5164 2 ай бұрын

Truly spectacular and magnificent. It is said that before all the cars and modern smog Beging was truly a beautiful city to visit with the cherry tree blossoms and everything was so spotlessly clean. A really beautiful experience. I had friends parents who went for a month and traveled around China and said they had a fantastic time.

@kimpark283 Ай бұрын

Mostly electric vehicles now, so much less smog ,heat and noise

@haniahannslew4108 Ай бұрын

I just checked the information about the construction of. Beijing Forbidden Palace. Here is the information. According to UNESCO, the Beijing Forbidden Palace was built between 1406 and 1420. BUT according to historical information, Vietnamese eunuch Nguyen An was born in either 1407 or later. So when the construction of Beijing Forbidden Palace was completed, the Vietnamese eunuch Nguyen An was still a very young boy with around 10 years of age. So claiming the young Vietnamese boy Nguyen A designed and built the Beijing Forbidden Palace, vietnam people make themselves and their history textbooks laughing stocks. That is how Vietnamese history textbooks distort all facts and are written with full of fake and illogical information to ingrain incorrect information into its people. LOL 😂

@xuyahfish Ай бұрын

Chinese were the best record keepers of any society in history. Even with 2 centuries of war & chaos, I'm sure there are many clear records with exact details of materials.

@jenniferaddison3829 7 ай бұрын

On my bucket list!

@Girl_of_Adventure 5 ай бұрын

Well, this video was wonderful, and stuff. BUT….. china would have still had many of its artifacts if not for Europe, (no offense, just speaking in defense for my country) Europe had invaded china and taken many artifacts. Many European artifacts you see today are actually from china, England also has many of china’s artifacts too. So it’s unfair. Those artifacts were important to China. Comment agree if you agree with me or leave a like, comment disagree if you don’t agree.

@manuelmora3225 Ай бұрын

What they tell you about about de carácter. Of Chinese people. Is how they can still have any contact with the Europeans that destroy the beautiful city most of all where the Pirates and the Cowboys. They are marvellous people. Not involved en wars. But in improving the lives of the rest of the world.

@LSmango 12 күн бұрын

China still owns all of the artifacts only europe might have a fraction of each country around the world.

@ALWH1314 4 ай бұрын

Each of these wood columns costs more than 10 million dollars in today’s value. Grand canal was built way before Ming dynasty in Shuy dynasty in 581/619 AD.

@johnjohnson-io1os 3 ай бұрын

Wow my mind is blown. You might not agree with the Chinese Government but none can deny the greatness of the Chinese culture , history and people > If you are into woodworking learn how to make an all wood structures using ancient Chinese method . That bracket is amazing 300o years old? China is an Allstar of Humanity . I hope the bullying stops on both sides . China on the Moon in 2029 fact .

@luongdo8938 Ай бұрын

@GuangGao-qn8oj Ай бұрын

@@luongdo8938 The Palace of forbidden city is basically the same as Nanjing Palace designed by 刘伯温. The chief planners in charge of the construction of the Forbidden City are 陈珪, 蒯祥,吳中. Nguyễn An was taken as tribute to China in his childhood and later became an eunuch in service to the Chinese emperors. He was also trained by his Chinese masters into an architect and assigned some tasks of the whole project like rebuilding some halls in the Forbidden City , strengthening the city walls of Beijing and dredging some rivers. Building the Forbidden City required a lot of manpower, and he was just one of the many foreign workers. Vietnam has used Chinese characters as its official language for more than 1,100 years. It's ridiculous to claim "chinese culture" or "chinese civilization" were copied and stolen from Vietnamese people.🤣🤣🤣

@GuangGao-qn8oj Ай бұрын

@@luongdo8938 The Palace of forbidden city is basically the same as Nanjing Palace designed by 刘伯温. The chief planners and architects in charge of the construction of the Forbidden City are 陈珪, 蒯祥,吳中. Nguyễn An was taken as tribute to China in his childhood and later became an eunuch in service to the Chinese emperors. He was also trained by his Chinese masters into an architect and assigned some tasks of the whole project like rebuilding some halls in the Forbidden City , strengthening the city walls of Beijing and dredging some rivers. Building the Forbidden City required a lot of manpower, and he was just one of some foreign laborers trained by Chinese. Vietnam has used Chinese characters as its official language for more than 1,100 years. It's ridiculous to claim "chinese civilization" was copied and stolen from Vietnamese people. 🤣🤣🤣

@andoven1532 26 күн бұрын

@@luongdo8938 I used to think that only Koreans would steal Chinese culture, but it turns out that Vietnamese people do the same thing.😅

@shinramx 2 ай бұрын

China engineering is something out from this world, even in modern standart right now it is quite hard and almost impossible to replicate that engineering marvel date in 1400 years back.

@Haohao-q2v 26 күн бұрын

We still have no idea how the people in the past built the Great Wall. Totally amazing! Been there when I was 8, wish to visit again!

@daveburrows9876 Ай бұрын

This was just a fabulous presentation.

@helenk5579 4 ай бұрын

Excellent program! Amazing Chinese skills and planning!!

@pierheadjump 7 ай бұрын

⚓️ Thanks PBS 🌈

@Zoecatsplants 7 ай бұрын

Reading rainbow!? Lemar!?

@broakland2 4 ай бұрын

Earthquake proof building is amazing!

@karljunge Ай бұрын

nova everytime! so magnificent a presentation.

@TheGohbomba 3 ай бұрын

I have been visiting forbidden city in 2003 at that time i am abit nervous cos for the first time in my life visiting beautiful palace during end of winter i am a bit not happy of the cold weather yet i finish the tour till great wall and Xian too only i missed tera cotta armies’s place , i am happy now that i have been even leaving the ideas of cold weather , thank you for your video

@Marianne-k4u 2 ай бұрын

A very interesting program. We can learn a lot from this. If I ever get to see this marvel of a city, my main interest would be the private recidences, as I'm more interested to see how daily life was lived than imposing halls and squares.

@8ballphil150 2 ай бұрын

It can still stand a 10.1 earthquake . The experts say a 10 is impossible to occur . Incredible engineering . Fire is the killer though .

@yangwang4397 4 ай бұрын

Truly amazing architecture design! Great documentary movie❤

@ShihweiChapmanU 6 ай бұрын

Ming was the last true Han culture that has parts of it survived in Japan and Korea. It is such a shame that it is only a shadow of its former self after the Qing rule.

@LUIS-ox1bv 5 ай бұрын

I somehow, share the very same sentiment. Many western and Japanese scholars and experts in Chinese culture and history had difficulty assigning the greatness of ancient China to what they encountered in Ch'ing or early 20th century China.

@Xenite 2 ай бұрын

I was a bit skeptical at first, but that was incredible! I loved the ending.

@kathyjaneburke2798 7 ай бұрын

That was awesome!

@anitakubiak9573 Ай бұрын

I recomend to visit city if you have opportunity! It was amzing day for me. Those rooms with ancient furniure covered off layers of dust 😍

@ThatOpalGuy 7 ай бұрын

Who doesn't love NOVA?

@LoriSuddath 4 ай бұрын

Oh my God I found the forbidden City so fascinating and the way they ran that forbidden city

@KeiPalace 7 ай бұрын

There were other palace complexes in Chinese history and two were even larger than the current forbidden city. One was in ChangAn.

@LUIS-ox1bv 5 ай бұрын

The other large palace was Wei Wang Palace during the Han Dynasty. This was a massive complex with corridors.

@-----REDACTED----- 2 ай бұрын

Daming Palace

@2Jaguarmk Ай бұрын

Just one word: AWESOME !! 💟

@flanthief 7 ай бұрын

I remember seeing this documentary in school. When I went to the forbidden city in 2019 I tried to ask about some of the things I saw in this documentary to the tour guide. Maybe they weren't as well informed about the technical stuff because they would just dismiss everything I said as false. I still don't understand why

@KeiPalace 7 ай бұрын

Maybe not the right guide. As someone who is a guide at an historic site some people have specialist knowledge in certain areas such as weapons, textiles or architecture. Also you only have so long on a tour you have to get the next group.

@caroleappling2007 6 ай бұрын

They also downplay events and accomplishments from the imperial pass. Do to communism, that do want to make those days seem grand. This is my take from the guide we had when I visited.

@luongo7886 5 ай бұрын

@SiriusGoddess555 4 ай бұрын

They probably don’t like foreigner outsmart them.

@xodiac2020 2 ай бұрын

@@luongo7886 🤣🤣🤣

@GiorniVenibato 4 ай бұрын

Simply marvelous!❤

@Classofherown 7 ай бұрын

Beautiful 😍

@sheilavives1137 4 ай бұрын

Fascinating.Great workmanship.

@BobGeogeo 7 ай бұрын

Paper was widely used in the west in the early 1400s. What were manuscripts written on when they weren't on vellum? Venice in particular had a large rag paper industry which would help it become a printing powerhouse starting around 1470. Maybe the prof was speaking at 7:55 in terms of what China believed at the time or developed on its own.

@angelitabecerra 7 ай бұрын

China developed paper, long before Western civilizations ever did back in 105 AD. So that would be around 1300 years before the West

@ay-dionne 7 ай бұрын

They mean in terms of how modern paper is made to this day, from wood pulp. China was the first to develop wood pulp paper.

@lunlunqq 7 ай бұрын

They talking about the emperor enjoyed the legacy of paper at his time. The invention of paper in China dated back to the Han dynasty at around 105 AD, some 1,300 years before emperor Tingle’s time.

@littlesame 6 ай бұрын

Paper was from Han dynasty likely around 106 AD

@bloom292 2 ай бұрын

Awesome presentation I loved it

@avadakedavra80 6 ай бұрын

I am in TOTAL AWE. 😮

@trubz2096 4 ай бұрын

Love being Asian! Most beautiful culture and tradition ever.

@ThatOpalGuy 7 ай бұрын

It looks as if the dogongs turn the roof into a kind of mass dampener that reduces the motion of the roof structure.

@paulvamos7319 2 ай бұрын

Thank you! 😊

@Scott-et4kd 6 ай бұрын

Why are the structures called "a mystery" when they're easily explained by simple examination, requiring no special instruments?

@snowyy.5275 4 ай бұрын

Just classic Asian exoticism and spirituality. The architecture, mathematics, and engineering is well documented by the people who built it. Western narratives of China and Asia as a whole are usually pretty at odds with the actual technological mastery/ modernity narrative

@AlisVolatPropiis 3 ай бұрын

Thanks to PBS for sharing this amazing documentary. It would be easier to watch if the Chinese subtitles didn’t flash on the screen so briefly like it was some kind of subliminal message. I guess the Chinese subtitles were translated by someone who is not familiar with the Forbidden City as the building names were not accurate. Edited to add that 5:53 earthquake faults was translated as “mistakes”.

@nonino1644 6 ай бұрын

On its on the Forbidden City is not impressive. The people that used to inhabit those grounds make the palace interesting. Just imagine all the people in their different robes and beauty aesthetics.

@nessa71034 2 ай бұрын

Fascinating, thank you ❤

@ThomasBarsegian-co3du 7 ай бұрын

Daiming palace was over 3 times bigger in TANG Chang-an, today's Xi-an 💪🇨🇳👍🇨🇳

@shanadrakkissa 18 күн бұрын

Absolutely beautiful 💯

@cleve21ful Ай бұрын

I heard China's more ancient capital Xi'an (Chang 'An) was even bigger than the forbidden city!

@GuangGao-qn8oj Ай бұрын

Xi'an is a city but the Forbiden City is actually an imperial palace! How can we compare two things that are not of the same kind?

@hebaalamri7815 Ай бұрын

As Architect Thank you so much for this masterpiece

@pass3d Күн бұрын

有机会了可以去山西省看看古建筑，不少上千年的古建筑。

@rollinwithunclepete824 7 ай бұрын

The roof acts as a tuned-mass dampener.

@JaniceWithTheTarlovCysts 2 ай бұрын

I hope to see this marvel in person next year 🤞🏼

@lauramcelhiney 2 ай бұрын

Janice

@GenuinelyCurious120 7 ай бұрын

Better start learning folks, these are our overlords.

@kamwaichan8048 2 ай бұрын

Once again, it is all about the infrastructure of China. Excellent 👏👏👏👏👏🇨🇳🇨🇳🇨🇳🇨🇳🇨🇳

@Jinni_SD 7 ай бұрын

it bother anyone else this narration keeps calling the design "ancient" when it was built in the 1400s? Like. 1400 ad is not ancient. 1400 bc is.

@fishsalted3560 7 ай бұрын

1400 is almost 200 years earlier than the Mayflower arrived in America,for some westerner(US) it is absolutely "ancient".

@Jinni_SD 7 ай бұрын

@@fishsalted3560 considering the long history of Vikings in America as well as the Spanish in the Caribbean and Florida, the mayflower is a pretty late addition to the party. Hell, Jamestown was already an established colony by then.

@snowyy.5275 4 ай бұрын

Yeah, it be would be Post-Classical history