Definition

Proper noun 1. A walled imperial palace complex in Beijing, China: The Forbidden City was the Chinese imperial palace from the Ming dynasty to the end of the Qing dynasty (1420–1912). It served as the home of emperors, their households, and the ceremonial and political center of Chinese government. It is now a museum and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 2. A term for Lhasa, Tibet: Historically, this name referred to the city of Lhasa, the religious and administrative capital of Tibet, due to its former inaccessibility and sacred status in Tibetan Buddhism (Lamaism).

Usage Examples

• Meaning 1 (Beijing):
  • Tourists from around the world visit the Forbidden City to see its magnificent halls and courtyards.
  • The Forbidden City is a masterpiece of traditional Chinese palatial architecture.
• Meaning 2 (Lhasa):
  • In 19th-century travel writings, explorers often described Lhasa as the Forbidden City.
  • The historical inaccessibility of the Forbidden City of Tibet added to its mystique.

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used metaphorically to describe any place that is very difficult to access or enter, especially one that is secretive or exclusive.
  • The corporate headquarters was like a forbidden city to most employees.

Variants and Related Words

• The Palace Museum: The current official name for the Forbidden City in Beijing, highlighting its function as a museum.
• The Imperial City: A larger, encompassing walled area in historical Beijing that contained the Forbidden City.
• Lhasa: The modern name for the city historically called the Forbidden City in Tibet.

Synonyms

• (For Beijing): Imperial Palace, Gugong (Chinese name: 故宫).
• (For Lhasa): The sacred city, the capital of Tibet.

Notes on Different Meanings

• The primary and most common contemporary use of "Forbidden City" refers to the palace complex in Beijing.
• The use for Lhasa is now largely historical or found in older texts. In modern contexts, specifying "the Forbidden City of Lhasa" or "the Tibetan Forbidden City" may be necessary to avoid confusion with the site in Beijing.

Noun

1. a walled section of Beijing that encloses the palace that was formerly the residence of the emperor of China
2. the sacred city of Lamaism; known as the Forbidden City for its former inaccessibility and hostility to strangers