Forbidden City: History, Design, and Symbolism

Which dynasty chose Beijing as the national capital?

• Song Dynasty

• Yuan Dynasty

• Ming Dynasty

• Qing Dynasty

What does the Chinese word 'Zi' in 'Zijin Cheng' mean?

• Great

• Peace

• Forbidden

• Northern

How long did it take to complete the construction of the Forbidden City?

• 40 years

• 10 years

• 20 years

• 30 years

Which classic text outlined the tenets of Confucian thought that were applied in the design of the Forbidden City?

• The Rites of Zhou

• The Book of Diverse Crafts

• The Analects

• The Art of War

What color was reserved for the exclusive use of the emperor in the Forbidden City?

• Green

• Yellow

• Black

• Red

What does the color green symbolize in the Forbidden City?

• Wood and growth

• Power and honor

• Wealth and happiness

• Virtue and authority

How many rooms are there in the Forbidden City according to popular belief?

• 10,000

• 11,000

• 9,000

• 8,000

What number was considered the greatest single number and reserved for the emperor's exclusive use?

• 7

• 10

• 8

• 9

How many roof ridge statuettes of mythical creatures were used to indicate the importance of the person found within?

• 7

• 8

• 9

• 10

What was the practical reason for giving the emperor's library a black roof?

• To save valuable books from fire

• To represent longevity

• To symbolize authority

• To ward off evil spirits