All language subtitles for Unearthed.(2016).S04E04.Secrets.of.the.Forbidden.City.1080p.AMZN.WEB-DL.DD+2.0.H.264-Cinefeel_track3_[eng]

af Afrikaans
ak Akan
sq Albanian
am Amharic
ar Arabic
hy Armenian
az Azerbaijani
eu Basque
be Belarusian
bem Bemba
bn Bengali
bh Bihari
bs Bosnian
br Breton
bg Bulgarian
km Cambodian
ca Catalan
ceb Cebuano
chr Cherokee
ny Chichewa
zh-CN Chinese (Simplified)
zh-TW Chinese (Traditional)
co Corsican
hr Croatian
cs Czech
da Danish
nl Dutch
en English
eo Esperanto
et Estonian
ee Ewe
fo Faroese
tl Filipino
fi Finnish
fr French
fy Frisian
gaa Ga
gl Galician
ka Georgian
de German
gn Guarani
gu Gujarati
ht Haitian Creole
ha Hausa
haw Hawaiian
iw Hebrew
hi Hindi
hmn Hmong
hu Hungarian
is Icelandic
ig Igbo
id Indonesian
ia Interlingua
ga Irish
it Italian
ja Japanese
jw Javanese
kn Kannada
kk Kazakh
rw Kinyarwanda
rn Kirundi
kg Kongo
ko Korean
kri Krio (Sierra Leone)
ku Kurdish
ckb Kurdish (Soranî)
ky Kyrgyz
lo Laothian
la Latin
lv Latvian
ln Lingala
lt Lithuanian
loz Lozi
lg Luganda
ach Luo
lb Luxembourgish
mk Macedonian
mg Malagasy
ms Malay
ml Malayalam
mt Maltese
mi Maori
mr Marathi
mfe Mauritian Creole
mo Moldavian
mn Mongolian
my Myanmar (Burmese)
sr-ME Montenegrin
ne Nepali
pcm Nigerian Pidgin
nso Northern Sotho
no Norwegian
nn Norwegian (Nynorsk)
oc Occitan
or Oriya
om Oromo
ps Pashto
fa Persian
pl Polish
pt-BR Portuguese (Brazil)
pt Portuguese (Portugal)
pa Punjabi
qu Quechua
ro Romanian
rm Romansh
nyn Runyakitara
ru Russian
sm Samoan
gd Scots Gaelic
sr Serbian
sh Serbo-Croatian
st Sesotho
tn Setswana
crs Seychellois Creole
sn Shona
sd Sindhi
si Sinhalese
sk Slovak
sl Slovenian
so Somali
es Spanish
es-419 Spanish (Latin American)
su Sundanese
sw Swahili
sv Swedish
tg Tajik
ta Tamil
tt Tatar
te Telugu
th Thai
ti Tigrinya
to Tonga
lua Tshiluba
tum Tumbuka
tr Turkish
tk Turkmen
tw Twi
ug Uighur
uk Ukrainian
ur Urdu
uz Uzbek
vi Vietnamese
cy Welsh
wo Wolof
xh Xhosa
yi Yiddish
yo Yoruba
zu Zulu
Would you like to inspect the original subtitles? These are the user uploaded subtitles that are being translated: 1 00:00:02,689 --> 00:00:06,551 Narrator: The forbidden city in beijing -- 2 00:00:06,586 --> 00:00:10,448 The biggest palace complex The world has ever seen, 3 00:00:10,482 --> 00:00:13,241 Built by a tyrannical Emperor. 4 00:00:13,275 --> 00:00:16,137 It's an entire city Within a city. 5 00:00:16,172 --> 00:00:17,965 But why is it so vast? 6 00:00:18,000 --> 00:00:22,413 The sheer scale of this palace Is absolutely staggering. 7 00:00:22,448 --> 00:00:24,206 Narrator: for centuries, The forbidden city 8 00:00:24,241 --> 00:00:26,241 Was shut off to the world. 9 00:00:26,275 --> 00:00:29,482 Now for the first time, Archeologists are uncovering 10 00:00:29,517 --> 00:00:31,931 Its buried treasures. 11 00:00:31,965 --> 00:00:34,551 They're using Ingenious technology 12 00:00:34,586 --> 00:00:38,000 To open up hidden corners that No one was ever meant to see. 13 00:00:45,448 --> 00:00:47,620 Did this palace bring china 14 00:00:47,655 --> 00:00:50,448 Into a golden age Of imperial rule? 15 00:00:53,482 --> 00:00:55,758 To solve these mysteries, 16 00:00:55,793 --> 00:01:00,758 We will unlock the secrets of This incredible construction. 17 00:01:00,793 --> 00:01:03,172 Diving deep into Its foundations, 18 00:01:03,206 --> 00:01:08,068 We'll uncover staggering Feats of engineering 19 00:01:08,103 --> 00:01:12,172 And reveal what made The forbidden city 20 00:01:12,206 --> 00:01:14,448 The greatest palace on earth. 21 00:01:16,862 --> 00:01:19,827 --captions by vitac-- Www.Vitac.Com 22 00:01:19,862 --> 00:01:22,137 Captions paid for by Discovery communications 23 00:01:22,172 --> 00:01:25,655 China, the land of Ancient dynasties, 24 00:01:25,689 --> 00:01:27,827 Ruled over for 500 years 25 00:01:27,862 --> 00:01:32,137 From one remarkable Super structure -- 26 00:01:32,172 --> 00:01:35,482 The forbidden city in beijing. 27 00:01:35,517 --> 00:01:36,965 The forbidden city is huge. 28 00:01:37,000 --> 00:01:39,827 It's the largest palatial Complex in the world, 29 00:01:39,862 --> 00:01:43,241 And it's contained within This perimeter wall. 30 00:01:45,965 --> 00:01:47,758 Narrator: This mega palace is the size 31 00:01:47,793 --> 00:01:52,448 Of 135 football fields. 32 00:01:52,482 --> 00:01:56,034 It was the magnificent Home of china's emperors. 33 00:01:56,068 --> 00:01:59,413 Now archeologists armed With the latest technology 34 00:01:59,448 --> 00:02:03,758 Are finally exposing Its secrets. 35 00:02:03,793 --> 00:02:05,758 They're discovering The incredible story 36 00:02:05,793 --> 00:02:07,862 Of the forbidden City's construction 37 00:02:07,896 --> 00:02:10,724 And unveiling one of the Most mysterious places 38 00:02:10,758 --> 00:02:14,000 On the planet. 39 00:02:14,034 --> 00:02:16,413 Locked away from The eyes of the world, 40 00:02:16,448 --> 00:02:20,655 Behind 30-foot-high walls Stands an immense complex 41 00:02:20,689 --> 00:02:23,758 Of 900 buildings. 42 00:02:23,793 --> 00:02:27,275 At the center are Three grand halls, 43 00:02:27,310 --> 00:02:30,482 The ceremonial Heart of the city. 44 00:02:30,517 --> 00:02:33,758 Each one is An architectural masterpiece. 45 00:02:33,793 --> 00:02:35,206 Deeper into the heart Of the city 46 00:02:35,241 --> 00:02:38,413 Lies the exclusive inner court, 47 00:02:38,448 --> 00:02:41,413 The home of the emperor. 48 00:02:41,448 --> 00:02:47,206 This vast palatial compound Sprawls over 180 acres, 49 00:02:47,241 --> 00:02:49,448 Making it the largest Ever constructed. 50 00:02:49,482 --> 00:02:52,172 Why did china's emperors Need such a huge 51 00:02:52,206 --> 00:02:54,068 And impenetrable residence? 52 00:02:54,103 --> 00:02:58,275 Did it help them Hold on to power? 53 00:02:58,310 --> 00:03:01,000 Historian william lindesay Thinks the first clue 54 00:03:01,034 --> 00:03:02,965 Lies with the man who built it, 55 00:03:03,000 --> 00:03:06,448 One of china's greatest And most notorious rulers, 56 00:03:06,482 --> 00:03:12,068 An emperor called yongle Of the ming dynasty. 57 00:03:12,103 --> 00:03:17,206 Yongle started construction On the forbidden city in 1407. 58 00:03:17,241 --> 00:03:19,413 He intended it to be The control center 59 00:03:19,448 --> 00:03:24,758 Of his new imperial Capital, beijing. 60 00:03:24,793 --> 00:03:29,620 It took 14 years to complete. 61 00:03:29,655 --> 00:03:33,172 I think the scale and Beauty of yongle's palace 62 00:03:33,206 --> 00:03:37,655 Reflects his confidence In his own reign. 63 00:03:37,689 --> 00:03:41,551 He was really ambitious. 64 00:03:41,586 --> 00:03:43,965 Narrator: this sprawling site Contains temples, 65 00:03:44,000 --> 00:03:47,931 Workshops and rooms For an army of servants, 66 00:03:47,965 --> 00:03:51,413 Everything needed To run an empire. 67 00:03:51,448 --> 00:03:54,413 It was strictly out of Bounds to ordinary people, 68 00:03:54,448 --> 00:03:55,862 But william thinks that the city 69 00:03:55,896 --> 00:03:58,965 Is more than just an Extravagant royal dwelling. 70 00:03:59,000 --> 00:04:01,724 The forbidden city Isn't just a palace, 71 00:04:01,758 --> 00:04:04,172 It's also a fortress. 72 00:04:04,206 --> 00:04:08,137 Any attacker would Face a series of walls 73 00:04:08,172 --> 00:04:10,758 That would be the beijing City wall, the moat, 74 00:04:10,793 --> 00:04:13,310 And the perimeter wall To overcome. 75 00:04:17,172 --> 00:04:20,379 Narrator: 600 years ago, Beijing lay on the fringes 76 00:04:20,413 --> 00:04:21,793 Of the empire. 77 00:04:21,827 --> 00:04:24,551 To the north was the great wall 78 00:04:24,586 --> 00:04:29,551 And beyond it, A fierce people... 79 00:04:29,586 --> 00:04:32,000 Called the mongols. 80 00:04:32,034 --> 00:04:35,620 These formidable warriors Were china's sworn enemies. 81 00:04:35,655 --> 00:04:38,448 Lindesay: the mongols rule china For more than a century. 82 00:04:38,482 --> 00:04:41,551 Yongle's father was The man that ousted them, 83 00:04:41,586 --> 00:04:44,068 But even though they Were fragmented, 84 00:04:44,103 --> 00:04:47,068 They still remained a threat. 85 00:04:47,103 --> 00:04:48,931 Narrator: Why would anyone choose to build 86 00:04:48,965 --> 00:04:50,724 Such a magnificent palace city 87 00:04:50,758 --> 00:04:53,034 So close to hostile territory? 88 00:04:53,068 --> 00:04:58,172 It's one of the forbidden City's most puzzling questions. 89 00:04:58,206 --> 00:05:01,137 The answer could lie Hidden beneath this massive 90 00:05:01,172 --> 00:05:03,448 And mysterious complex. 91 00:05:06,241 --> 00:05:10,241 In a courtyard near the Center of the forbidden city, 92 00:05:10,275 --> 00:05:14,620 Archeologists stumbled On an unexpected clue, 93 00:05:14,655 --> 00:05:16,965 The foundations of A now-vanished building 94 00:05:17,000 --> 00:05:20,965 From yongle's reign. 95 00:05:21,000 --> 00:05:25,068 Alternating layers of compacted Earth and broken bricks 96 00:05:25,103 --> 00:05:29,551 Once supported A massive structure. 97 00:05:29,586 --> 00:05:33,551 But further down lies evidence Of an even older building, 98 00:05:33,586 --> 00:05:36,413 Fragments of bottles, Tiles and bowls 99 00:05:36,448 --> 00:05:40,137 Dated to the time Of mongol rule. 100 00:05:40,172 --> 00:05:42,137 Could this seemingly Random assortment of trash 101 00:05:42,172 --> 00:05:46,206 Finally reveal why the forbidden City was built right here? 102 00:05:50,275 --> 00:05:53,172 Archeologist Mr. Wang guangyao investigates 103 00:05:53,206 --> 00:05:57,137 These mysterious hidden remains. 104 00:05:57,172 --> 00:05:59,931 He thinks that the foundations Under this courtyard 105 00:05:59,965 --> 00:06:04,068 Belong to another, Much more ancient palace. 106 00:06:12,965 --> 00:06:16,931 What is this Mysterious structure? 107 00:06:16,965 --> 00:06:19,241 The first mongol Ruler to conquer china 108 00:06:19,275 --> 00:06:22,448 Built a spectacular Palace in beijing. 109 00:06:22,482 --> 00:06:25,551 His name was kublai khan. 110 00:06:25,586 --> 00:06:27,931 According to legend, Gold and silver 111 00:06:27,965 --> 00:06:30,724 Covered his famous Imperial home. 112 00:06:30,758 --> 00:06:32,620 Guangyao thinks That traces of it 113 00:06:32,655 --> 00:06:34,862 Lie underneath this courtyard. 114 00:06:43,931 --> 00:06:47,482 Historians know very little About this older palace. 115 00:06:47,517 --> 00:06:52,448 Excavations in the forbidden City are incredibly rare, 116 00:06:52,482 --> 00:06:54,551 But whenever they do take place, 117 00:06:54,586 --> 00:06:56,551 Archeologists discovered That this site 118 00:06:56,586 --> 00:07:00,379 Has an amazing hidden history. 119 00:07:00,413 --> 00:07:03,275 Investigators believe that Most of the mongol palace 120 00:07:03,310 --> 00:07:07,758 Lay to the north Of this complex. 121 00:07:07,793 --> 00:07:10,689 Today, a strange Man-made hill stands 122 00:07:10,724 --> 00:07:13,896 Where the heart of kublai khan's Building should be. 123 00:07:16,482 --> 00:07:19,482 William thinks that yongle Built it to bury the heart 124 00:07:19,517 --> 00:07:21,620 Of the mongol palace. 125 00:07:21,655 --> 00:07:23,827 Lindesay: Beijing is a pan-flat city, 126 00:07:23,862 --> 00:07:27,172 But just beyond this perimeter Wall of the forbidden city, 127 00:07:27,206 --> 00:07:30,137 Lies a moat, 65 feet wide. 128 00:07:30,172 --> 00:07:32,482 And when they excavated That great trench, 129 00:07:32,517 --> 00:07:35,275 They had huge amounts Of earth to dispose of. 130 00:07:35,310 --> 00:07:38,206 They put it right There and in doing so, 131 00:07:38,241 --> 00:07:44,275 They created a hill that Buried the former palace 132 00:07:44,310 --> 00:07:46,586 On this site, The palace of the mongols, 133 00:07:46,620 --> 00:07:50,172 The palace of kublai khan. 134 00:07:50,206 --> 00:07:54,137 Narrator: it was a clear And symbolic move. 135 00:07:54,172 --> 00:07:57,655 Yongle razed his enemy's Palace to the ground 136 00:07:57,689 --> 00:08:01,000 And erected an even Better one right on top. 137 00:08:01,034 --> 00:08:06,000 He was determined to end the Mongol threat once and for all. 138 00:08:08,000 --> 00:08:11,758 As a young prince, yongle Cut his teeth in beijing, 139 00:08:11,793 --> 00:08:15,655 Fighting tirelessly against the Northern invaders for years. 140 00:08:19,000 --> 00:08:20,448 On becoming ruler, 141 00:08:20,482 --> 00:08:24,137 He continued to lead His armies into battle. 142 00:08:24,172 --> 00:08:26,241 With his calvary, he Earned the nickname, 143 00:08:26,275 --> 00:08:28,862 The emperor on horseback. 144 00:08:33,827 --> 00:08:36,965 Yongle designed the forbidden City not just as a palace, 145 00:08:37,000 --> 00:08:40,551 But as a military headquarters. 146 00:08:40,586 --> 00:08:45,206 He saw attack as The best defense, 147 00:08:45,241 --> 00:08:48,793 Striking deep into the heart Of mongol territory. 148 00:08:51,103 --> 00:08:54,931 Lindesay: he had a military Plan, a dream to wipe out 149 00:08:54,965 --> 00:08:57,689 The scourge of the mongols Forever, 150 00:08:57,724 --> 00:08:59,862 And this would be The perfect base 151 00:08:59,896 --> 00:09:04,413 For launching his northern Military expeditions. 152 00:09:04,448 --> 00:09:05,655 Narrator: the forbidden city 153 00:09:05,689 --> 00:09:08,758 Was the dream Of a warrior emperor, 154 00:09:08,793 --> 00:09:13,275 But why did yongle need Such a colossal palace? 155 00:09:13,310 --> 00:09:18,103 Archeologists hunt for clues Beneath its courtyards. 156 00:09:18,137 --> 00:09:20,586 Discoveries are beginning to Reveal why the forbidden city 157 00:09:20,620 --> 00:09:23,068 Is so big. 158 00:09:23,103 --> 00:09:27,689 Could the answer lie with Yongle's brutal rise to power? 159 00:09:27,724 --> 00:09:29,965 And how has this Extraordinary palace 160 00:09:30,000 --> 00:09:35,068 Managed to survive 500 years Of deadly earthquakes? 161 00:09:42,000 --> 00:09:47,068 Narrator: the forbidden city, A vast and secretive fortress. 162 00:09:47,103 --> 00:09:50,655 600 years ago, one of china's Most powerful emperors 163 00:09:50,689 --> 00:09:53,793 Built it on the edge Of the empire. 164 00:09:53,827 --> 00:09:56,965 From here, he waged war Against the mongols, 165 00:09:57,000 --> 00:10:00,241 His country's greatest enemies. 166 00:10:00,275 --> 00:10:01,620 Lindesay: yongle was ambitious. 167 00:10:01,655 --> 00:10:03,344 He was The emperor on horseback. 168 00:10:03,379 --> 00:10:09,034 He laid a foundation for the Solidarity of the ming empire. 169 00:10:12,034 --> 00:10:14,482 Narrator: but what could The sheer scale of the palace 170 00:10:14,517 --> 00:10:17,344 Tell us about the man Who built it? 171 00:10:17,379 --> 00:10:19,931 Did yongle always intend The forbidden city 172 00:10:19,965 --> 00:10:23,448 To be as large as it is today? 173 00:10:23,482 --> 00:10:27,862 Or did later dynasties Simply expand on his vision? 174 00:10:27,896 --> 00:10:30,758 No one is entirely sure How much of what we see now 175 00:10:30,793 --> 00:10:32,965 Is original. 176 00:10:33,000 --> 00:10:36,965 No blueprints for the Forbidden city exist. 177 00:10:37,000 --> 00:10:41,034 Could the colossal boundary Walls provide a clue? 178 00:10:41,068 --> 00:10:43,000 And circling the forbidden city 179 00:10:43,034 --> 00:10:49,379 Is one continuous perimeter Wall, over two miles in length. 180 00:10:49,413 --> 00:10:53,275 30 feet high with A rock-solid earth core, 181 00:10:53,310 --> 00:10:56,482 It's clad with A triple layer of bricks. 182 00:10:56,517 --> 00:11:02,206 But underneath it all lies Sophisticated engineering, 183 00:11:02,241 --> 00:11:06,758 A seamlessly integrated drainage Channel, lined with stones, 184 00:11:06,793 --> 00:11:10,310 Runs parallel to the Entire length of the wall. 185 00:11:14,551 --> 00:11:17,000 So how did it work? 186 00:11:17,034 --> 00:11:19,793 Could this simple ditch Be the key to revealing 187 00:11:19,827 --> 00:11:23,068 The forbidden city's Original size? 188 00:11:24,827 --> 00:11:27,206 Digging inside The forbidden city itself 189 00:11:27,241 --> 00:11:29,758 Is strictly controlled. 190 00:11:29,793 --> 00:11:32,551 Archeologist mr. Wu wei hunts For answers 191 00:11:32,586 --> 00:11:35,241 Just beyond its main walls. 192 00:11:38,068 --> 00:11:41,965 Today he and his team Investigate dagaoxuan. 193 00:11:42,000 --> 00:11:44,034 Although outside The main perimeter, 194 00:11:44,068 --> 00:11:46,724 This mini palace Is still considered 195 00:11:46,758 --> 00:11:48,241 Part of the forbidden city. 196 00:12:03,793 --> 00:12:06,965 Excavations like this Are helping archeologists 197 00:12:07,000 --> 00:12:11,344 To reconstruct the forbidden City's original size. 198 00:12:11,379 --> 00:12:14,206 Wei and his team discover The foundations here 199 00:12:14,241 --> 00:12:19,206 Copy the ones underneath The main palace next door. 200 00:12:19,241 --> 00:12:23,827 Each trench reveals layers Of compacted, rammed earth. 201 00:12:30,827 --> 00:12:33,068 The team uses this Ancient technique 202 00:12:33,103 --> 00:12:35,931 To rebuild the main courtyard. 203 00:12:38,034 --> 00:12:42,620 A few inches of earth and lime Are pounded down at a time. 204 00:12:53,896 --> 00:12:56,482 In the ming period, A layer of broken bricks 205 00:12:56,517 --> 00:13:00,827 Or pottery could then be rammed Down on top to add strength. 206 00:13:01,965 --> 00:13:05,758 Most of the palace Was built in this way. 207 00:13:05,793 --> 00:13:09,793 It creates rock-solid Foundations 208 00:13:09,827 --> 00:13:12,827 To support huge buildings. 209 00:13:20,379 --> 00:13:23,206 But alongside this substructure, 210 00:13:23,241 --> 00:13:27,275 The team also discovers The drainage system. 211 00:13:27,310 --> 00:13:29,724 It, too, looks like A miniature version 212 00:13:29,758 --> 00:13:31,448 Of its big brother next door. 213 00:13:40,241 --> 00:13:43,379 Beijing is almost Completely flat. 214 00:13:43,413 --> 00:13:46,758 Archeologists think the Courtyards of both palaces 215 00:13:46,793 --> 00:13:49,517 Bulge in the middle To get rid of rainwater. 216 00:13:51,724 --> 00:13:54,931 Wei investigates Exactly how this works. 217 00:14:04,068 --> 00:14:05,758 Wei carefully pours out water 218 00:14:05,793 --> 00:14:10,482 Onto the central path leading To dagaoxuan's pavilion. 219 00:14:10,517 --> 00:14:14,068 It runs into ditches that Drain away on each side. 220 00:14:25,241 --> 00:14:28,206 Archeologists believe That the forbidden city's 221 00:14:28,241 --> 00:14:32,206 Water system works just like This but on a massive scale. 222 00:14:32,241 --> 00:14:35,551 Concealed ditches under The perimeter wall 223 00:14:35,586 --> 00:14:39,482 Channel rainwater into the vast Moat that circles the city. 224 00:14:39,517 --> 00:14:43,413 It's all perfectly integrated And must have been conceived 225 00:14:43,448 --> 00:14:45,551 At the same time. 226 00:14:45,586 --> 00:14:48,827 It suggests that The city's immense size 227 00:14:48,862 --> 00:14:52,758 Was indeed planned From the very start. 228 00:14:52,793 --> 00:14:55,896 But why did it matter to yongle? 229 00:14:55,931 --> 00:15:01,413 What made him build on Such a staggering scale? 230 00:15:01,448 --> 00:15:03,448 Historians think the answer lies 231 00:15:03,482 --> 00:15:07,000 In his brutal rise to power. 232 00:15:07,034 --> 00:15:10,862 In 1402, yongle seized Control of the empire 233 00:15:10,896 --> 00:15:12,620 In a bloody coup. 234 00:15:12,655 --> 00:15:16,448 He deposed his nephew and Burnt the old imperial palace. 235 00:15:18,620 --> 00:15:20,034 Fearing reprisals, 236 00:15:20,068 --> 00:15:22,206 The new emperor moved The chinese capital 237 00:15:22,241 --> 00:15:25,620 From the south to Beijing in the north. 238 00:15:25,655 --> 00:15:29,103 Here he was close to his armies. 239 00:15:29,137 --> 00:15:33,000 But he also needed to show That he was the rightful ruler, 240 00:15:33,034 --> 00:15:35,655 So he built a new palace, The biggest in history, 241 00:15:35,689 --> 00:15:38,793 To demonstrate his power. 242 00:15:38,827 --> 00:15:41,586 Right from the start, everything About the forbidden city 243 00:15:41,620 --> 00:15:45,206 Was like nothing Ever seen before -- 244 00:15:45,241 --> 00:15:46,482 A statement that yongle 245 00:15:46,517 --> 00:15:50,448 Was the most powerful Person on earth. 246 00:15:50,482 --> 00:15:53,827 And the fact that yongle Began by staking out 247 00:15:53,862 --> 00:15:57,137 The limits of this palace, 248 00:15:57,172 --> 00:16:01,344 Seems to me a clear signal That he was gonna build this 249 00:16:01,379 --> 00:16:03,896 On an unprecedented scale. 250 00:16:03,931 --> 00:16:08,068 Things are about to Change and he's in charge. 251 00:16:08,103 --> 00:16:10,551 Narrator: historical accounts Often portray yongle 252 00:16:10,586 --> 00:16:14,103 As a ruthless and Despotic leader. 253 00:16:14,137 --> 00:16:18,862 How did he use this new city To rule over his entire empire? 254 00:16:18,896 --> 00:16:21,206 And did the construction Of this gigantic palace 255 00:16:21,241 --> 00:16:23,896 Push the people Of china too far? 256 00:16:31,068 --> 00:16:35,275 Narrator: the forbidden city -- The astonishing creation 257 00:16:35,310 --> 00:16:39,482 Of a ruler whose Ambition knew no limits. 258 00:16:39,517 --> 00:16:42,862 600 years ago, The chinese emperor yongle 259 00:16:42,896 --> 00:16:46,482 Built this secretive Mega palace. 260 00:16:46,517 --> 00:16:51,482 He wanted a grand residence To establish his new regime. 261 00:16:51,517 --> 00:16:53,586 How did yongle use The forbidden city 262 00:16:53,620 --> 00:16:58,206 To rule over a vast empire? 263 00:16:58,241 --> 00:17:01,068 Historian william lindesay Thinks clues lie within 264 00:17:01,103 --> 00:17:04,655 The buildings that Housed the dragon throne. 265 00:17:04,689 --> 00:17:07,172 This imperial audience chamber 266 00:17:07,206 --> 00:17:09,344 Was the biggest in the empire. 267 00:17:09,379 --> 00:17:12,172 This was the most important Building in china 268 00:17:12,206 --> 00:17:16,000 From the moment yongle Built this imperial palace 269 00:17:16,034 --> 00:17:18,068 Until the 1900s. 270 00:17:18,103 --> 00:17:19,655 Why? 271 00:17:19,689 --> 00:17:23,275 It's the place where many Emperors ascended the throne 272 00:17:23,310 --> 00:17:26,896 And became the son of heaven. 273 00:17:26,931 --> 00:17:29,275 Narrator: the emperor had Several throne rooms. 274 00:17:29,310 --> 00:17:31,482 William thinks they were Specifically designed 275 00:17:31,517 --> 00:17:35,068 To reinforce his power. 276 00:17:35,103 --> 00:17:38,275 Here he surrounded himself With symbols of perfection 277 00:17:38,310 --> 00:17:41,068 To prove he was Chosen by heaven. 278 00:17:41,103 --> 00:17:42,862 Lindesay: what is very clear 279 00:17:42,896 --> 00:17:45,482 Is the balance Of everything in there. 280 00:17:45,517 --> 00:17:48,551 Notice the way the vases, The cranes, 281 00:17:48,586 --> 00:17:51,551 The calligraphic boards, They're all in pairs. 282 00:17:51,586 --> 00:17:54,000 Shows us the importance Of balance. 283 00:17:54,034 --> 00:17:57,551 So the emperor demanded balance, 284 00:17:57,586 --> 00:18:00,620 Harmony and perfection In anything. 285 00:18:00,655 --> 00:18:06,000 It's amazing, everything In this palace was perfect. 286 00:18:07,034 --> 00:18:08,862 Narrator: Yongle's family saw themselves 287 00:18:08,896 --> 00:18:11,724 As reclaiming china From the mongol invaders 288 00:18:11,758 --> 00:18:14,551 And returning it To their people. 289 00:18:14,586 --> 00:18:17,068 Traditional chinese Values were resurrected 290 00:18:17,103 --> 00:18:20,482 And reinforced by a code. 291 00:18:20,517 --> 00:18:22,482 Five-clawed dragons Were reserved 292 00:18:22,517 --> 00:18:24,689 For the emperor's use alone, 293 00:18:24,724 --> 00:18:29,413 Four claws for Princes and nobles. 294 00:18:29,448 --> 00:18:33,034 Even the doors were Covered in symbolism. 295 00:18:33,068 --> 00:18:36,689 The number of heavenly Perfection was 10, 296 00:18:36,724 --> 00:18:42,689 But here, for the emperor, We have rows nine nails 297 00:18:42,724 --> 00:18:48,517 And nine rows vertically, Making 81. 298 00:18:48,551 --> 00:18:51,000 Not just 81 on this door, 299 00:18:51,034 --> 00:18:54,551 But every door in The forbidden city. 300 00:18:54,586 --> 00:18:57,379 Narrator: Nine was the emperor's number, 301 00:18:57,413 --> 00:19:01,275 Just one below the Heavenly perfection of 10. 302 00:19:01,310 --> 00:19:03,034 It was an intentional move, 303 00:19:03,068 --> 00:19:05,620 Designed to leave his Subjects in no doubt 304 00:19:05,655 --> 00:19:09,724 That he was the Highest-ranking human on earth. 305 00:19:09,758 --> 00:19:12,034 How far was yongle Prepared to go 306 00:19:12,068 --> 00:19:15,896 To present himself as The perfect emperor? 307 00:19:15,931 --> 00:19:18,000 Objects that were meant To be hidden from view 308 00:19:18,034 --> 00:19:20,034 Could provide the answer. 309 00:19:22,482 --> 00:19:25,137 When rebuilding An old storage area, 310 00:19:25,172 --> 00:19:27,724 Workers uncovered An original paved floor 311 00:19:27,758 --> 00:19:31,000 From the emperor's palace. 312 00:19:31,034 --> 00:19:33,551 But digging further down, 313 00:19:33,586 --> 00:19:36,068 They made An astonishing discovery -- 314 00:19:36,103 --> 00:19:41,517 A shallow pit containing 10,000 Fragments of fine porcelain... 315 00:19:43,172 --> 00:19:45,551 ...Exquisitely Decorated and glazed, 316 00:19:45,586 --> 00:19:48,620 Yet smashed into tiny pieces. 317 00:19:48,655 --> 00:19:51,344 This would have been the Finest imperial porcelain 318 00:19:51,379 --> 00:19:53,586 Of its time. 319 00:19:53,620 --> 00:19:55,068 What made it so dangerous 320 00:19:55,103 --> 00:19:57,448 That it needed to Be buried forever? 321 00:20:00,103 --> 00:20:03,310 What does it say about The emperor who ruled here? 322 00:20:06,379 --> 00:20:08,689 Today, workers pave over the pit 323 00:20:08,724 --> 00:20:12,241 As part of the forbidden City's ongoing rebuilding work. 324 00:20:12,275 --> 00:20:15,000 Archeologist mr. Wang guangyao Investigates 325 00:20:15,034 --> 00:20:17,000 Why this broken Imperial porcelain 326 00:20:17,034 --> 00:20:19,310 Appears to have been Smashed intentionally. 327 00:20:30,517 --> 00:20:32,275 Although porcelain Has been uncovered 328 00:20:32,310 --> 00:20:34,137 In other areas of the city, 329 00:20:34,172 --> 00:20:37,379 Guangyao thinks this Find is very special. 330 00:20:44,724 --> 00:20:47,034 Investigators bring Every single piece 331 00:20:47,068 --> 00:20:50,862 Of broken imperial porcelain To the restoration workshop. 332 00:20:50,896 --> 00:20:53,931 Here the team tries to figure Out what it looked like 333 00:20:53,965 --> 00:20:56,620 And why it was Smashed and buried. 334 00:20:56,655 --> 00:21:00,862 It's a super-sized and Super-fragile jigsaw puzzle. 335 00:21:14,758 --> 00:21:17,241 Today, faultless Examples of bowls 336 00:21:17,275 --> 00:21:20,275 Like these could be worth Millions of dollars. 337 00:21:20,310 --> 00:21:24,724 But to guangyao, even broken Bits and pieces are priceless. 338 00:21:34,482 --> 00:21:36,275 Why was this beautiful porcelain 339 00:21:36,310 --> 00:21:40,000 Intentionally Shattered and buried? 340 00:21:40,034 --> 00:21:43,793 Guangyao thinks each One has tiny flaws. 341 00:21:51,103 --> 00:21:52,965 Porcelain that was Less than perfect 342 00:21:53,000 --> 00:21:55,413 Could not be placed in Front of the emperor, 343 00:21:55,448 --> 00:21:59,000 But it was still considered Too good for ordinary people. 344 00:22:05,655 --> 00:22:09,620 The destruction seems Like a colossal waste. 345 00:22:09,655 --> 00:22:12,448 To the new ming dynasty however, 346 00:22:12,482 --> 00:22:16,862 It was vital to their survival. 347 00:22:16,896 --> 00:22:18,413 Everything about this palace 348 00:22:18,448 --> 00:22:21,689 Was designed to uphold Centuries of tradition. 349 00:22:23,586 --> 00:22:26,275 It made the imperial Family appear superior 350 00:22:26,310 --> 00:22:29,896 To the previous mongol rulers 351 00:22:29,931 --> 00:22:33,827 And cemented yongle's image As a legitimate ruler. 352 00:22:35,724 --> 00:22:39,172 Huge ceremonies performed Here did the same. 353 00:22:41,275 --> 00:22:45,862 The forbidden city's outer Court and vast open spaces 354 00:22:45,896 --> 00:22:48,689 Were the stage for Important rituals. 355 00:22:51,241 --> 00:22:54,344 On sacred days, the main Courtyard would fill 356 00:22:54,379 --> 00:22:57,000 With the highest-ranking Officials. 357 00:23:01,517 --> 00:23:05,793 When yongle appeared, his Subjects would all kowtow, 358 00:23:05,827 --> 00:23:08,862 Knocking their heads on The floor nine times, 359 00:23:08,896 --> 00:23:10,827 Loud enough to be heard. 360 00:23:14,068 --> 00:23:17,000 These ceremonies reinforced The emperor's authority 361 00:23:17,034 --> 00:23:19,034 On a daily basis. 362 00:23:19,068 --> 00:23:23,034 He was seen as the guardian Of the empire's values. 363 00:23:25,068 --> 00:23:27,482 Lindesay: all of those taking Part would be greeted 364 00:23:27,517 --> 00:23:33,793 By the ranks of soldiers And a guard of honor 365 00:23:33,827 --> 00:23:38,379 Going down the central Axis, leading up the steps 366 00:23:38,413 --> 00:23:40,034 And into the hall. 367 00:23:40,068 --> 00:23:42,896 It must have been a fantastic Sight full of color, 368 00:23:42,931 --> 00:23:47,620 Making those attending the Ceremonies feel so proud 369 00:23:47,655 --> 00:23:51,448 To be part of this great empire. 370 00:23:53,655 --> 00:23:57,103 Narrator: from precise rituals To exquisite porcelain, 371 00:23:57,137 --> 00:23:59,586 The forbidden city Was meant to reinforce 372 00:23:59,620 --> 00:24:01,827 The emperor's divine power. 373 00:24:01,862 --> 00:24:04,241 It turned his family into One of the most famous 374 00:24:04,275 --> 00:24:09,448 Imperial houses of all Time, the ming dynasty. 375 00:24:09,482 --> 00:24:12,275 But how did yongle build Such an immense city 376 00:24:12,310 --> 00:24:14,068 In what was then a remote area 377 00:24:14,103 --> 00:24:16,758 On the very fringes Of the empire? 378 00:24:16,793 --> 00:24:19,827 And how has it survived Hundreds of years 379 00:24:19,862 --> 00:24:22,275 Of natural disasters? 380 00:24:29,862 --> 00:24:32,275 Narrator: 600 years ago, China's new emperor 381 00:24:32,310 --> 00:24:34,793 Sent a clear message To his people. 382 00:24:34,827 --> 00:24:37,103 Here on the frontier Of the empire, 383 00:24:37,137 --> 00:24:42,586 He built an elaborate palace Metropolis, the forbidden city, 384 00:24:42,620 --> 00:24:45,551 A mighty statement of His divine right to rule 385 00:24:45,586 --> 00:24:49,275 And a fierce warning To his mongol enemies. 386 00:24:49,310 --> 00:24:51,724 But beijing was A remote, landlocked city 387 00:24:51,758 --> 00:24:54,862 With limited natural resources. 388 00:24:55,931 --> 00:24:57,517 How did the emperor construct 389 00:24:57,551 --> 00:25:02,344 Such a colossal Masterpiece here? 390 00:25:02,379 --> 00:25:05,275 Lifting up the hall Of preserved harmony 391 00:25:05,310 --> 00:25:08,103 Reveals an array Of massive stones. 392 00:25:08,137 --> 00:25:12,896 The emperor's audience chamber Sits on a 26-foot marble base. 393 00:25:14,241 --> 00:25:17,137 Inside, 60 stone blocks 394 00:25:17,172 --> 00:25:19,172 Reinforce Packed-earth foundations, 395 00:25:19,206 --> 00:25:22,827 Strengthened by A lattice of stone beams. 396 00:25:22,862 --> 00:25:26,068 Hundreds more slabs Form a solid base. 397 00:25:26,103 --> 00:25:30,068 But at the center of the Platform is a grand staircase 398 00:25:30,103 --> 00:25:35,275 With a single 50-foot-long, 300-ton slab of marble. 399 00:25:35,310 --> 00:25:39,172 It's the weight of 135 s.U.V.S. 400 00:25:39,206 --> 00:25:42,413 How did builders transport Such a massive slab of stone 401 00:25:42,448 --> 00:25:44,517 To the center of the city? 402 00:25:47,620 --> 00:25:52,068 The nearest marble quarry Is around 43 miles away. 403 00:25:52,103 --> 00:25:54,517 Legend says that the Forbidden city's workers 404 00:25:54,551 --> 00:25:58,586 Slid the heaviest stones Along roads frozen with ice 405 00:25:58,620 --> 00:26:00,965 To reach the construction site, 406 00:26:01,000 --> 00:26:03,482 But could this really be true? 407 00:26:03,517 --> 00:26:06,862 Beijing is famous For its harsh winters. 408 00:26:06,896 --> 00:26:09,448 To this day, the moats Surrounding the palace 409 00:26:09,482 --> 00:26:11,344 Often freeze over. 410 00:26:11,379 --> 00:26:12,931 Did the forbidden City's builders 411 00:26:12,965 --> 00:26:16,827 Really turn the weather To their advantage? 412 00:26:16,862 --> 00:26:20,931 Engineering professor Li jeung searches for answers. 413 00:26:37,413 --> 00:26:41,172 Jeung thinks a clue lies With an ancient manuscript. 414 00:27:01,206 --> 00:27:05,000 Records reveal that workers Dug wells into the roads. 415 00:27:05,034 --> 00:27:09,000 Investigators assumed that They provided water to make ice, 416 00:27:09,034 --> 00:27:11,931 But the huge number Of them is puzzling. 417 00:27:14,620 --> 00:27:16,620 Jeung thinks that the water From these reservoirs 418 00:27:16,655 --> 00:27:19,275 Had a second crucial function. 419 00:27:36,655 --> 00:27:39,034 Jeung calculates that It would have taken 420 00:27:39,068 --> 00:27:42,206 1,000 men to slide giant Blocks along a road 421 00:27:42,241 --> 00:27:44,517 Covered with just ice. 422 00:27:47,724 --> 00:27:50,172 But with wells dug Along the icy route, 423 00:27:50,206 --> 00:27:52,586 They could pour Water onto the ice 424 00:27:52,620 --> 00:27:55,137 And lubricate the surface. 425 00:27:56,655 --> 00:27:58,551 The thin film of Lubricating water 426 00:27:58,586 --> 00:28:02,448 Between the sled and Ice reduced the friction 427 00:28:02,482 --> 00:28:04,482 And allowed the blocks To glide easily 428 00:28:04,517 --> 00:28:07,586 Across the frozen pathway. 429 00:28:07,620 --> 00:28:10,172 By using this method, They could cut the number 430 00:28:10,206 --> 00:28:14,482 Of men needed from 1,000 to just 150. 431 00:28:18,896 --> 00:28:21,448 This ingenious technique Allowed yongle 432 00:28:21,482 --> 00:28:24,172 To transport huge Quantities of raw materials 433 00:28:24,206 --> 00:28:27,827 Across long distances. 434 00:28:27,862 --> 00:28:32,379 But getting them to the city Was only half the job. 435 00:28:32,413 --> 00:28:34,275 Today, archeologist wu wei 436 00:28:34,310 --> 00:28:37,000 Uses innovative scanning Technology 437 00:28:37,034 --> 00:28:39,344 To investigate The intricate carvings 438 00:28:39,379 --> 00:28:41,206 On these massive marble ramps. 439 00:28:41,241 --> 00:28:45,448 After hundreds of years, the Patterns are beginning to fade. 440 00:29:01,620 --> 00:29:04,034 The scanner captures The entire block 441 00:29:04,068 --> 00:29:07,241 With extraordinary precision. 442 00:29:07,275 --> 00:29:11,448 Fine details that were once Invisible to the naked eye 443 00:29:11,482 --> 00:29:13,034 Suddenly become clear. 444 00:29:26,724 --> 00:29:29,344 This huge marble block Is so perfect, 445 00:29:29,379 --> 00:29:32,000 It may have been Carved once in place, 446 00:29:32,034 --> 00:29:35,241 Which presented yongle With a new problem. 447 00:29:38,000 --> 00:29:43,034 Beijing was so remote, it also Had a shortage of manpower. 448 00:29:43,068 --> 00:29:45,862 So the emperor forced people From all over the country 449 00:29:45,896 --> 00:29:49,448 To work on this 14-year Construction project. 450 00:29:49,482 --> 00:29:55,827 The question how all of these Blocks came to this palace 451 00:29:55,862 --> 00:29:58,965 Is an amazing human story. 452 00:29:59,000 --> 00:30:01,862 And look at the carving on this. 453 00:30:01,896 --> 00:30:06,344 To carve that would have Taken a stonemason many weeks. 454 00:30:06,379 --> 00:30:10,586 It's a waterspout, but It had to be beautiful. 455 00:30:10,620 --> 00:30:13,000 To me, this is the wonder Of the whole complex, 456 00:30:13,034 --> 00:30:16,586 The human effort and The fantastic materials 457 00:30:16,620 --> 00:30:19,000 That went into the palace. 458 00:30:20,689 --> 00:30:22,344 Narrator: Yongle's all-consuming vision 459 00:30:22,379 --> 00:30:25,827 Revolutionized china, But his grand palace 460 00:30:25,862 --> 00:30:30,241 Became a hugely unpopular Scheme among his people. 461 00:30:30,275 --> 00:30:32,172 It's thought hundreds Of thousands of them 462 00:30:32,206 --> 00:30:36,827 Were forced to work on it. 463 00:30:36,862 --> 00:30:38,965 Today, their legacy is a palace 464 00:30:39,000 --> 00:30:42,827 That has stood for more Than half a millennia. 465 00:30:42,862 --> 00:30:44,241 How has the forbidden city 466 00:30:44,275 --> 00:30:47,586 Survived beijing's Many earthquakes? 467 00:30:47,620 --> 00:30:50,310 And why wasn't this Mega palace destroyed 468 00:30:50,344 --> 00:30:53,000 When the dynasty Who built it fell? 469 00:31:03,034 --> 00:31:05,034 Narrator: the forbidden city Was one of the largest 470 00:31:05,068 --> 00:31:08,827 Construction projects China had ever seen, 471 00:31:08,862 --> 00:31:10,206 Built by the forced labor 472 00:31:10,241 --> 00:31:12,655 Of hundreds of Thousands of citizens. 473 00:31:16,482 --> 00:31:18,034 But it sits in one Of the country's 474 00:31:18,068 --> 00:31:21,137 Most dangerous earthquake zones. 475 00:31:21,172 --> 00:31:22,620 [ rumbling ] 476 00:31:22,655 --> 00:31:27,275 200 have struck Since it was built. 477 00:31:27,310 --> 00:31:31,275 The forbidden city is Mostly made of timber. 478 00:31:31,310 --> 00:31:36,068 Wooden walls sit below heavy Roofs made of clay tiles. 479 00:31:36,103 --> 00:31:40,620 How has this massive palace Survived for so long? 480 00:31:40,655 --> 00:31:42,620 Archeologist mr. Wu wei thinks 481 00:31:42,655 --> 00:31:46,000 The secret lies with Its hidden engineering. 482 00:31:46,034 --> 00:31:49,931 He investigates the tiled roof That crowns one of its temples. 483 00:31:49,965 --> 00:31:51,758 Nobody has ever been Able to work out 484 00:31:51,793 --> 00:31:53,413 The exact weight of these roofs 485 00:31:53,448 --> 00:31:57,310 Or the pressure they exert Until now. 486 00:32:09,448 --> 00:32:11,862 The section is 10 square feet. 487 00:32:11,896 --> 00:32:13,689 By measuring how heavy it is, 488 00:32:13,724 --> 00:32:15,413 The team can work Out what it takes 489 00:32:15,448 --> 00:32:17,655 To support the entire roof. 490 00:32:30,448 --> 00:32:32,655 How much does it weigh? 491 00:32:32,689 --> 00:32:34,000 The team places it 492 00:32:34,034 --> 00:32:36,586 On a specially designed Set of scales. 493 00:32:36,620 --> 00:32:42,103 ♪♪ 494 00:32:42,137 --> 00:32:46,931 The team expects the section To weigh in about 400 pounds. 495 00:32:46,965 --> 00:32:50,172 The actual result Goes far beyond that. 496 00:33:08,206 --> 00:33:12,482 This section of traditional roof Comes in at close to half a ton. 497 00:33:12,517 --> 00:33:15,620 It means the entire roof Of just this one temple 498 00:33:15,655 --> 00:33:19,827 Is heavier than a fully Loaded 747 jumbo jet, 499 00:33:19,862 --> 00:33:23,655 Weighing in at around 640 tons. 500 00:33:38,655 --> 00:33:40,241 How have these bulky roofs 501 00:33:40,275 --> 00:33:43,827 And their supports Survived for so long? 502 00:33:46,793 --> 00:33:50,758 The secret is concealed in the Elaborate wooden components. 503 00:33:50,793 --> 00:33:54,172 Supporting The immense tiled roof 504 00:33:54,206 --> 00:33:57,793 Are 72 columns Over 30 feet tall, 505 00:33:57,827 --> 00:34:01,000 Each made from A single tree trunk. 506 00:34:01,034 --> 00:34:02,724 Connecting them are Intricate girders 507 00:34:02,758 --> 00:34:05,965 Called dougong brackets. 508 00:34:06,000 --> 00:34:09,379 Made from dozens of pieces of Beautifully decorated wood, 509 00:34:09,413 --> 00:34:11,862 This complex carpentry Is not held together 510 00:34:11,896 --> 00:34:15,137 With glue or nails. 511 00:34:15,172 --> 00:34:17,241 Instead, it slots together, 512 00:34:17,275 --> 00:34:20,413 And nothing but pressure Holds it in place. 513 00:34:22,241 --> 00:34:26,034 It may look flimsy, but Could this strange design 514 00:34:26,068 --> 00:34:29,172 Be the secret to its Earthquake resistance? 515 00:34:32,862 --> 00:34:35,413 Even today it's not Fully understood 516 00:34:35,448 --> 00:34:38,931 How a dougong bracket works. 517 00:34:38,965 --> 00:34:40,793 Wei's temple restoration project 518 00:34:40,827 --> 00:34:43,034 Gives him a rare Chance to deconstruct 519 00:34:43,068 --> 00:34:46,586 The secret workings of This puzzling structure. 520 00:34:46,620 --> 00:34:50,172 His team uses 3-d scans To digitally rebuild 521 00:34:50,206 --> 00:34:53,793 Each dougong bracket Piece by piece. 522 00:35:04,620 --> 00:35:06,068 The sheer number of parts 523 00:35:06,103 --> 00:35:09,172 Inside one of these Brackets is surprising. 524 00:35:09,206 --> 00:35:12,172 But this makes it Extremely flexible. 525 00:35:30,000 --> 00:35:31,206 Engineers think 526 00:35:31,241 --> 00:35:32,896 That this flexibility Could be the key 527 00:35:32,931 --> 00:35:37,137 To protecting the palace During an earthquake. 528 00:35:37,172 --> 00:35:40,379 So what actually happens Inside a dougong bracket 529 00:35:40,413 --> 00:35:42,413 When a quake strikes? 530 00:35:45,241 --> 00:35:48,620 Stripping back the hall of Supreme harmony reveals that 531 00:35:48,655 --> 00:35:51,689 The roof is in fact not Supported by the walls, 532 00:35:51,724 --> 00:35:53,965 But by its wooden columns. 533 00:35:54,000 --> 00:35:57,586 Above, rows of flexible Dougong brackets 534 00:35:57,620 --> 00:35:59,551 Take the strain of the tiles 535 00:35:59,586 --> 00:36:03,310 And spread the load across These strong pillars. 536 00:36:04,655 --> 00:36:09,448 When an earthquake hits, the Loose brackets flex and move, 537 00:36:09,482 --> 00:36:14,448 Dispersing the energy, Keeping the roof in place. 538 00:36:14,482 --> 00:36:16,448 As a final line of defense, 539 00:36:16,482 --> 00:36:19,896 The columns are only loosely Anchored to the ground. 540 00:36:19,931 --> 00:36:23,137 They roll with the punches To avoid snapping. 541 00:36:23,172 --> 00:36:25,724 It's a marvel of engineering. 542 00:36:28,655 --> 00:36:31,068 Sophisticated Technology like this 543 00:36:31,103 --> 00:36:37,172 Enabled the forbidden city to Survive for over 500 years. 544 00:36:37,206 --> 00:36:39,413 During that time, This mega palace 545 00:36:39,448 --> 00:36:42,379 Became a symbol Of imperial china. 546 00:36:45,172 --> 00:36:47,517 It was a key tool in The emperor's ability 547 00:36:47,551 --> 00:36:50,103 To hold onto power. 548 00:36:50,137 --> 00:36:51,793 But what would happen To the forbidden city 549 00:36:51,827 --> 00:36:55,793 When the world outside Began to change? 550 00:36:55,827 --> 00:36:58,586 Did this iconic palace Play an essential role 551 00:36:58,620 --> 00:37:02,068 In the downfall Of china's mighty rulers? 552 00:37:10,103 --> 00:37:13,413 Narrator: The forbidden city in beijing. 553 00:37:13,448 --> 00:37:16,206 This palace was The foundation stone 554 00:37:16,241 --> 00:37:18,965 Of a new emperor's Radical regime. 555 00:37:19,000 --> 00:37:21,206 It helped the ming dynasty Rule china 556 00:37:21,241 --> 00:37:24,448 And enter a golden age Of imperial power. 557 00:37:29,448 --> 00:37:33,620 But it holds one last mystery. 558 00:37:33,655 --> 00:37:35,655 How has the forbidden City survived 559 00:37:35,689 --> 00:37:38,724 600 years of turbulent history? 560 00:37:40,620 --> 00:37:43,827 Today, an army of workers Toils around the clock 561 00:37:43,862 --> 00:37:47,758 To maintain these Extraordinary buildings. 562 00:37:47,793 --> 00:37:51,413 Several have been rebuilt Many times over the centuries. 563 00:37:51,448 --> 00:37:55,344 They all look as good as new. 564 00:37:55,379 --> 00:37:57,586 But according to Chinese tradition, 565 00:37:57,620 --> 00:38:01,448 They should've been destroyed When a new dynasty took power. 566 00:38:03,448 --> 00:38:06,758 200 years after it was Built, a rival family, 567 00:38:06,793 --> 00:38:10,793 The qing dynasty, Conquered the ming empire. 568 00:38:12,000 --> 00:38:15,172 Why didn't they pull The forbidden city down? 569 00:38:32,000 --> 00:38:34,137 Yongle destroyed a mongol palace 570 00:38:34,172 --> 00:38:36,758 To build the forbidden city. 571 00:38:36,793 --> 00:38:40,137 Today, almost nothing Of it remains. 572 00:38:40,172 --> 00:38:41,758 So why didn't these invaders 573 00:38:41,793 --> 00:38:45,448 Destroy his greatest achievement When they came to power? 574 00:38:46,827 --> 00:38:48,620 Historian william lindesay Thinks 575 00:38:48,655 --> 00:38:50,965 That the forbidden city's Extraordinary beauty 576 00:38:51,000 --> 00:38:54,793 Seduced everyone Who set foot in it. 577 00:38:54,827 --> 00:38:56,827 For the next 300 years, 578 00:38:56,862 --> 00:39:00,965 Each new chinese dynasty Adopted it as their own. 579 00:39:01,000 --> 00:39:06,068 But yongle's enduring legacy Was also a poisoned chalice. 580 00:39:07,448 --> 00:39:11,586 Many of his successors Really were prisoners 581 00:39:11,620 --> 00:39:16,482 In their own palace, waiting For reports to come to them. 582 00:39:18,482 --> 00:39:19,482 Narrator: The forbidden city 583 00:39:19,517 --> 00:39:22,000 Was designed to be exclusive, 584 00:39:22,034 --> 00:39:26,000 To present the emperors As above all other men. 585 00:39:26,034 --> 00:39:28,068 But william believes These high walls 586 00:39:28,103 --> 00:39:32,103 Also isolated them From their own people. 587 00:39:32,137 --> 00:39:37,896 Some emperors grew up being Told they ruled the world, 588 00:39:37,931 --> 00:39:39,241 But in fact they were Completely out of touch 589 00:39:39,275 --> 00:39:42,413 With the real situation In the empire. 590 00:39:42,448 --> 00:39:44,000 Narrator: in the end, 591 00:39:44,034 --> 00:39:47,862 China's imperial rulers Lost their grip on power. 592 00:39:47,896 --> 00:39:49,482 This incredible palace, 593 00:39:49,517 --> 00:39:51,724 Once shut off from The outside world, 594 00:39:51,758 --> 00:39:53,931 Has outlasted them all. 595 00:39:53,965 --> 00:39:56,482 Surviving largely Intact, it's a miracle 596 00:39:56,517 --> 00:40:00,034 All of this is still Standing after 600 years. 597 00:40:00,068 --> 00:40:02,793 And over this period, We've had natural disasters 598 00:40:02,827 --> 00:40:07,000 Like earthquakes, and We've had human tragedies, 599 00:40:07,034 --> 00:40:11,275 Famines, rebellions, all Kinds of wild weather, 600 00:40:11,310 --> 00:40:15,896 Lightning strikes, a real Miracle that after 600 years, 601 00:40:15,931 --> 00:40:22,034 Yongle's vision, yongle's Palace is still standing today. 602 00:40:22,068 --> 00:40:24,413 Narrator: the forbidden city was Built by a visionary 603 00:40:24,448 --> 00:40:28,034 And ruthless emperor to Establish his new regime. 604 00:40:28,068 --> 00:40:29,586 It was a formidable base 605 00:40:29,620 --> 00:40:33,000 From which to attack China's traditional enemies. 606 00:40:35,103 --> 00:40:37,413 Yongle mobilized An entire nation 607 00:40:37,448 --> 00:40:43,206 To fill it with the finest Materials in the land, 608 00:40:43,241 --> 00:40:47,344 Creating a private City within a city 609 00:40:47,379 --> 00:40:51,137 That stood as a monument To his power. 610 00:40:51,172 --> 00:40:54,517 The remarkable engineering Hidden inside its great walls 611 00:40:54,551 --> 00:40:58,862 Has allowed it to survive For six centuries. 612 00:41:00,379 --> 00:41:06,551 The forbidden city became such A powerful symbol of china 613 00:41:06,586 --> 00:41:09,206 That every new regime Left it standing. 614 00:41:11,448 --> 00:41:13,827 But this secluded Fortress also meant 615 00:41:13,862 --> 00:41:17,827 That later emperors became Prisoners in their own home. 616 00:41:21,206 --> 00:41:26,620 The forbidden city is an Enduring icon of imperial china. 617 00:41:26,655 --> 00:41:29,586 Although the emperors who Ruled here are long gone, 618 00:41:29,620 --> 00:41:34,172 The greatest palace On earth remains. 619 00:41:34,206 --> 00:41:43,482 ♪♪ 620 00:41:43,517 --> 00:41:53,103 ♪♪ 621 00:41:53,137 --> 00:42:03,689 ♪♪ 49714

Can't find what you're looking for?
Get subtitles in any language from opensubtitles.com, and translate them here.