Secret Realms of the Forbidden City
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Summary
The text is presented in Chinese and English, making the book suitable for readers and collectors both in China and abroad.
Editor's review
From a professional standpoint, the book's value lies in its art of subtraction. It avoids panoramic exposition and instead focuses on details, textures, and atmosphere, which demands of the photographer a high degree of aesthetic self-awareness and historical sensibility. Shang Junyi's lens is restrained and poetic; each frame seems to speak in a low voice, inviting readers to slow down and engage in an immersive visual reading. For readers who wish to go beyond surface sightseeing and long for a deeper spiritual connection with the Palace Museum, this book offers a precious path. It is not only a photography collection but also a visual essay on time, memory, and existence, whose artistic value and humanistic reflection far surpass ordinary landscape photography.
Who it's for
A good fit for
- Readers with a strong interest in the history and culture of the Palace Museum who seek a deep experience.
- Photography enthusiasts, especially those who enjoy architecture, humanistic documentary, and still-life photography.
- Readers seeking inner calm who prefer contemplation and introspection through images.
- Art and design professionals, who may use it as a reference for visual aesthetics and composition.
Not a good fit for
- Readers expecting many panoramic views of the Palace Museum, standard photos of landmark buildings, or travel guides.
- Readers who prefer fast-paced reading and seek strong storytelling or dense factual content.
Reading tips
- Read it alone in a quiet setting, allowing yourself ample time to savor each image and the emotion behind it.
- While reading, you may set aside the pursuit of historical knowledge for the moment and first feel the light, texture, and composition of the image itself, then associate it with the space and time it depicts.
- The book can be read alongside detailed historical works to gain a dual experience of 'visual impression' and 'historical understanding.'
About the publisher
Posts & Telecom Press is known for its strengths in science and technology, computing, and information and communications titles, and has extended its publishing into photography, art, software learning, and inspirational growth, giving it a fairly diverse range. Its catalog includes computing and communications works such as Refactoring and Patterns (Revised Edition) and Huawei Switch Learning Guide (Second Edition), alongside bilingual collector's editions such as The Little Prince (Chinese-English-French illustrated collector's edition), The Great Gatsby, and Three Days to See. Beijing Ten Years: 1980-1990 and Ghost Blade: WLOP Personal Illustration Collection reflect its presence in photography and art. Its authors include Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Helen Keller, Joshua Kerievsky, Wang Da, Zhang Zhaozeng, and WLOP.
Contents
- 版权信息
- 前言
- 城池
- 城墙与角楼
- 神武门
- 崇祯皇帝痛别紫禁城
- 午门
- 午门廷杖
- 外朝
- 太和门
- 顺治皇帝太和门定鼎燕京
- 太和殿
- 雍正皇帝继位 疑窦丛生
- 太和殿内部
- 溥仪三岁太和殿登基
- 中和殿
- 保和殿
- 保和殿的殿试
- 内廷
- 乾清门
- 康熙皇帝乾清门听政
- 乾清宫
- 宫婢之变
- 交泰殿
- 坤宁宫
- 光绪皇帝大婚
- 御花园
- 顺贞门行刺案
- 斋宫
- 奉先殿
- 养心殿
- 垂帘听政
- 东西六宫
- 权倾后宫的奴仆
- 纪淑妃饮恨永寿宫
- 外东宫
- 皇极殿千叟宴
- 慈禧太后痴迷戏曲
- 珍妃之死
- 外西宫
- 紫禁城平面图
- 内容提要
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About the author
Shang Junyi is a photography author about whom limited public information is currently available. One work by this author is included in the collection, namely Secret Realms of the Forbidden City. Based on the available information, his work centers on the Forbidden City, using photography to present the hidden corners and easily overlooked details of this historic architectural complex. The word “secret realms” in the title suggests that the book does not focus on the well-known routes and landmark scenes familiar to visitors, but rather adopts a perspective oriented toward deeper spaces, changes in light and shadow, and architectural details. This approach means the photographs do more than record; they also guide readers to rediscover the Forbidden City. Because his dates of birth and death, nationality, and professional experience are not clearly documented, his personal biography cannot yet be described in detail. Even so, this single work reflects the author's sustained interest in the architecture and atmosphere of the Forbidden City and offers readers another way of seeing it.
