Monday, May 5, 2008Beijing
Behind the Hall of Middle Harmony (right) stands the third Ceremonial Hall of the Outer Court, the Hall of Preserving Harmony (left). The entire complex of three ceremonial halls is perched atop a three-tiered platform of white marble that raises them a dizzying ninety-eight feet in the air, with steps cascading downward on all sides.
Originally used for banquets, later (as in a few hundred years, but what’s a century or two between friends?) it was better known as the Palace of Examination where the country’s best scholars would take the Highest Level of Imperial Exams in the Nation, hopeful they’d advance to the ultimate rank of “Jin Shi.”
And I thought the Minnesota driver’s license test was a stinker. Who knew?
(Photo credit: ChinaReport.com)
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