Labyrinth
View along the a corridor on the east side of the Inner Court. The corridor leads to the Six Eastern Palaces, or Dongliugong, a complex of buildings providing the living quarters for the imperial concubines. From here ceramic decorated gates, connecting passages and small alleys form the maze of the Inner Court extending north-ward. Concubines lived a very lonely life in the Forbidden City. They seldom saw their relatives and many concubines had actually never seen the Emperor. Palace intrigue and internal political power struggles ruled daily life. With politicians fearing concubines might get too knowledgable and powerful, they were not allowed to study, and just spent their days performing rituals, playing cards and gossipping.