清朝时紫禁城里的消夏良方
Nowadays, air conditioning and electric fans help people beat the summer heat. But in ancient times, without such appliances, how did people find relief? Some cultural items collected at the Palace Museum in Beijing can help us figure out how Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) royal families, who lived inside the Forbidden City, spent their summer days.
现代人用空调、电扇等消暑，但古时候没有这些，人们又是如何抵挡暑热的呢？这期乐学我们就借北京故宫博物院里的若干文物，讲一讲清朝时紫禁城里的消夏良方。
Summer food and drinks in the royal court were mainly various kinds of melons and fruits, as well as tribute tea from around the country. When the emperors met officials, read books or memorials, they drank green tea, scented tea or milk tea. These drinks are refreshing and offer respite from the summer heat.
Iceboxes made of wood were widely used in the Qing royal court. Due to the weak conductivity of heat, lead or tin was put inside the box to extend the hours for preserving the natural ice. Many historical materials record emperors, empresses and imperial concubines using such a box to keep food like melons and fruits cool on hot summer days.
Clothing for Qing Dynasty emperors was complicated and can be categorized according to different purposes, such as ritual clothes, auspicious clothes, traveling clothes and rain suits. And according to season, there were winter clothes and summer clothes.
Summer costumes for the royals were mainly made of fabrics like yarn and silk. The materials are permeable, which keep the wearer cool.
Many features of the architecture in the Forbidden City helped relieve summer heat. The Zhizhai window, or hung and removable window, was a great invention. The upper part can be pulled up for ventilation, while the lower part can be removed to allow more light in.
The royal family could even enjoy an air-conditioned room in ancient times. As the iceboxes often had air holes, it could be used to cool the temperature of the room.
The fan was another necessity for royals on summer days. Fans at the royal court varied widely. Exquisitely made, they were more than a tool for cooling people down; they were extraordinary works of art.