Emperors and Eccentricities Unusual Episodes from
The Emperor Who Loved Puppets
In the early years of the Ming dynasty, Emperor Hongwu was known for his love of puppet shows. He believed that these performances could help him understand the mood of the people better. The emperor even appointed a special group of puppeteers to perform regularly in front of him at court. Their plays were often used to educate the emperor on current events and political issues, as well as to entertain him during times of stress.
The Forbidden City's Secret Gardens
Hidden within the vast complex of Beijing's Forbidden City are several secret gardens that few visitors ever get to see. These hidden oases were originally designed as private retreats for empresses, providing them with a peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle of palace life. One such garden is called "the back garden," which features beautiful waterfalls, pavilions, and walking paths surrounded by lush greenery.
The Dragon Throne's Most Unlikely User
During China’s Qing dynasty, there was an unusual case where a eunuch named Wei Yuan became one temporary occupant of the famous dragon throne reserved for emperors only. Due to an illness preventing then-emperor Qianlong from sitting on his throne during a ceremony, Wei Yuan was asked to take his place temporarily while still maintaining proper distance between himself and other officials out respect for imperial authority.
China's First Female Emperor
In 690 AD, Wu Zetian rose through ranks in Tang Dynasty politics until she became so powerful that she eventually seized control over all power herself – becoming not just regent but fully-fledged emperor under her own reign title Taizong (not be confused with Li Shimin who also held this title). She ruled effectively enough that when she stepped down after ten years due partly due to pressure from her son who wished to reclaim rightful position as heir apparent.
A Royal Bake-Off Contest
One legendary story involving Chinese royalty tells us about how two brothers-in-law vied against each other in what can only be described today as an epic bake-off contest during Song Dynasty rule by their respective wives’ father – then reigning Emperor Renzong Shenzong respectively seeking best dessert recipe before choosing between their daughters' marriage proposals; ultimately settling upon whom he thought created tastier pastries based solely off this competition result alone without considering any other factors like wealth or family connections involved within both families involved here too!
