stylistic:style_transfer, information:extraction
Etymology

The palace gained its name from its enormous scale and severely restricted access to all but the Emperor, the Imperial family, and Eunuchs; hence the Chinese term "Forbidden City" emerged. The punishment for unauthorised entry to the palace was immediate execution. The common English name "Forbidden City" is a translation of the Chinese name Zijincheng (紫 禁 城; lit. ' Purple Forbidden City '), which first formally appeared in 1576. Another English name of similar origin is "Forbidden Palace," though "city" is much closer to the original Chinese meaning.

The name " Zijincheng " has significance on many levels. Zi, or "purple", refers to the North Star, which in ancient China was called the Ziwei Star, and in traditional Chinese astrology was the heavenly abode of the Jade Emperor. The surrounding celestial region, the Ziwei Enclosure (紫 微 垣; Zǐwēiyuán), was the realm of the Jade Emperor and his family. The Forbidden City, as the residence of the terrestrial emperor, was its earthly counterpart. Jin refers to a prohibition or taboo. Cheng originally meant a castle, fortress, or fortification, but in modern Chinese, the character means city.

Today, the site is most commonly known in Chinese as Gugong (故 宮), which means the "Former Palace". The museum which is based in these buildings is known as the "Palace Museum" (故 宮 博 物 院; Gùgōng Bówùyùan).

In the Ming and Qing dynasties, the Forbidden City was also known as Danei (大 内) or "Palace City" (宮 城; Gōngchéng).