According to Weng Wan-go amd Yang Boda in The Palace Museum: Peking, Treasures of the Forbidden City, the Qianqing Gong which was the first of the Three Rear Halls, formerly contained the sleeping chambers of Ming emperors. During the Qing dynasty, however, emperors began to manage state affairs from the Qianqing Gong. The Palace was eventually turned into a formal living room and offices where emperors summoned subordinates for consultation, received foreign envoys, as well as gave banquets for family members, relatives and high officials.

Cf. two similarly inscribed carpets sold in our New York Rooms, 4 June 1992, lot 160; and 3 December 1992, lot 156.