Forbidden city - beyond the courtyards

After traversing the 3 entrance gates separated by really large courtyards you come to this working area of the city (pic. 1). I would love to know how they used all these ramps in ceremonies and such. Apparently the buildings were where important officials did their work.

Pic. 2 is of a throne room. I believe this was the resting throne room. I have other pics and some are of the actual throne room. And yet another which may have been the dressing throne room. They were separated by good size courtyards. Apparently the robes were very heavy so once the Emperor was dressed he needed to have a place to rest before ceremonies. One can only imagine how it must have been, crowded with people, incense burning, lamps lit, and everyone in their ceremonial gear.

Pic. 3 is of the detail around the windows on the outside. The Chinese rub bronze for luck so there were a number of places such as on this frame where the bronze was rubbed shiny. This little approx. 4 inch dragon had also been rubbed shiny.