Imagine being told you are the supreme, divine ruler of an empire, only to find that your "Grand Imperial Palace" is actually the cramped, repurposed offices of a local salt tax collection agency. In this episode of pplpod, we conduct a structural archaeology of the Museum of the Imperial Palace of Manchukuo, analyzing the transition from administrative office space to a "Gilded Cage" for the captive emperor Puyi. We unpack the "Architectural Bait and Switch," exploring how Imperial Japanese forces utilized spatial geography to distract a figurehead with blueprints for a grand western palace that was never finished. We explore the mechanical "Diplomatic Theater" of the grounds, where traditional Chinese rockeries sat alongside a tennis court and golf course designed specifically to project a mira ...