Summer Palace

Author: Zhai Xiaoju
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-07-01
Features: The Summer Palace in Beijing is an outstanding example of Chinese landscape garden design, harmoniously integrating artificial landscapes with nature. The Summer Palace embodies the Chinese philosophy and practice of garden design, which played a pivotal role in the development of Eastern garden art culture. Representing the Chinese imperial gardens, the Summer Palace is a powerful symbol of one of the world's great civilizations. The residential area of the imperial bedrooms in the Summer Palace adopts the traditional building technique of the northern Chinese quadrangle. Compared to the tall and grand halls in the administrative area, the courtyards here are more elegant and comfortable.
Head south from the Hall of Benevolence and Longevity and go around an artificially piled-up winding earth hill, and you will find yourself in a bright open space. The vast Kunming Lake, the verdant Longevity Hill, the lofty Tower of Buddhist Incense, the tower on Jade Spring Hill (Yuquan Mountain), and the winding peaks of West Hill—all the natural beauty appears before your eyes. The scenery-making techniques "yufangxianshou" (If you want to loose it, first tighten it) and "yuyangxianyi" (If you want to praise it, first criticize it) are best demonstrated here.
A courtyard named Yu Lan Tang, located next to the shore of Kunming Lake, was the sleeping quarters of Emperor Guangxu within the garden. The name "Yu Lan" comes from the poem "Yuquan yong weilan" (Jade Spring surging with gentle ripples) by the Jin Dynasty poet Lu Ji. The poem refers not to the Jade Spring on West Hill, but aptly captures the terrain of the area. During the Qingyi Garden period, Yu Lan Tang was an open courtyard with connecting buildings on both sides. The eastern wing room, Xianfen Shi, and the western wing room, Ou Xiang Xie, were also multi-windowed and multi-door buildings. After the failure of the "Wuxu Reform" in 1898, all the buildings and passages in this courtyard were walled up, and Empress Dowager Cixi had Emperor Guangxu imprisoned here when she visited the garden.
Yi Yun Tang, located behind Yu Lan Tang, was the residence of Empress Longyu in the garden. Longyu was the last empress dowager in China's feudal society. In 1912, she represented the Qing Dynasty in declaring abdication, ending the Qing Dynasty's 260-year rule over China. During the Qingyi Garden period, Yi Yun Tang was a library for the emperor. Today, ten tablets of genuine calligraphy by famous masters of the Qing Dynasty are embedded on the southern wall of the courtyard, making it a valuable piece of art.
Between Yu Lan Tang and Yi Yun Tang stands the Xijia Tower, named after the line "Shanqi ri xijia" (The mountain air at dusk is finest) from Tao Yuanming's poem "Drinking." From the tower, one can enjoy the magnificent scenery of the sunset over the lake and mountains. To the west of Xijia Tower, adjacent to the lake shore, is a winding stone-paved path known as "Jiudao Bay." Following the bend of the path northward and then westward leads to Empress Dowager Cixi's residence, the Hall of Happiness and Longevity.
The residential area of imperial bedrooms in the Summer Palace adopts the traditional building technique of the northern Chinese quadrangle. Compared to the tall and large halls in the administrative area, the courtyards here are more elegant and comfortable. HeadsouthwardfromtheHallofBenevolenceandLongevityandgoaroundanartificiallypiledupwindingearthhill,youcouldfindyourselfinabrightopenspace.