Explore the ancient sites of Beijing: ancient trees, majestic rocks, precious waters

Author: (Japanese) Shigeru Anan
Publisher:
Publication Date: 2004-08-01
Features: Among the historical relics of ancient trees encountered during my exploration of historical sites in Beijing, one of my greatest gains was witnessing so many majestic old trees. Most of them are preserved in former Buddhist temples or imperial palaces, having been protected and revered for millennia. Through the passage of time and historical changes, often only these trees remain, marking the locations of former sites. When I visit ancient temples in Beijing's urban and rural areas, it is always these trees that stand tall to greet me. A vast grove of towering pines can be seen from afar in deep mountain valleys, so even if everything else has vanished, people know that these trees guard the memory of a special place. Across the Beijing region, there are over 6,000 ancient trees of more than 29 species, all over 300 years old. The oldest are evergreen trees like cypresses and pines. Deciduous trees such as ginkgoes, bodhi trees, and locust trees can also live for over 1,000 years. These trees are well-maintained because people believe they possess a certain spiritual quality. These species are often chosen for planting around temples, imperial palaces, and the tombs of emperors. In contrast, trees planted in ordinary households are usually flowering locusts or fruit-bearing trees like jujubes and persimmons. These towering trees scattered throughout the suburbs of Beijing form a map of the city's past. When visiting these places, I often feel that if these trees could speak, they would surely tell many thrilling stories about Beijing's history. I would like to share with you some of my encounters with these trees, as a way to give them a voice and recognition. For example, in Zhongshan Park, there are two rows of thick cypresses leading to the ruins of the Liao Dynasty's Bi Temple, built in the 10th century. Trees with such massive trunks are rare in the city. Even though the park is now bustling with visitors, you can still identify the temple ruins through the trees. Their powerful vitality is awe-inspiring. In Ditan Park, ancient cypresses are also scattered throughout. During morning exercises, people often gather around these trees, drawing energy from them. Many cypresses have smooth, polished tree nodes on their trunks, a result of centuries of human activity. People rub their backs and stiff necks against these nodes, polishing them into a golden-brown hue. The trees must feel this massage, as they appear exceptionally robust. Ancient trees in Beijing have strong personalities. Whether in the city or the suburbs, the oldest trees are often revered by emperors or locals and given nicknames like "Emperor Tree," "Cypress King," or "Mounting Tree." Expressing respect for these living witnesses to history in this way is truly the best way. These nicknames often describe the trees' shapes, for example, the branches of the "Crouching Dragon Pine" stretch horizontally in all directions; the two branches of the "Incense Burner Cypress" resemble handles attached to a round trunk. In the Labor People's Cultural Palace, there is an ancient cypress whose twisted posture reminds people of the "Deer Turning Back." Because Beijing has been the capital for many centuries, it boasts many unique trees. In imperial gardens and large temples, gardeners intentionally prune branches to shape beautiful and distinctive forms. There are also other varieties of trees whose planting purposes are to admire their stunning bark or exposed roots above ground. P12-14