Selected Illustrations of Chinese Historical Gardens - (Second Series)

Author: Weng Jingfang
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-12-01
Features: On the first day of the third month, Jinming Pool and Qionglin Garden were opened by Meng Yuanlao. On the first day of the second month, the goldfish pond and Qionglin Garden were opened outside Shuntian Gate in the west of the prefecture. Every day, the emperor's carriage was taught to practice the ceremony of entering the pool. Although it was forbidden for officials and commoners to indulge in rewards, the Censorate issued a notice prohibiting criticism. The pool was located north of the street outside Shuntian Gate, with a circumference of about nine li and thirty steps, and a width of about seven li to the west. Inside the gate on the southern bank of the pool, about a hundred steps to the west, there was a northern-facing pavilion by the water, where the emperor would come to watch the competition for prizes and enjoy banquets. In the past, colorful canopies were set up, but during the Zhenghe period, they were built with structures. To the west, a few hundred steps away, was the Xian Bridge, about hundreds of steps long from north to south, with three arches on the bridge, painted red lacquered railings, and swan columns arranged below. The central arch was raised, called the "Camel Arch," resembling a flying rainbow. At the end of the bridge, there were five pavilions in the center of the pool. Stone balustrades stood on all four sides, facing the grand pavilions, with imperial canopies set up in each. Red lacquered dragon beds were placed in the center, with cloud and water screen murals depicting dragons, and visitors were not allowed to enter. The corridors above and below the pavilions were filled with money, food, and drinks, as well as performances by entertainers and stalls. On both sides of the bridge, people threw coins from earthen pots, betting on money, clothing, and servants. Visitors came and went, with parasols in sight. To the south of the bridge stood a latticed star gate, with colorful towers on either side. During the competition for prizes, courtesans were arranged on the towers. Opposite the gate on the south side of the street was a high platform built with bricks and stones, with a tower on top, about a hundred zhang wide, called the "Baojin Tower." In front of the pool gate, it was about a hundred zhang wide, with the Xian Bridge and the water pavilion in the foreground. The emperor would come to watch horseback archery and acrobatics on the eastern bank of the pool. Near the water and walls stood weeping willows, with colorful tents on both sides, where people rented boats to watch the competition for prizes. On the east side of the street were food and drink stalls, trading markets, and entertainment stalls. The pawn shops did not collect items for a few days but only sold them when the pool closed. To the north, until the back gate of the pool, was the west water gate of the Bian River. On the western bank of the pool, there were no buildings, only weeping willows dipping into the water, with grass and smoke covering the embankment, and few visitors. Most were fishermen who had to buy permits from the garden to fish. Visitors who caught fish would buy them back at double the price, slice them into thin strips by the water, and serve them with fine wine, a delicacy of the time. After the water training, the small dragon boats were tied here. On the northern side of the pool, facing the five pavilions, there were large buildings where the dragon boats were kept, called "Aowu." The emperor would come for about twenty days. The guards and attendants wore flowers in their hats, fine brocade, golden-threaded robes, gold-belted silk sashes, and other luxurious attire, competing to show off their freshness. They brought golden spears from the imperial treasury, treasure-adorned bows and swords, dragon and phoenix embroidered flags, red-tipped silk bridles, and ten thousand riders raced, with the sound of bells shaking the ground.