Views of the Old Summer Palace from Renowned Figures

Author: Hou Renzhi et al.
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2007-01-01
Features: The Yuanmingyuan, located in the northwest suburbs of Beijing, consists of the Yuanmingyuan, Changchunyuan, and Wanchunyuan, collectively known as the "Three Yuanming Gardens." It covers an area of approximately 5,200 acres, has a perimeter of nearly 10 kilometers, and a construction area of 160,000 square meters (equivalent to the construction area of the Beijing Forbidden City). Originally a garden from the Ming Dynasty, the Yuanmingyuan was transformed into a grand imperial palace garden through the efforts of six emperors from Kangxi to Xianfeng of the Qing Dynasty over more than 150 years, concentrating the nation's manpower, resources, and wealth. During the Yongzheng era, it was established as a "palace for escaping the noise and governing" and became the second most important political activity center after the Forbidden City. During the Qianlong era, when the Qing Dynasty was at its peak, the Yuanmingyuan was massively expanded. To the east of the Yuanmingyuan, the Changchunyuan was expanded, and to the southeast, the Wanchunyuan was developed. The layout of the Three Yuanming Gardens was thus largely determined. Qianlong made six southern tours, ordering replicas of scenic spots he admired to be built in the Yuanmingyuan. The Anlang Garden in the Yuanmingyuan, the Xiaotianyuan in the Changchunyuan, the Shizilin, and the Rulin were all modeled after the "Four Great Famous Gardens" of Haining in Jiangsu, Wang's Garden in Hangzhou, Shizilin in Suzhou, and Zhan Garden in Nanjing. To the north of the Changchunyuan stands a group of Western-style palace buildings—the Xipinglou, which were meticulously constructed by Chinese craftsmen based on designs by the Western missionary Giuseppe Castiglione. The "Great Waterworks" and the "Yuanying Pavilion" in the Western-style garden area are primarily built of white stone. Although European in style, they incorporate elements of traditional Chinese architecture, blending East and West in a unique and unparalleled way. The Yuanmingyuan is not only the crystallization of architectural art in China's feudal era but also a rare museum and art gallery in the world. The treasures of the Qing imperial family were not primarily in the palaces of the Forbidden City but in the Three Yuanming Gardens. The gardens housed numerous rare books from ancient times to the present, famous calligraphy and paintings, ancient bronze ritual vessels, artistic treasures, gold, jade, and porcelain antiques. Westerners called it the "Garden of Gardens," a title it truly deserves. This book introduces the Yuanmingyuan as seen by renowned figures.