Chapter 2 2. Ningshou Garden

The gardens in the imperial palace mainly include the Empress Garden of Kunning Palace, the Garden of Compassion Ning Palace, the Garden of Jianfu Palace and the Garden of Ningshou Palace.Ningshou Palace Garden, commonly known as "Qianlong Garden", was built when the country was unified, the political situation was stable, the financial resources were strong, and the culture was prosperous.Its garden layout, artistic features, and cultural connotations are so vast that it is not only unique among the existing gardens of the imperial palace, but also a masterpiece.Qianlong Garden is a wonderful flower among Chinese gardens.

The Qianlong Garden is arranged in a lengthwise area of ​​160 meters from north to south and 37 meters from east to west, covering an area of ​​5920 square meters. Buildings often have different building areas (this book is mainly based on the figures provided by the Forbidden City, and there are also self-tested figures.), narrow space, compact layout, flexible and changeable, open and closed, winding paths leading to secluded places, and different scenery.The garden is arranged from south to north, and the courtyard layout is divided into four entrances. The first entrance is Yanqi Gate, and the main building is Guhuaxuan.This is an open pavilion. There is an ancient catalpa tree in front of the pavilion, and the open pavilion is built with the tree as a borrowing.Xuan couplet said: "The bright moon and clear breeze are endlessly hidden, and the long catalpa and ancient cypresses are good friends." In the front yard of Xuan Xuan, there are mountain and stone pavilions, which are gorgeous and unique.To the east is the Cheng Terrace, to the west is the Xi (xi) Appreciation Pavilion, and in the pavilion is the Liubei Canal, which is the place where Emperor Qianlong and his ministers held a banquet of Qushui Liushang.The water source of Liubei Canal is a well behind the rockery in the south. It is sucked into the tank, introduced into the canal, and flows back in a meandering manner until it reaches the well.Qushui Liushang is in the water diversion canal, floating cups to compose poems, stop drinking from cups, compose poems and sing harmony, poetry and wine for joy.The stone tablet in the pavilion is engraved with the "Lanting Story" written by Emperor Qianlong imitating Dong Qichang.Here is a story: In ancient times, on Shangsi Day in March every year, people went to the water to wash their ominous omens. This is called Fu (fu) 禊.It was on this day that Wang Xizhi and his friends wrote the famous "Orchid Pavilion Preface": "In the ninth year of Yonghe, at the age of Kuichou, at the beginning of late spring, we will meet at the Lanting in Shanyin, Kuaiji, to repair the amulet." Ningshou Garden The Xuan Shang Pavilion was built to pass on this elegance and custom.

The southeast corner is Quchi Corridor, separated by a small courtyard, the layout is ingenious, and the scenery follows you as you walk.In the northwest corner, Xuhui Court is built on the rockery, which is connected with the Shangxia Pavilion at the foot of the mountain through the climbing corridor.The curved ruler corridor and the climbing corridor are alternately curved and straight, with different slopes and flats. The concept is novel and the two echo each other. The second entrance, with Suichu hall as the main building, has lake and stone spots in the courtyard, and the environment is elegant and quiet. Emperor Jiaqing explained the name of "Suichu": "From the beginning of Qianlong's Yuan Dynasty, if God can look up to the emperor Zhou Jia, the ancestor of the same saint, he will be the Zen seat." Later, God really fulfilled Emperor Qianlong's original intention.The plaque in the Suichu hall is "Nourishment and pottery love". Emperor Qianlong was already rich in the world, and what he pursued was the word "Su".To the northwest of Suichu hall is Yanqu building.

The third entrance is dominated by mountain scenery. In the courtyard, there are emerald peaks, abrupt rocks, steep cliffs and valleys, and deep caves.The buildings are arranged around the mountain, with Cuishan Building in the north and Yanghe Jingshe in the west, which are two-story exquisite pavilions.Downstairs, the south room couplet said: "The books on the four walls are from the past to the present, and the flowers and trees in the courtyard are used to inspect the agriculture and mulberry."In the sun at the foot of the mountain, there is Sanyou Pavilion, which means the three friends of Suihan pine, bamboo and plum.There is a warm kang in the pavilion, which is a place to rest in the garden in winter.The moon gate in Sanyouxuan is made of bamboo as the ground, plum blossoms are carved in red sandalwood, plum blossoms and bamboo leaves are carved in jade, with a fresh composition and harmonious colors.

The fourth entrance, Fuwang Pavilion, is the main scenic building of the whole garden, with vertical and horizontal intervals, twists and turns, exquisite decoration and endless changes.To appreciate the scenery inside the pavilion, you need to turn at least 20 directions.When you are in it, when you cross the threshold, you often lose your way, so it is commonly called "lost building".The four sides of the pavilion are divided into several courtyards that seem to be connected but separated by verandas and short walls.There is Biluo Pavilion on the main peak of Dieshidui Mountain in front of the pavilion. The patterns are all plum blossoms, and the shape is novel and unique.Under the pavilion is a five-petal xumizuo, with plum branches carved inside and outside the circular plate, painted plum blossoms on the eaves and forehead of the pavilion, and the top of the pavilion is divided into five slopes by five vertical ridges, which also symbolizes the five petals of plum blossoms.This five-pillar and five-ridge plum blossom-shaped pavilion looks like a large plum blossom basket surrounded by countless plum blossoms, so it is commonly known as "Plum Blossom Pavilion".

Juanqinzhai is located in the northernmost part of the garden, ending with an exquisite two-story building for the whole garden landscape.The couplet in the building is: "The letter can surpass the painting, and Yu Yan can delight the soul." The bamboo hanging eaves are embedded in the room, and the jade-embroidered fan is inlaid. It has a Jiangnan scenery with a fresh style and exquisite exquisiteness.The small stage in Juanqin Zhai is decorated with bamboo fences and vines.Emperor Qianlong watched the chaqu sung by eunuchs here many times.Chaqu was a small song popular in the Eight Banners at that time, and the singers accompanied it with octagonal drums and sanxian.Emperor Qianlong ordered his ministers to borrow his tunes, compose new lyrics, and sing about Taiping and elegant events. There are more than a hundred kinds of repertoire.From the beginning of the Qing Dynasty to before Xianfeng, the eunuchs were all acting roles in the palace, and folk troupes were not allowed to enter. For this reason, the Qing Palace established Nanfu, where eunuchs practiced arts, and later became the Shengping Department.Listening to music in Juanqinzhai was a pleasure for Emperor Qianlong and Empress Dowager Cixi in their later years.

The Ningshou Palace District has three characteristics: one is the integration of halls, sleeping palaces, and gardens; the second is the integration of practicality, art, and magnificence;Thus becoming a microcosm of the Forbidden City.