Built in 1709, the 48th year during Emperor Kangxi’s reign in the Qing Dynasty, the Old Summer Palace is located in the western suburb of Haidian District in Beijing, abutting the Summer Palace. With over one hundred garden landscapes, the Old Summer Palace consists of three gardens: the Garden of Perfect Brightness (Yuanmingyuan), Garden of Eternal Spring (Changchunyuan) and Elegant Spring Garden (Qichunyuan).
Old Summer Palace
As a large imperial palace established and administrated by emperors of the Qing Dynasty during 150 years, the Old Summer Palace was named by the Emperor Kangxi. The three Chinese characters “Yuan Ming Yuan” on the plaque hanging above the door of the hall of the Old Summer Palace is also an autograph of the emperor. “Yuanming” is the Buddhist name of the Emperor Yongzheng since he was a prince. Emperor Yongzheng, whose Buddhist name is “Yuanming Buddhist,” believes in Buddhism and is knowledgeable about Buddhist doctrine. Considering himself to be a great master of Buddhism in the early Qing Dynasty, the emperor played a significant role in the development of Buddhism. He exerted certain impact on Buddhism as the “Lord of the World” by vigorously advocating “Fusion of Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism” and “Combination of Zen Sect and Pure Land Buddhism”. Therefore, when Emperor Kangxi intended the palace as a gift to Prince Yongzheng, the future Yongzheng Emperor, the Emperor Kangxi gave the garden the name “the Old Summer Palace”. Since his succession in 1723, Emperor Yongzheng expanded the palace by additionally constructing the Hall of Righteousness, Hall of Diligent Government and offices for Cabinet, Six Ministries and the Grand Council, in order to focus on “administrating state affairs in noiseless environment”.
The layout of the Old Summer Palace that consists of three gardens was basically formed in 1770. During the reign of Emperor Jiaqing, major renovation and extension were carried out on the Elegant Spring Garden, which became one of the main royal dwellings. During the reign of Emperor Daoguang, the state was on the wane and faced with fiscal problems. However, the government would rather remove the furnishings of the “Three Hills” - Longevity Hill (Wanshou Shan), Fragrant Hills (Xiangshan) and Jade Spring Hill (Yuquan Shan), and give up heading for the summer resort – Chengde Mountain Resort and annual royal hunting ground - the Mulan Paddock, than discontinue the reconstruction and decoration of the Old Summer Palace.
In 1861, Victor Hugo wrote in his “Expédition de Chine” that, “Two robbers breaking into a museum. One has looted, the other has burnt. One of the two conquerors filled its pockets, seeing that, the other filled its safes; and they came back to Europe laughing hand-in-hand.” It is the condemnation voice representative of millions upon millions of people with the sense of righteousness against such savage looting acts. Nowadays, the Old Summer Palace has been turned into a relic park, and is undergoing protective repair. After restoration of the mountain shape, waterworks, vegetation, bridges and culverts, paths and ancient buildings, the palace is expected to acquire a completely new outlook soon.
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