Xi Yang Lou (, lit: Western Mansion(s)) are ruins of 18th-century European-style imperial buildings on the grounds of the Old Summer Palace in Beijing, China. They are located in the northern part of the Chang Chun Yuan, one of the three gardens which once made up the Old Summer Palace, and cover an area of about 7 hectares.
History
The Xi Yang Lou were commissioned by the Qianlong Emperor and designed by the Jesuit painter Giuseppe Castiglione and the French Catholic priest Michael Benoist (1715-1774) who were in his service. Construction was carried out by Chinese craftsmen working under their supervision with some further contributions by other European artists.
Planning of the gardens started in 1747 and four years later in 1751, the first waterworks (Xie Qi Qu) were completed. Other milestones were the building of a large labyrinth (Huang Hua Zhen) in the years 1756 to 1759 and an observatory (Yuan Ying Guan) which was added in 1783.
Like the rest of the old Summer Palace, the Xi Yang Lou destroyed in a fire laid by the Anglo-French allied forces in 1860 during the Second Opium War. However, since the masonry work was not consumed by the fire, significant ruins of many of the buildings can still be found on the site.
Some conservation work on the site was carried out between 1977 and 1992. The Huang Hua Zhen labyrinth was rebuilt during this time.
Architecture
The main structures of the Xi Yang Lou are: the Huang Hua Zhen labyrinth, the Xie Qi Qu (Harmonious Wonder) waterworks, the Yang Que Long (a gate with aviaries), the Fang Wai Guan (belvedere), the Hai Yan Tang (Hall of National Peace), the Yuan Ying Guan (Immense Ocean Observatory), the Da Shui Fa (Grand
Waterworks), the Guan Shui Fa (Throne for Viewing the Waterworks), and the Xian Fa Shan (Hall of Perspective).
Huang Hua Zhen
The Huang Hua Zhen (黄花阵, lit.: Yellow-Flower Maze) is a maze formed of 1.2 meter-high embossed-brick walls covering an area of 89 by 59 meters. The total length of the walls is 16 kilometers. In its center sits a European-style circular pavilion. The emperor is said to have sat in this pavilion to watch his concubines competing in a race with yellow lanterns through the labyrinth on the occasion of the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Xie Qi Qu
The Xie Qi Qu (谐奇趣, lit.: Harmonious Wonder) is located in the southwest corner of the Xi Yang Lou. The complex is noted for containing China's first European-style water feature. The basins of the key fountains had a floral layout (shaped like crabapple or chrysanthemum flowers); they were fed by bronze waterspouts in the shape of animals (rams, ducks, fish). Water for the fountains came from a water tower which was filled by a mule-drawn water wheel.
Yang Que Long
The Yang Que Long (养雀笼, lit: Bird-Raising Cage) was a Eurpean-style gateway (archway) with side-wings housing aviaries. It is located towards the western end of the main east-west axis of the complex and was built in 1759.
Fang Wai Guan
The Fang Wai Guan (belvedere, 方外观) is a mansion located north-east of the Yang Que Long and facing south. It was built in 1759 and was originally two-storeys tall. The mansion was decorated with Eurpean-style landscape paintings. Some of the artwork was done by the French Jesuit painter Jean Denis Attiret (1702-1768), others were designed by Giussepe Castiglione. The mansion is set to have been frequented by a Uyghur concubine in favor with the Qianlong Emperor and have contained tablets inscribed in Arabic which were lost in the early 20th century.
Wu Zhu Ting
The Wu Zhu Ting (五竹亭, Five Bamboo Pavilions) were located opposite to the southern front of the Fang Wai Guan. The ensemble consisted of five pavilions with double-eaved roofs connected by bamboo verandahs. however the building complex has been lost completely.
Hai Yan Tang
The Hai Yan Tang (海晏堂, Hall of National Peace) is a building and garden complex erected east of the Fang Wai Guan in 1759. It consisted of a two-storied main building with a large fountain in front and an h-shaped water tower behind it. The fountain was known as the "Water Clock" because it was surrounded by twelve bronze waterspouts in the shape of human bodies with animal heads which were successively activated every two hours.
Yuan Ying Guan, Da Shui Fa, and Guan Shui Fa
The Yuan Ying Guan (远瀛观, Immense Ocean Observatory), and the Da Shui Fa (大水法) waterworks and the throne of the Guan Shui Fa (观水法) are located at the center of the Xi Yang Lou complex, where the form a much shorter north south axis. The Yuan Ying Guan was a large building with a central archway supported by tall white marble pillars. Some of the richly-carved masonry work can still be seen in the ruins which remain today. South of the observatory, in the center of the complex was the Da Shui Fa, a group of elaborate fountains. The Guan Shui Fa, to the south of the grand fountains served as a throne for the emperor to observe the water displays.
Xian Fa Shan
The Xian Fa Shan (线法山, lit: Perspective Hill) is a round hill east of the center of the Xi Yang Lou. Its name derives from perspective painting which was introduced to China by the western artists who worked on the buildings. On top of the hill stood an octogonal pavillion of which only scattered stone blocks survive.
Xian Fa Hua
The Xian Fa Hua (线法画) was a display of perspective paintings of European landscapes. The paintings where arranged on seven pairs of symmetric walls to give the viewer the impression that he was actually looking out onto a European landscape. The display marks the eastern end of the Xi Yang Lou complex.
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