The Vicissitude History Of Xiyuan Imperial Garden

Xiyuan Sanhai (West Imperial Garden and Three Lakes), located in central Beijing, is the oldest and most authentically preserved imperial gardens in China. It has a history of 840 years since it was erected in the Jin Dynasty. The garden was under continuous constructions during the following Jin, Yuan, Ming, and Qing Dynasties. Carrying on the traditions of multi-culture in Chinese history, Xiyuan is a gem of garden art. It also exempted great importance on the developments of urban and water systems in traditional Beijing.The following historical documents were taken as my research basis-"Palace and Yamen Map"(1680, the nineteenth year of the emperor Kangxi's reign),"Imperial Beijing Map"(1750, the fifteenth year of the emperor Qianlong's reign),"Taiyechi Pool Zone Map"(1759, the fifteenth year of the emperor Qianlong's reign), and Yangshi Lei Charts (National Library & Palace Museum). By exploring the existing archives and documents, and involving the survey and measuring achievements made by School of Architecture, Tianjin University during past years, this paper attempts to, for the first time, describe a panorama on the evolution of Xiyuan Garden from its erection in the Jin Dynasty to its largely accomplishment during the Qing emperor Qianlong's reign, and represent the entire appearance of Xiyuan in Qianlong's reign with adequate visual images. Also, the paper deeply explores the historical and cultural values of Xiyuan, in order to make a solid foundation for further research on it and other imperial gardens in the Qing Dynasty.