Tsinghua Garden
Tsinghua Garden (simplified Chinese: 清华园; traditional Chinese: 清華園; pinyin: Qinghuayuan) is a garden in Beijing. It was built during the Qing dynasty under the Kangxi Emperor. It was originally named Bright Spring Garden (Xichun Garden), then was divided into Spring Scenery Garden (Chunze Garden) and Moral Garden (Hande Garden), of which Spring Scenery renamed Spring Coming Garden and latter Spring Scenery Garden and renamed Tsinghua Garden.
The word Tsinghua Garden make a general reference to Tsinghua University, including Tsinghua Garden, Spring Coming Garden and other districts in the late of Qing dynasty.
History
Tsinghua Garden was original Bright Spring Garden grant by Emperor Kangxi’s third son Yinzhi and an affiliate to Summer Palace, for it located in the eastern of Summer Palace and name Eastern Garden. A written report to the throne in Complete Translation of the Letter of Manchu Script With Red Ink to Throne declares: "We the courtiers request to build house near Garden of Everasting Spring in 18, January, for my emperor father bestow the east open space of North New Garden and order us to built houses. I Courtier Yinzhi purchase a lawn adjoin Mingzhu’s son Kuifang’s house of southeast of Water Mill Brake." The second year of Daoguang, emperor divided it into two, with which west is Spring Garden and east Moral Garden and granted to prince Mianxin, Miankai respectively. Miankai without any heir, prince Yizong was the stepson of Miankai and inherit the Bright Spring Park, which vulgo “Garden of 5th father”. And Yizhu success the throne to be Xianfeng Emperor, and Yicong’s royal written plaques and renamed “Tsinghua Garden”. Though Anglo-French Allied Forces burn down Spring Coming Garden in 1860, Tsinghua Garden was survived. After Yincong died, the elder son Zailian was the king and his younger brother prince Duanjun Zaiyi set the altar and rose in insurrection for boxer, it was a historic site. Foreign ministry request the site to build school for office of student affairs of USA visitor and it renamed Tsinghua school which open in 1911 and incorporate Spring Coming Garden then developed to be today Tsinghua University.
Memorabilia
Kangxi emperor had visit Bright Spring Garden of the third son of emperor Yinzhi 10 times, during which 8 times for birthday celebrating, including his 60th birthday in 1713. The plaques Kangxi emperor inscript were five, which are “Restrain and Prudent” , ”Bamboo Pavilion”, ”Modesty Benefit”, “Goodness room” and “Bright Spring”, the last one was confirmed the park’s name in 1713.
Major architecture
The major architecture of Bright Spring Garden
Front
Do Room, Spring Book House, Bluish Green Room, Algae Morality Room, Charming Flower House.
Middle
Goodness Room, Pine Crane Hill House
Back
Goodness Manage Room, River Shed
The major architecture of Tsinghua Garden
I-shaped Hall
I-shaped Hall ’s original name was I-shaped Palace and built in Kangxi period in Qing Dynasty, is one of the notability ancient interest of Tsinghua University, cover 2638 m2 ,with a masonry-timber structure.
Cheerful Spring Garden
Cheerful Spring Garden was built in Kangxi period in Qing Dynasty and located in the northwest of I-shaped Hall, connect with I-shaped Hall and Tassel Gate. There are Moon Gate, Wistaria Shelf, Small fishpool, Rockery. After Tsinghua University established, the park was used to be the office of principal and now is the offices of institution.
Ancient Moon Hall
Ancient Moon Hall was built in the second year of Daoguang in Qing dynasty. The most feature part is its intact tassel gate，covering an area of 697㎡，with a masonry-timber structure. It was used to be the study for the park owner of Tsinghua initially and change to be teacher dormitory after Tsinghua University built up. Ancient Moon Hall is the office of the administrative organization of Tsinghua University.
References
- Qinghua Daxue Zhi《清华大学志》, 2001.