圆明园The scenes, one by one
圆明园 Yuanmingyuan was not one palace but a great number of compounds, halls, courts and small gardens set round lakes and hills: 212 compounds in our inventory. Every scene and compound outside the European palaces now has a dossier: what it was, the album leaf of 1744 where there is one, how it changed before October 1860, its halls one by one, what survives, and what is known of its size, each figure with how it was got.
The ten best-documented scenes have a page of their own; the others are summarised below and open in the 3D view with all their evidence. Most sizes come from the Qing plan and from the Yangshi Lei drawings, a few from excavations. On the plan, the names at 九洲清晏 are those of the Tongzhi repair of 1873, not of 1860.
The scenes on our plan
Outlines of the scenes as our plan readers drew them on the Qing plan S01 (image courtesy of the Princeton University Art Museum), with the water traced from it. Red: a page of its own. Click a name.
圆明园 Yuanming Yuan
正大光明 Zhengda Guangming Central Great Brilliant Bright
The garden's audience hall at the head of the south axis, behind the Great Palace Gate and the gate 出入贤良门: a plain seven-bay hall used for audiences, banquets and examinations into the 1850s (E1000; E1023; E1557). Looted with the rest on 6-8 October 1860; troops had been quartered in it and the lodges before it, so these were among the last buildings the British troops burned, on 19 October (E2111; E1028).
九洲清晏 Jiuzhou Qingyan Nine Continents Clear and Calm
The emperor's residence: the largest island of the Back Lake, three halls on one axis north of the audience hall, rebuilt after the fire of 1836 and burned in October 1860 (E1153; E1134; E0485). Its 1855 state is known from Yangshi Lei plans not yet seen in full; the base plan here carries names of 1873 (E1161; Q36).
万方安和 Wanfang Anhe Peace and Harmony Everywhere
A building raised in the lake on the plan of the sign 卍, standing by 1727, with named rooms on every arm; Yongzheng liked to live here, warm in winter and cool in summer (E1447; E1451; E1441).
澹泊宁静 Danbo Ningjing Placid, Contented, Peaceful, Quiet
The rice-field scene: a hall on the plan of the character 田 among paddies, standing by 1727, with a farm-themed court to the west; its burnt base was dug in 2020-2022 (E1633; E1640; E1644).
方壶胜境 Fanghu Shengjing Elevated Region of the Square Pot
The most elaborate palace of the Yuanming Yuan proper, built about 1740 on brick-faced terraces by a lake off the Fuhai, with storeyed halls under glazed roofs of several colours. Its halls were lost in 1860 and much of its masonry was pulled down under the Republic.
蓬岛瑶台 Pengdao Yaotai Paradise Island of the Enameled Green Terrace
Three islands in the middle of the Fuhai lake, built as the isles of the immortals after the paintings of Li Sixun, with a court of glazed halls on the central island. Buildings still stood here after the burning of 1860.
同乐园 Tongle Yuan
The court theatre: a three-tier stage facing two five-bay viewing buildings, with the shop street leading north to 舍卫城; banquets and plays were held here from Qianlong to Xianfeng (E2146; E2148; E1557).
鸿慈永祜 Hongci Yonghu Vast Compassion and Eternal Blessing
The imperial ancestral temple of the garden, built in 1742-43 after the 寿皇殿, with the portraits of Kangxi and Yongzheng in a nine-bay hall under yellow glazed tile. Burned in October 1860; its marble columns, qilin and a ramp stone now stand at Peking University.
勤政亲贤 Qinzheng Qinxian Diligent in Government and Friendly with Officials
勤政亲贤 Qinzheng Qinxian is the working court east of the audience hall: the five-bay 勤政殿, where the emperor read memorials and saw officials until noon (S05 j80:11b, 17b-18a; E1066, E1039), and east of it a cluster of small halls, a pavilion and courts: 飞云轩, 静鉴阁, 怀清芬, 秀木佳荫, 生秋庭, 芳碧丛, the three-bay 保合太和殿, the storeyed 富春楼 and 竹林清响 (j80:19a-20a, E1067). Malone calls it a smaller audience hall with adjacent courts (S02 p.77, E1082).
杏花春馆 Xinghua Chunguan The Springtime Lodge of Apricot Blossoms
杏花春馆 Xinghua Chunguan, "Spring Lodge of Apricot Blossom", on the island south-west of 上下天光, reached across a bridge (S05 j81:1a; E1296). First a vegetable plot with a plaque of 1727; 春雨轩 was added in 1755 (S361 v2 p.25; E1303; S360 p.147, Qianlong's poem on its completion "别殿落成歌", E1287).
武陵春色 Wuling Chunse Spring Colors at Wu Ling
武陵春色 Wuling Chunse, "Spring Colours of Wuling", the peach-blossom valley reached over a bridge behind 万方安和, east and a little north, south of a rock tunnel (S05 j81:12b; E1492). Finished 1726 after Tao Yuanming's Peach Blossom Spring; first named 桃花坞 as a whole; Qianlong lived and read here as a prince from 1726 and called his study 乐善堂 before moving to 长春仙馆 (S05 j81:13a; E1492; S361 v2 p.132; E1500).
山高水长 Shangao Shuichang Hills High and Waters Long
山高水长 Shangao Shuichang, "Hills High and Waters Long", the open ground in the south-west corner of Yuanming Yuan, south-west of 万方安和. A tower facing west, nine bays, with linked hills behind it, a stream before it and level ground of several qing in the middle (S05 j81:15b; E1519).
平湖秋月 Pinghu Qiuyue Level Lake and Autumn Moon
平湖秋月 Pinghu Qiuyue, "Autumn Moon on the Calm Lake", in the north-west corner of 福海 (S05 j82:15b; E1912): a three-bay main hall set against a hill and facing the lake, with plank bridges on either side (S40; E1896). Around it 流水音 to the west, 花屿兰皋 by the river out of a gap in the hills to the north-east, 两峰插云 across a bridge to the south-east, 山水乐 further south-east, and 君子轩 and 藏密楼 to the north (S05 j82:15b; E1912).
接秀山房 Jiexiu Shanfang The House Which Meets the Beauty of the Hills
接秀山房 Jiexiu Shanfang, "Mountain Lodge that Greets Beauty", at the east corner of 福海: a three-bay main hall facing west across the lake, 琴趣轩 behind to the east, the square tower 寻云 to the north, 澄练楼 to the south-east with 怡然书屋 behind it, the Buddhist room 安隐幢 east of 寻云楼, and 揽翠亭 to the south (S05 j82:17b-18a; E1954). Begun 1731 (S361 v3 p.1; E1957).
坐石临流 Zuoshi Linliu The Stone Resting in the Running Water
坐石临流 Zuoshi Linliu, "Sitting on Rocks by the Stream", south-east of 水木明瑟 and east of 澹泊宁静: a three-bay hall facing west, ringed by stream (S05 j82:25b; E2064). The album shows a pavilion over a rocky gully where the stream divides, for the cup-floating game, with 同乐园 to the east (S40; E2056).
曲院风荷 Quyuan Fenghe Yeast Courtyard, Wind, and Lotus
曲院风荷 Quyuan Fenghe, "Lotus in the Breeze at the Brewery Yard", east of 碧桐书院 and south-east of 坐石临流: a five-bay hall facing south, with the Buddhist tower 洛迦胜境 to its west (S05 j82:26b; E2077). South of it a nine-opening bridge crossed the lotus pool east-west between two archways, 金鳌 west and 玉蝀 east; 四围佳丽 beyond the river south-west of 金鳌; the pavilion 饮练长虹 east of 玉蝀; then over a bridge north-east the walled mock town gate 宁和镇 and, south-east of it, 东楼门 (S05 j82:27a-27b; E2078). 宁和镇 was renamed 春和镇 early in Daoguang's reign (S361 v3 p.112; E2081), which matches the plan's 春和镇.
大宫门 Da Gongmen The Great Palace Gate
大宫门 Da Gongmen, the Great Palace Gate, is the south front of the garden and the start of the official axis to 正大光明 (S05 j80:7b-9a, E2101). From the spirit wall (Malone: 137 ft long, about 15 ft high, E2114; the dig report gives 41.6 m, 204.8 m south of the gate, S102 E1017) the carriage road ran north between the two halves of the Front Lake to the five-bay gate hall, with five-bay court offices left and right before it (S05 j80:7b-8b).
舍卫城 Shewei Cheng She Wei Ch'eng or Wall of Sravasti
舍卫城 Shewei Cheng, named after Sravasti, the Indian city of the Buddha, is a walled Buddhist town at the north end of the 同乐园 shop street, over twin bridges, with three archways before it (S05 j82:27b-28b, E2146; S02 p.94, E2067). On its south face stands 多宝阁, a shrine of 关帝; inside a gate, the main hall 寿国寿民, then 仁慈殿 and 普福宫; 最胜阁 on the north (j82:28a).
文源阁 Wenyuan Ge The Wen Yuan Ko, Library of the Source of Literature
文源阁 Wenyuan Ge, the library that held a set of the 四库全书, stands a little west of north of 水木明瑟, with 柳浪闻莺 to the west (S05 j81:35b-36a, E2195). S05 dates it 乾隆三十九年 (1774) and pairs it with 文渊阁 in the palace and 文津阁 at Chengde (j81:36a).
福海 Fu Hai The Happy Sea
福海 Fu Hai, the Sea of Blessings, also called the East Lake 东湖, is the largest water of the garden, 'some qing round' (周廣凡數頃, S05 j82:14a), roughly square and almost half a mile a side by Malone, joined by a narrow opening to the lake before 方壶胜境 (S02 p.93, E2370). Eight of the Forty Scenes stand on its shores and islands (scenes 30-37, E2370): 澡身浴德 in the south-west corner with 澄虚榭 facing east, 望瀛洲 north of it, 平湖秋月 in the north-west corner, 接秀山房 on the east facing west, 别有洞天, 夹镜鸣琴, 涵虚朗鉴 on the east, 蓬岛瑶台 in the middle (S05 j82:14a-22a).
镂月开云 Louyue Kaiyun Engraved Moon and Open Clouds
镂月开云 Louyue Kaiyun, first called 牡丹台 Mudan Tai, the Peony Terrace, stood behind 富春楼 Fuchun Lou on the east side of the Back Lake; its main hall is 纪恩堂 Ji'en Tang, with 御兰芬 Yulanfen to the north (S05 j80:26a). The old name was replaced in 1744 and the plaque 纪恩堂 was hung in 1766 (乾隆三十一年), with an essay recalling that here Yongzheng, then a prince, presented the young Hongli to the Kangxi Emperor at a peony viewing, after which Kangxi took him into the palace (S05 j80:26b-28b).
天然图画 Tianran Tuhua A Painting by Nature
天然图画 Tianran Tuhua, on the east bank of the Back Lake north of 镂月开云: the tower 天然图画楼, with 朗吟阁 Langyin Ge to the north, 竹薖楼 Zhuke Lou further north, 五福堂 Wufu Tang of five bays to the east, a five-bay hall 竹深荷净 Zhushen Hejing behind it to the north, 静知春事佳 Jingzhi Chunshi Jia to the south-east, and across the stream 苏堤春晓 Sudi Chunxiao (S05 j80:31b). Most plaques are by Yongzheng; that of 五福堂 by Kangxi, so the core predates 1723 (S05 j80:32a).
碧桐书院 Bitong Shuyuan Library of the Green Wu T'ung Trees
碧桐书院 Bitong Shuyuan, "Library of the Green Paulownias", lay north of 五福堂 across the stream, enclosed by hills: a front hall of three bays, a main hall of five, and a rear hall 后照殿 of five, with 云岑亭 Yuncen Ting on rocks to the west (S05 j80:34b). The plaque is by Yongzheng, so it existed before 1735 (S05 j80:35a).
慈云普护 Ciyun Puhu Merciful Clouds Universally Protecting
慈云普护 Ciyun Puhu, the shrine island on the north shore of the Back Lake, west of 碧桐书院: a front hall of three bays facing the lake, 欢喜佛场 Huanxi Fochang; north of it a three-bay storeyed building with the plaque 慈云普护, Guanyin above and Guandi below; to the east 龙王殿, the shrine of the Dragon King of the garden, 昭福龙王 (S05 j80:35b-36a). Plaques by Yongzheng (S05 j80:36a).
上下天光 Shangxia Tianguang Heavenly Light Above and Below
上下天光 Shangxia Tianguang, west of 慈云普护 on the north shore of the Back Lake: a lakeside tower of three bays on each floor, a hexagonal pavilion on each side, and 平安院 Ping'an Yuan behind (S05 j80:37a). Plaque and couplet by Qianlong; the right pavilion 饮和 Yinhe and 平安院 by Yongzheng, the left pavilion 奇赏 Qishang by Qianlong (S05 j80:37b).
坦坦荡荡 Tantan Dangdang Tranquil and Vast
坦坦荡荡 Tantan Dangdang, the fish-pond scene on the west shore of the Back Lake, earlier called 鱼池 'the fish pond' (S05 j81:2b; the old name only in a search extract). S05: a three-bay 坦坦荡荡 hall, 素心堂 Suxin Tang as the front hall, 光风霁月 Guangfeng Jiyue as the rear hall, 知鱼亭 Zhiyu Ting to the north-east, 萃景斋 Cuijing Zhai further north-east and 双佳斋 Shuangjia Zhai to the north-west (S05 j81:2b).
茹古涵今 Rugu Hanjin Seize the Old; It Contains the Present
茹古涵今 Rugu Hanjin, a library court north of 长春仙馆 and south of 坦坦荡荡 (S05 j81:3b, 4b): the five-bay hall 茹古涵今 facing south, behind it the square hall 韶景轩 Shaojing Xuan of five bays on each face, 茂育斋 Maoyu Zhai east and 竹香斋 Zhuxiang Zhai west in front of it, and 静通斋 Jingtong Zhai to the north (S05 j81:3b). 韶景轩 carried a plaque on each of its four eaves: 喜接南薰 south, 景丽东皇 east, 翠生西岭 west, 清风北户 north (S05 j81:4a). Malone calls its roof double (S02 p.80, in the halls table).
长春仙馆 Changchun Xianguan The Long Spring Lodge of the Immortal
长春仙馆 Changchun Xianguan, south of 茹古涵今, on the west side of the front lake behind 正大光明: a three-bay gate, a five-bay main hall, 绿荫轩 Lüyin Xuan behind it and 丽景轩 Lijing Xuan behind the west gallery (S05 j81:5a); west of it 含碧堂 Hanbi Tang of five bays with 林虚桂静, 古香斋, 抑斋, 墨池云 and 随安室 (E1405, S05). It was Hongli's residence as a prince from 1729; after 1735 his empress used it and the dowager stayed here at festivals; Jiaqing lived here from 1796 under the retired Qianlong (E1406, E1411, S360).
月地云居 Yuedi Yunju Dwelling of the Moon, Earth, and Clouds
月地云居 Yuedi Yunju, a Buddhist temple north of 山高水长 across a bridge, entered through a pass in the hills: a five-bay hall, a square front hall of five bays on each face, a rear storeyed hall of seven bays on both floors; 法源楼 Fayuan Lou and a 静室 to the east; to the west, across a bridge and north, the temple of 刘猛将军 Liu Meng Jiangjun, the locust-driving god (S05 j81:18b). Plaques: gate 清净地, front hall 妙证无声, rear eave 莲花法藏 (S05 j81:19a).
汇芳书院 Huifang Shuyuan The Library of Collected Fragrance
汇芳书院 Huifang Shuyuan, east of 鸿慈永祜 beyond three ridges and a bridge: inner hall 抒藻轩 Shuzao Xuan, 涵远斋 Hanyuan Zhai behind, 翠照楼 inside the west wall, 倬云楼 Zhuoyun Lou inside the east wall, 眉月轩 Meiyue Xuan further east, 随安室 south-east of 倬云楼, an open three-bay hall 问津 Wenjin further east, and across a stream a stone archway named 断桥残雪 Duanqiao Canxue (S05 j81:25b-26a). Burned October 1860 (S02 pp.187-188).
日天琳宇 Ritian Linyu Sun Heaven Topaz Roof
日天琳宇 Ritian Linyu, a Buddhist and Daoist temple south of 汇芳书院 modelled on the rear Buddha tower of 雍和宫 (S05 j81:27b): a middle and a west row of storeyed halls, each with a front and a rear tower of seven bays on both floors, linked by three-bay passages; a 'sky bridge' 天桥 joining the middle front tower to a double-eaved octagonal lantern pavilion 灯亭; east and west corner towers; 楞严坛 in an octagonal pavilion inside the east wall; and further east the 瑞应宫 Ruiying Gong with 仁应殿, 和感殿 and 晏安殿 for the dragon gods (S05 j81:27a-28b). Guandi upstairs in the middle front tower, the Jade Emperor upstairs in the west front tower (S05 j81:28a). 晏安殿 was nine bays from 1788, seven before (halls table).
映水兰香 Yingshui Lanxiang Reflections on the Water and the Fragrance of Iris
映水兰香 Yingshui Lanxiang, west of 澹泊宁静 across the river: a five-bay hall facing west, with 钓鱼矶 Diaoyu Ji to the south-east, the pool 印月池 Yinyue Chi north, 知耕织 Zhi Gengzhi north of the pool, 濯鳞沼 Zhuolin Zhao further north-east, and 贵织山堂 Guizhi Shantang to the south-west, a shrine to the silkworm god (S05 j81:33b-34a; E1666). Its pond held carp brought from Rehe (S05 j81:33b, poem on 濯鳞沼).
水木明瑟 Shuimu Mingse A Stream and Trees and a Bright Lute
水木明瑟 Shuimu Mingse, north-east of 映水兰香: a three-bay hall built across a stream, where a European water device (泰西水法) drove fans inside the room, whence the name 风扇房 (S05 j81:35a; E1686, S361; E1685, S02). 文源阁, the library of 1774, was built just north-west of it (S05 j81:35b; S02 says on the site of rice fields and a double-roofed pavilion, E1685). Plaques by Qianlong and, 一溪清水引风凉, by Yongzheng (S05 j81:35a).
濂溪乐处 Lianxi Lechu The Happy Place of Falling Streams
濂溪乐处 Lianxi Lechu, an island hall north-west of 水木明瑟, ringed by pond and stream: the nine-bay main hall (eave plaque 慎修思永 Shenxiu Siyong), 云香清胜 behind, 芰荷深处 on the east wall, the gallery 香雪廊 turning north-east, the tower 云霞舒卷 and a pavilion 临泉 (S05 j82:1a-b; E1703). To the south the flower-god temple 汇万总春之庙 with the five-bay 蕃育群芳, 香远益清楼, 乐天和, 味真书屋, 池水共心月同明 and 普济桥 (S05 j82:2a-b; E1704, E2376).
多稼如云 Duojia Ruyun Crops Bountiful as the Clouds
多稼如云 Duojia Ruyun, north across the river from 濂溪乐处 facing the rice fields: a five-bay main hall with 芰荷香 Jihe Xiang as front hall and 湛绿 Zhanlü to the south-east (S05 j82:2b-3a). Burned October 1860 (S02 pp.187-188).
鱼跃鸢飞 Yuyue Yuanfei Fishes Leap and Birds Fly
鱼跃鸢飞 Yuyue Yuanfei, north-east of 多稼如云: a hall open on all four sides, each face five bays (四面為門各五楹), 畅观轩 Changguan Xuan as east wing, the tower 铺翠环流 Pucui Huanliu to the south-west, 传妙 Chuanmiao south of the tower, and 多子亭 Duozi Ting beyond the pass (S05 j82:3b-4a). Face plaques: east 岚光曙色, south 绮疏文照, north 涧溜调琴 (S05 j82:4a-b).
北远山村 Beiyuan Shancun Village of the Distant Northern Mountains
北远山村 Beiyuan Shancun, an imitation farm village on both banks of the river east of 鱼跃鸢飞, among fields: at the west end of the stone-walled north bank 兰野 Lanye, behind it 绘雨精舍, south-west 水村图, then a pair of linked storeyed halls, 皆春阁 Jiechun Ge in front and 稻凉楼 Daoliang Lou behind, further west 涉趣楼 and 湛虚书屋 (S05 j82:5a). Burned October 1860 (S02 pp.187-188).
西峰秀色 Xifeng Xiuse The Elegant Color of the Western Peaks
西峰秀色 Xifeng Xiuse, south-west of 北远山村, a room on the river facing west to the Western Hills; across the river the pine-clad rock hill 小匡庐 Xiao Kuanglu with a 龙王庙 behind; east of it 含韵斋 Hanyun Zhai, then 一堂和气, and 自得轩 to the south-east; behind the wall 岚镜舫 Lanjing Fang east and 花港观鱼 west (S05 j82:6b; E1781). Of 1728 and Yongzheng's favourite residence (E1788, S361; S05 j82:8a note 皇考最愛居此); once with a stage for the Double Seventh; 含韵斋 five bays under three rolled roofs, 岚镜舫 twelve bays, 花港观鱼 a seven-bay hall over the river (E1788).
四宜书屋 Siyi Shuwu The Library of the Four Delights
四宜书屋 Siyi Shuwu, east of 西峰秀色 past two pairs of boathouses, on the north bank: the five-bay 四宜书屋, main hall of 安澜园 Anlan Yuan; south-east 葄经馆, south 采芳洲, behind it 飞睇亭, north-east 绿帷舫, south-west 无边风月之阁, further south-west 涵秋堂, north 烟月清真楼, west of that 远秀山房, and across a curved bridge north 染霞楼 (S05 j82:8a-b; E1815). The plaque 四宜书屋 is Yongzheng's; Qianlong reshaped the site after the garden of the Chen family at Haining, whose name 安澜 he had granted in 1762 (壬午), and explained it as a wish for safe sea walls, Yellow River and Grand Canal (E1814, S05 安澜园记; E1819, S02).
澡身浴德 Zaoshen Yude Bathe the Person and Cleanse the Heart
澡身浴德 Zaoshen Yude, at the south-west corner of 福海: the three-bay hall 澄虚榭 Chengxu Xie facing east over the lake, 含清晖 to the south, 涵妙识 to the north, turning west 静香馆, then 解愠书屋 and, to the south-west, 旷然阁 (S05 j82:14a); north across a bridge 望瀛洲 Wang Yingzhou, then 深柳读书堂 and 溪月松风 (S05 j82:15a; E1875). S361 adds 延真院 and 溪山罨画 (E1875), both labelled on S01 (YM30-N01, N02).
别有洞天 Bieyou Dongtian There Is Another Cave of Heaven
别有洞天 Bieyou Dongtian, the south-east corner of 福海 behind the hill: an open five-bay hall backed by the hill and facing the river, 纳翠楼 west, 水木清华之阁 south-west and 时赏斋 north-west of it (S05 j82:18b-19a); the scene was earlier called 秀清村, entered by the water gate 水关 in the east garden wall (S05 j82:19a; E1981, S02). Begun under Yongzheng as a place of Daoist alchemy; the main hall five bays under three rolled roofs; a seven-bay stone boat 活画舫; Jiaqing added the five-bay 岩水澄华 and other halls on the south bank (E1984, S361), which S01 labels (YM34-N02 ?水澄?).
夹镜鸣琴 Jiajing Mingqin The Double Mirror and the Sound of the Lute
夹镜鸣琴 Jiajing Mingqin, on the south shore of 福海 west of 别有洞天: a double-eaved square bridge pavilion over the channel (E2003, S361), 聚远楼 Juyuan Lou to the south, 广育宫 Guangyu Gong to the east for the goddess 碧霞元君 with an archway in front and 凝祥殿 behind, then 南屏晚钟, 西山入画, 山容水态; west 湖山在望, 佳山水 and 洞里长春 (S05 j82:19b-20a). 西山入画 was rebuilt about 1763 as the five-bay 开鉴堂, later 渊渟镜澈 (E2003). Malone saw a deep well on the hill that fed the waterfall by hand (E1999, S02).
涵虚朗鉴 Hanxu Langjian Vast Empty Clear Mirror
涵虚朗鉴 Hanxu Langjian: in S05 (1774+) it stands on the east shore of 福海 and is the main hall of 雷峰夕照 Leifeng Xizhao, with 惠如春 to the north-west, 寻云榭, 贻兰庭, 会心不远 north, 临众芳, 云锦墅, 菊秀松蔚, 万景天全 south (S05 j82:21a). The note says its plaque 'formerly hung at 澄虚榭 on the west of the lake and was later moved to 雷峰夕照 on the east' (S05 j82:21b).
廓然大公 Kuoran Dagong The Porch of the Great Gentleman
廓然大公 Kuoran Dagong, the north-west corner of 福海 west of 平湖秋月: a seven-bay main hall with 双鹤斋 Shuanghe Zhai in front, 规月桥 to the north-west, 绮吟堂, 采芝径, 峭蒨居 beyond a rock cave, the tower 天真可佳 outside the north wall, 披云径, 启秀亭, 韵石淙, a terrace 芰荷深处 on the pool, 影山楼 beyond the wall, 环秀山房 and 临湖楼 (S05 j82:22b). Begun under Yongzheng; Qianlong's rebuild copied the 寄畅园 at Wuxi and the rockwork his Panshan villa (E2035, S361).
洞天深处 Dongtian Shenchu The Depth of the Vault of Heaven
洞天深处 Dongtian Shenchu, west and a little south of 如意馆, in the south-east of the garden: in front the 四所, four courts of the princes' lodgings on two east-west lanes and one north-south lane, with 福园门 Fuyuan Men before them; west of them the princes' school with 前垂天贶, 中天景物 and 后天不老 on an axis and 斯文在兹 on the east, which held a shrine of Confucius (S05 j82:28b-29a; E2089, S361). 如意馆 was the court painters' workshop where Castiglione and Attiret worked (E2089). Malone puts 福园门 in the outer wall about 300 yards east of 大宫门 (E0385, E2088, S02).
藻园 Zao Yuan Ts'ao Yuan, Garden of Aquatic Grasses
藻园 Zao Yuan, west of 长春仙馆 beyond the south-west gate, in the south-west corner of the garden: the five-bay 旷然堂 Kuangran Tang, 贮清书屋 behind, 夕佳书屋 on the pool east of it, 镜澜榭 a little north, the tower 凝眺 and 怀新馆 south-east, 湛碧轩 north-west, 湛清华 south-west (S05 j81:8b-9a). Not one of the Forty Scenes; Malone found a brick dated 1751 on the site (E2258, S02), and S361 dates it to about mid-Qianlong, adding 溜琴亭, 自远轩, a thirteen-bay boat dock with a route to 畅春园, and 粹藻楼 (E2259).
紫碧山房 Zibi Shanfang The Cold Hill, Han Shan
紫碧山房 Zibi Shanfang, north-west of the rear wall of 鸿慈永祜, on the highest hill of the garden: front hall 横云堂 Hengyun Tang, 石帆室 in a rock cave east of the main hall, 丰乐轩 south-east, 霁华楼 north, 景晖楼 further east, 澄素楼 on the pool west of 横云堂, 引溪亭 north-west (S05 j81:25a). Enlarged about 1760; 景晖楼 three storeys; main hall five bays with eave plaque 乐在人和; after 1860 the inner gate, the main hall and a pavilion survived under guard and were lost around 1900 (E2315, S361; S05 j81:25b).
若帆之阁 Ruofan zhi Ge
若帆之阁 Ruofan zhi Ge, north-east of 北远山村 across a stone bridge and west: 湛虚翠轩, 耕云堂, then 若帆之阁, with a 关帝庙 some tens of paces east of 湛虚翠轩 (S05 j82:6a). The tower had two plaques, 御风泠然 below and 平临天境 above (S05 j82:6a-b), so two storeys.
三潭印月 Santan Yinyue
三潭印月 Santan Yinyue, north-west of 方壶胜境 on 福海's north-east, named after the West Lake view; further north-west across a bridge 天宇空明 with 澄景堂 behind, 清旷楼 east and 华照楼 west (S05 j82:13b-14a). The 方壶胜境 preface: 'to the east 蕊珠宫, to the west 三潭印月, clear and bright' (S05 j82:13a).
课农轩 Kenong Xuan
课农轩 Kenong Xuan, built in 1817 (Jiaqing) as a five-bay hall with a three-bay annex on the sites of 皆春阁, 稻凉楼, 涉趣楼 and 湛虚书屋 of 北远山村 (E1756, S361). Not in S05 (1774+), as expected.
后湖 Hou Hu Back Lake
后湖 Hou Hu, the Back Lake, the core water of Yuanming Yuan, ringed by the nine islands: 九洲清晏 on the south (E1153, S02), and round it 镂月开云, 天然图画, 碧桐书院, 慈云普护, 上下天光, 杏花春馆, 坦坦荡荡 and 茹古涵今, in the order S05 describes them (S05 j80:26a-j81:5a). The lake survives with its shape and has been re-dug and lined (S146, S148).
长春园 Changchun Yuan
含经堂 Hanjing Tang
The largest group of Changchun Yuan, built in 1747 and rebuilt from 1770 as the retirement home Qianlong planned, with the recut 淳化阁帖 stones in its galleries. Looted and burned in October 1860, fully excavated in 2001-03 and shown as a ruin.
澹怀堂 Danhuai Tang
澹怀堂 Danhuai Tang, Changchun Yuan's audience hall inside the south gate (Malone's No.1): a five-bay gate with five-bay court rooms east and west, the main hall 澹怀堂 (also 勤政殿, for government and feasts of frontier princes), 众乐亭 behind, the open five-bay 云容水态 across the stream and 长桥 to the south-west (S05 j83:3a-3b; E0003, E0005, E0006). Finished 1747, repaired 1769 and 1791 (E0006).
蒨园 Qian Yuan
蒨园 Qian Yuan, west of 澹怀堂 among stream and rocks, with a west-facing gate, the three-bay 朗润斋, 湛景楼, 菱香沜, the rock 青莲朵 (brought from the old 德寿宫 at Hangzhou), 标胜亭, 别有天, 韵天琴, 委宛藏, and a stele pavilion holding the recut 梅石碑 (S05 j83:7a-8a; E0103, E0092). Begun 1752, eight scenes named in 1753 (E0091, E0104); its south-east was much rebuilt about 1808 with the five-bay 碧静堂 and four new scenes named by Jiaqing in 1809 (E0104, E0105), on an ink plan of 1808 (样067-1, E0106).
思永斋 Siyong Zhai
思永斋 Siyong Zhai, "Studio of Long Reflection", stood north of the stream behind 蒨园: a seven-bay hall, gate plaque 静便趣 and inner plaque 萬横香玉, with the tower 山色湖光共一楼 over the water to the north and the side court 小有天园 to the east (S05 j83:9a-9b; E0135). Begun 1747 on a ringed island (E0138).
得全阁 Dequan Ge
得全阁 Dequan Ge, south-west of 思永斋 beyond the stream: 得全阁 (plaque 天心水面) with 宝云楼 to the south and 远风楼 to the north (S05 j83:10b-11a; E0145); S361 has three waterside towers facing east, the main one of three bays with double eaves, and two nine-arch bent timber bridges (E0146). Finished 1747; poems 1758-64 (E0140-E0144).
海岳开襟 Haiyue Kaijin
海岳开襟 Haiyue Kaijin, "Open Breast to Sea and Mountain", was a three-storey building on a round raised base in the pool north of 思永斋, with an arch on each of the four sides (S05 j83:11a: 中有圓式崇基其上樓宇三層為海嶽開襟四旁枋楔各一; E0145). Finished 1747 (E0164, S991).
流香渚 Liuxiang Zhu
流香渚 Liuxiang Zhu, a pavilion west of 海岳开襟 beyond the water, with 罨画溪 to its north; a path west from here reaches 明春门 of 圆明园 (S05 j83:11b-12a; E0166). Of 1747 with 海岳开襟 (E0164).
法慧寺 Fahui Si
法慧寺 Fahui Si, a Buddhist temple on the south slope of the ridge north of 海岳开襟, west of 宝相寺 (S05 j83:12a; E0171, E0173). 日下旧闻考: gate facing west (plaque 普香界), the 四面延楼, the rear hall 光明性海, and in a west court a glazed square pagoda (S05 j83:12a: 其西别院有琉璃方塔). Finished 1747; S361 gives a five-bay main hall, a five-bay rear-facing tower with eleven-bay wings (the 四面延楼), and the pagoda as seven tiers, square below and round above, 23.55 m high (E0174).
宝相寺 Baoxiang Si
宝相寺 Baoxiang Si, a Buddhist temple east of 法慧寺 on the north side of Changchun Yuan (S05 j83:12a; E0171). 日下旧闻考: gate facing south, then 澄光阁, then 昙霏阁, then on a raised base the hall 现大圆镜, inner plaque 香臺華鬘 (S05 j83:12a). Finished 1747; S361 gives the five-bay tower 澄光阁 with side halls 云窦 and 松关, and the five-bay 现大圆镜 on a high terrace with a three-bay annex (E0179).
泽兰堂 Zelan Tang
泽兰堂 Zelan Tang, on the south slope of the northern hill, east of 宝相寺 through a walled gate (城关), south of the 大水法 of the Xiyang Lou (S05 j83:12b; E0186, E0187). 日下旧闻考: 翠交轩 with the stone grotto 熙春洞 under it, 爱山楼 north of it (upper plaque 天風海濤, lower 山静雲閒), and 泽兰堂 further north (plaque 神觀蕭爽) (S05 j83:12b). Begun 1746 and known for its rockwork; 泽兰堂, a five-bay hall on a high terrace, and 理性居 were added in 1759; used as a study with the best view over the fountains (E0187).
丛芳榭 Congfang Xie
丛芳榭 Congfang Xie, east of 平畴交远风, with 琴清斋 behind it (S05 j83:12b-13a; E0199): of 1747, a five-bay hall on the lake with the pavilions 漾月 and 集虚, the west half of the later 狮子林 group (E0223). Qianlong's poem of 1759 gives a curved gallery, an open hall and steps down to the pool (E0196).
狮子林 Shizi Lin Lion Grove
狮子林 Shizi Lin, "Lion Grove", in the north-east of Changchun Yuan, is two gardens: 丛芳榭 of 1747 on the lake (a five-bay hall with 琴清斋 behind it) and, to its east, the copy of the Suzhou 狮子林 finished in 1772 (E0223, E0165). Qianlong based it on 倪瓒's scroll and on the Suzhou garden, then owned by a 黄 family, with rockwork by Suzhou craftsmen (S05 j83:13b-15b; E0203). 日下旧闻考 lists its parts in order: 虹桥, 假山, 纳景堂, 清閟阁, 藤架, 磴道, 占峰亭, 清淑斋, 小香幢, 探真书屋, 延景楼, 云林石室, 横碧轩, 水门 (S05 j83:13b; E0220).
玉玲珑馆 Yulinglong Guan
玉玲珑馆 Yulinglong Guan, "Hall of Exquisite Jade", stood on an island south of 狮子林 (S05 j83:17a; E0288). 日下旧闻考 gives the main range 正谊明道 of five bays, 林光澹碧 to the north (inner plaque 逰心於淡), 鹤安斋 to the east and 蹈和堂 to the south-west (E0288). Built 1747 and added to about 1764 (E0291).
映清斋 Yingqing Zhai
映清斋 Yingqing Zhai, "Studio of Reflected Clarity", south-east of the pavilion 昭旷亭, which stands south of 玉玲珑馆 (S05 j83:18a; E0307). Added in 1766 as a new residence of 玉玲珑馆 (E0165).
鉴园 Jian Yuan
鉴园 Jian Yuan, "Mirror Garden", lay east of 映清斋 on the long lake north-east of 如园 (S05 j83:18a; E0307, E0324). 日下旧闻考: an open five-bay range facing west, 漱琼斋 to the north, 师善堂 east of it, and a boathouse behind (S05 j83:18a: 鑑園敞宇五楹西嚮北為潄瓊齋其東為師善堂 ... 鑑園之後有船塢). Of 1767, after 趣园 at Yangzhou; S361 adds 开益轩 north, 芳晖楼 and 绿净榭 south (E0324).
东宫门 Dong Gongmen
东宫门 Dong Gongmen (大东门), the east gate of Changchun Yuan, reached from 鉴园 by a hill path: a seven-bay gate of two floors facing east, three-bay court rooms north and south, a moat with a stone bridge outside (S05 j83:18a; E0334, E0391). Jiaqing set out from it for the north in 1815-1820 (E0331-E0333).
如园 Ru Yuan Ju Yuan, Garden of Likeness
如园 Ru Yuan, "Garden of Likeness", in the south-east corner of Changchun Yuan, south-west of 鉴园 (S05 j83:18b; E0354). Finished in 1767 (E0358); early poems of 1768-70 call it 含芳书屋, the name 如园 appears from 1770 (E0356).
绮春园 Qichun Yuan
正觉寺 Zhengjue Si
The lama temple of 1773 on the west side of Qichun Yuan, the one group of the three gardens that came through 1860 and 1900. Damaged in the 20th century, it was repaired in 2003 and its lost main halls rebuilt in 2009-11.
绮春园宫门 Qichun Yuan Gongmen
绮春园宫门 Qichun Yuan Gongmen, the main gate in the south of Qichun Yuan. Jiaqing ordered in 1808 a south-facing gate with offices, a screen wall and barriers on the model of the Changchun Yuan gate (E0566); it was built in 1809 and called the new gate (新宫门) (E0568, E0497).
迎晖殿 Yinghui Dian
迎晖殿 Yinghui Dian, "Hall Welcoming the Sunlight", the main hall inside the south gate of Qichun Yuan, called 勤政殿 under Jiaqing and begun in 1809 (E0572, E0567). North of it is the seven-bay 中和堂, then the path past the hill to the dowager's quarter at 敷春堂 (E0572, E0524).
敷春堂 Fuchun Tang
敷春堂 Fuchun Tang, "Hall of Spreading Spring", was the residence block at the centre of Qichun Yuan, on the axis from the great gate in the south-east: 迎晖殿 (勤政殿 under Jiaqing), 中和堂, 敷春堂, up to 问月楼 on the lake shore (E0524, E0572, E0567). Begun 1801 north of 迎晖殿 (E0588): a five-bay 工字 hall with 集禧堂 before it and the five-bay, two-storey 问月楼 behind; 凌虚阁 east of the rear hall, the small chapel 翠合轩, 澄光榭 south-east of 问月楼, 蔚藻堂 in a court (E0588).
清夏斋 Qingxia Zhai
清夏斋 Qingxia Zhai, "Studio of Clear Summer", in the west of Qichun Yuan, two courts side by side on land with a long history: 裕亲王's 萼辉园 about 1687, then 交辉园, 春和园, and Prince Cheng's 西爽村 from 1773 to 1799 (E0626). West is 清夏斋, a seven-bay 工字 hall (palace_r7_halls; E0517, E0626); east is 延寿寺 (first 双寿寺, renamed 竹林院 by Jiaqing), front hall three bays, rear five (E0626).
凤麟洲 Fenglin Zhou
凤麟洲 Fenglin Zhou, two islands in the east part of the large northern water of Qichun Yuan, joined by a winding bridge, begun 1807: a seven-bay main hall in two rolls with a five-bay front annex, the open hall 绣漪轩 before it, a side court east and a service court on the small east island (E0649, E0651, E0524). The name first belonged to the studio later called 清夏斋 (E0606; S223).
涵秋馆 Hanqiu Guan
涵秋馆 Hanqiu Guan, "Hall Holding Autumn", on a long north-south island north-west of 敷春堂, about 200 by 60 m, with lake to the east and north, facing 凤麟洲 to the east, planted for autumn colour (E0663, E0660). Begun early in Jiaqing's reign (about 1805, added 1810): a south-facing seven-bay double 工字 hall, front and rear halls with galleries, and a rockwork fountain between them fed by a raised tank east of the wall (E0660, E0661, E0662).
鉴碧亭 Jianbi Ting
鉴碧亭 Jianbi Ting, "Pavilion of the Green Mirror", a square pavilion in the middle of a lake west of 迎晖殿, reached by boat, with 正觉寺 to its west (E0675, E0676). Begun in mid-Jiaqing: a double-eaved square pavilion, three bays a side, with a gallery round it; on the north of the islet the five-bay 天心水面 with annexes and the pavilion 玩鹤; a single-arch stone bridge divided inner and outer water (E0676, E0675).
澄心堂 Chengxin Tang
澄心堂 Chengxin Tang, on an island in the south lake of the western group of Qichun Yuan, once the waste plot 竹园: rebuilt about 1815 as a five-bay hall in two rolls with a hip-gable annex and side wings, stone-edged banks and bridges, with plaques 垂虹榭 and 绮旭轩 (E0696, E0698). Xianfeng served the dowager consort a meal here in 1852 (E0697).
含晖楼 Hanhui Lou
含晖楼 Hanhui Lou, in the south-west of Qichun Yuan on the site of the old 含晖园 (given to Prince Yongxuan about 1773, to Princess Zhuangjing 1801, returned 1811 as 南园), when the tower 联辉楼 was moved here from 西爽村: a two-storey tower of seven bays with a riding track (撒马道) and lawn in front for mounted archery (E0722, E0705, E0718, E0720). The Thirty Scenes call it 含光楼, 'the old 联辉楼' (S223; E0448).
畅和堂 Changhe Tang
畅和堂 Changhe Tang, in the south-west corner by the Hanlin garden 澄怀园, on the site of Ertai's 晚香园 (from 1732) and Yin Jishan's 寻春园, derelict after 1770 and rebuilt in 1813: a three-bay gate 松路花龛 and a five-bay main hall in two rolls with side halls, among them 澄霞宇 (E0728). Jiaqing's poems are of 1814 (E0723-E0730).
春泽斋 Chunze Zhai
春泽斋 Chunze Zhai, "Studio of Spring Moisture", built in mid-Jiaqing west of 展诗应律: a seven-bay hall with front and rear annexes, and 水心榭, a three-bay open hall on the pool; east of it courts with 畅惠轩, 蘋香沜, 茂悦精舍 and 惠圃; across the pool the three-bay 时登楼 (E0749). Jiaqing's seven poems (1802-1819) are about rain and the wheat and say nearly nothing on its form (E0748).
四宜书屋 (绮春) Siyi Shuwu (Qichun)
四宜书屋 Siyi Shuwu of Qichun Yuan (not the Yuanming Yuan scene of the same name), built 1805 west of 生冬室 across the long river, in the 绮春园三十景 (S223; E0448, E0590, E0760). A gate of three bays and two halls of five (palace_r7_halls).