Construction began in 179 and was basically completed in 189, which lasted for a century. Since then, Jiaqing, Daoguang and Xianfeng generations have been repaired and expanded repeatedly, which lasted for more than 15 years.
Construction process of Yuanmingyuan:
The Yuanmingyuan was mainly built in the late years of Kangxi and Yongzheng Dynasty. In the forty-eighth year of Kangxi (179), Emperor Kangxi gave his fourth son yongzheng emperor a garden in the northwest suburb of Beijing. ?
Yuanmingyuan was named by Emperor Kangxi. The three-character plaque of Emperor Kangxi's imperial book is hung above the door of Yuanming Hall. There is an explanation for this "Yuanming" Yong Zhengdi, saying that the meaning of the word "Yuanming" is: round and fascinated, a gentleman is also in the middle; Bright and shining, the wisdom of talent is also.
"roundness" refers to the perfection of personal morality, surpassing ordinary people; "Ming" means that political achievements are bright, perfect and wise. This can be said to be the ideal standard for the ruling class in feudal times to flaunt the wisdom of the monarch. ?
in the second year of Yongzheng (1724), the expansion project of Yuanmingyuan officially began. In the first month of this year, Yong Zhengdi authorized the Ministry of Interior to send personnel to the Jehol paddock to cut trees.
since then, most of the timber used in the construction of the Tainei, Xiyuan and Sanshan Five Gardens has come from the paddock. In July of the third year of Yongzheng (1725), the Ministry of Internal Affairs appointed a businessman to purchase the stone needed by Yuanmingyuan in Changsheng. Yong Zhengdi has a Zhu Piyun: "There is a slight delay in Yu Changsheng's preparation of stones, and he will be condemned." You can see his urgency in building a garden. ?
The expansion project of Yuanmingyuan in Yongzheng period generally includes three parts:
In the first part, the central axis is extended to the south, and a palace area is built in the south of Giyuan, strictly imitating the symmetrical form of the central axis of the Forbidden City, including the newly-built Grand Palace Gate, as well as the left and right courthouses and the value rooms of the government offices of the cabinet, which will become the main building complex of the emperor in Yuanmingyuan in the future.
in the second part, the original garden was expanded to the north, east and west, and the Qushui Island was built, and pavilions and pavilions were added, which constituted the main body of the later emperor Qianlong's imperial title "Forty Scenes" (at least 33 of them were completed during Yongzheng's reign).
the third part, the construction of Fuhai and its surrounding buildings. ?
The expanded Yuanmingyuan covers an area of about 3, mu. In each scenic spot, there are not only magnificent palaces, but also pavilions, pavilions and winding bridges that make people feel relaxed and dexterous, with rockeries, lakes and winding rivers dotted among them. During the Yongzheng period, the pattern of Yuanmingyuan was basically completed.
Extended information:
Yuanmingyuan, also known as Yuanming Three Gardens, is a large royal garden in Qing Dynasty. It is located in the northwest suburb of Beijing, adjacent to the Summer Palace, and consists of Yuanmingyuan, Changchun Garden and Qichun Garden, so it is also called Yuanming Three Gardens. In addition, there are many small gardens, which are distributed in the east, west and south, surrounded by stars. ?
It covers an area of 3.5 square kilometers, with a building area of 2, square meters and more than 15 scenic spots, and is known as the "Garden of Ten Thousand Gardens". Every summer, the Qing emperor came here to escape the heat, listen to politics and handle military and political affairs, so it was also called "Summer Palace".
The Yuanmingyuan was built in 179 (the forty-eighth year of Kangxi), and was originally a gift from Emperor Kangxi to Yin Zhen, the fourth son of the Emperor. After Yongzheng ascended the throne in 1722, the original Garden was expanded, and the Zhengda Guangming Hall, Qinzheng Hall and many value rooms of the Cabinet, Sixth Department and military department were built in the south of the Garden, hoping to "avoid the noise and listen to politics" here in summer.
during the reign of emperor Qianlong, in addition to the partial addition and reconstruction of Yuanmingyuan, Changchun garden was built in the immediate east and merged into Wanchun garden in the southeast. The pattern of Yuanming Three Gardens has basically taken shape.
in Jiaqing dynasty, the Qichun Garden (Wanchun Garden) was mainly renovated and expanded, making it one of the main gardens.
During the reign of Emperor Daoguang, the state affairs declined and the financial resources were insufficient. However, it was better to withdraw the furnishings of Wanshou, Xiangshan and Yuquan, and stop the Rehe River for summer vacation and Mulan hunting, and still did not give up the reconstruction and decoration of Yuanming Three Gardens.
On October 6th, 186, the British and French allied forces looted the Yuanmingyuan, looted cultural relics and burned them. They tried to repair them when they were in the reign of Emperor Tongzhi, but were forced to stop and rebuild other buildings due to financial difficulties. After Eight-Nation Alliance, it was hit by bandits and eventually turned into ruins. ?
the yuanmingyuan, founded and operated in Qing dynasty for more than 15 years, was once famous in the world for its grand geographical scale, outstanding construction skills, exquisite architectural landscapes, rich cultural collections and profound national cultural connotations, and was praised as "a model of all gardening arts" and "a model of ideals and art" by French writer victor hugo.
Reference: Baidu Encyclopedia-Yuanmingyuan.