The perfect rich man in the city

In Jiaqing, there was first the poem"Thirty Scenes of Qichun Garden", and then more than 20 new scenes were successively created. The more famous garden sceneries at that time included Fuchuntang, Qingxiazhai, and Hanqiu Pavilion. , Shengdong Room, Siyi Bookstore, Chunzezhai, Fenglinzhou, Weizaotang, Zhonghetang, Bixiang, Zhulinyuan, Xiyushanfang, Yanyu Tower, Hanhui Tower, Chengxintang, Changhetang, There are nearly 30 places including Zhanqingxuan, Zhaoliang Pavilion and Lingxu Pavilion.

There are more than a hundred garden buildings with plaques hanging on them.

The Qichun Garden Palace Gate was built in the 14th year of Jiaqing. Because it was built more than half a century later than the Grand Palace Gate of the Old Summer Palace and the Second Palace Gate of the Changchun Garden, it is also known as the"New Palace Gate" and has been in use ever since. Since the early years of Daoguang's reign, the Fuchuntang area on East Yuan Road has been renovated and used as a place to support the empress dowager. However, the scenery on Yuan West Road has always been the garden residence of Emperor Daoguang and Xianfeng. After the garden was destroyed in 1860, it was renamed Wanchun Garden when attempts were made to rebuild it during the Tongzhi period.

In order to pursue various pleasures, the emperors of the Qing Dynasty also introduced an area of ​​European-style garden architecture in the northern boundary of Changchun Garden, commonly known as the"Western-style Building". It consists of more than ten buildings and gardens, including Yantang, Yuanyinguan, Dashuifa, Guanshuifa, Xianfa Mountain and Xianfa Wall.

Planning began in the 12th year of Qianlong's reign and was basically completed in the 24th year of Qianlong's reign. It was designed and guided by Western missionaries such as Lang Shining, Jiang Youren, and Wang Zhicheng, and built by Chinese craftsmen. The architectural form is in the late European Renaissance"Baroque" style, and the gardening form is in the"Le Notre" style. But it also absorbed many traditional Chinese techniques in gardening and architectural decoration.

Most of the building materials are white marble, the stone surface is finely carved, and the roof is covered with glazed tiles. The main body of the Western-style building is actually an artificial fountain, which was called"water method" at that time. It is characterized by large numbers, great momentum, and unique ideas. It mainly forms three large fountain groups: Xiequququ, Haiyantang and Dashuifa.

Among them, the most famous twelve zodiac signs are in it.

It is a pity that the twelve zodiac bronze statues have not been gathered yet.

There are even lost ones.

It has become a regret in the hearts of the Chinese people.

Every time the twelve zodiac bronze heads appear abroad, they cause a strong sensation.

Everyone is working hard for these national treasures to return to China.

Unfortunately, none of these national treasures have returned so far.

The entire area of ​​Xiyanglou Scenic Area does not exceed 2% of the total area of ​​Yuanming Dynasty, which is just a small part. But it is a successful attempt to imitate European-style gardens. It occupies an important position in the history of Western garden exchanges.

It caused a strong response in Europe. One of its Western European missionaries praised the Western-style building: It combines beautiful scenery and interesting things in one place, and has all the magnificent and strange fountains that people can imagine. The largest of them can be compared with the fountains of the Palace of Versailles and Saint-Claude Church..

The missionary concluded: The Old Summer Palace is the Versailles of China.

It is a pity that this royal garden suffered an unprecedented disaster in 1860.

On October 6, 1860, the British and French allied forces attacked the Old Summer Palace. At that time, the remnants of Seng Gelinqin and Ruilin made some resistance in the north of the city and then fled.

In the evening, the invading army broke into the palace gate of Yuanmingyuan. At this time, more than 20 Yuanmingyuan Jiyong eunuchs entered and exited the Xianliang Gate to engage with the enemy. They"were not afraid of danger and moved forward with all their strength." However, they were ultimately outnumbered. Ren Liang, the"eighth rank leader" of Yuanmingyuan Jiyong, and others Died in the line of duty.

By 7 p.m., the French invading army captured the Old Summer Palace. Wen Feng, the minister in charge of the garden, threw himself into Fuhai and died.

Concubine Chang who lived in the garden was frightened and died. From the next day onwards, officers and soldiers went on a rampage of looting and destruction. In order to force the Qing government to accept the peace terms as soon as possible, the British and French forces looted the city for two days before marching into the city.

On October 7, after the British and French invaders broke into the Old Summer Palace, they immediately"sent three British and French commissioners to discuss the distribution of the treasures in the garden."

French commander Montauban wrote to the French Minister of Foreign Affairs on the same day:"I order the French commissioners to pay attention. First, take the most valuable items in art and archeology. You will present the extremely rare items in France to His Majesty the Emperor (Napoleon III) and hide them in the French Museum." The

British commander Grant also immediately"sent officers to collect the necessary items. An object belonging to the British." The day after the British and French invaders entered the park, they could no longer resist the temptation of items. Officers and soldiers rushed forward in groups to rob the gold, silver, treasures, cultural and artistic treasures in the park.

This is what some sheepdogs call gentlemanly behavior.

Just some wolves in sheep's clothing.

Invading weak humans.

There are so many things to grab in Old Summer Palace.

According to a British eyewitness, the entire French camp was filled with many extremely ornately decorated clocks and clocks, and silks and embroideries were everywhere around the soldiers' tents.

An English second-class military officer named Hellis got the nickname"Chinese James" because he became rich by plundering the Old Summer Palace and enjoyed his life. _To read the ununderlined version of the novel, please download Feilu Novels