Video 9: The Imperial Garden
Video 9 Quiz
1. Where is the Imperial Garden located?
a. North
b. South
c. East
2. What meaning does cypress imply?
a. Expanding country’s territory
b. Live longer
c. Multiplied descendants
3. What is the Imperial Garden for?
a. Work
b. Amusement
c. Study
a. North
b. South
c. East
2. What meaning does cypress imply?
a. Expanding country’s territory
b. Live longer
c. Multiplied descendants
3. What is the Imperial Garden for?
a. Work
b. Amusement
c. Study
Video 9 Transcript
Yuhuayuan, the Imperial Garden, is located at northern
outside the Inner Court, through the Gate of Earthly Tranquility to the North.
The Imperial Garden is the oldest in the Forbidden City, and it covers a total
area of 12000 square meters. It was basically a place of amusement for
emperors. The Emperor Qianlong wrote of his garden that, “Every ruler, when he
has returned from audience and has finished his public duties, must have a
garden in which he may scroll, look around and relax his heart.”
Chinese gardens are an extension of architectural planning and design. Pavilions and halls are distributed orderly, and interspersed with trees, cypresses, and bamboos, as well as hills and rocks.
Ancient cypresses not only decorate gardens, but also have implied meanings. Baizhi (cypress branches) has a similar pronunciation as Baizi (hundreds of children), implying emperor’s pray for multiplied descendants. Dozens of Lianli (trees are interlocking) cypresses are growing in the Imperial Garden. The name indicates people’s wish of being inseparable king birds in sky and Lianli branches on land.
Chinese gardens are an extension of architectural planning and design. Pavilions and halls are distributed orderly, and interspersed with trees, cypresses, and bamboos, as well as hills and rocks.
Ancient cypresses not only decorate gardens, but also have implied meanings. Baizhi (cypress branches) has a similar pronunciation as Baizi (hundreds of children), implying emperor’s pray for multiplied descendants. Dozens of Lianli (trees are interlocking) cypresses are growing in the Imperial Garden. The name indicates people’s wish of being inseparable king birds in sky and Lianli branches on land.
Forbidden City Videos
Video 1: The Meridian Gate Video 2: The Golden River Video 3: The Outer Court Video 4: The Lives of the Eunuchs Video 5: Ming Power Structure
Video 6: Hall of Supreme Harmony Video 7: Palace of Heavenly Purity Video 8: Palace of Earthly Tranquility Video 9: The Imperial Garden
Video 10: Imperial Sight Pavilion Video 11: Palace Defenses Video 12: Daily Life of the Emperor Video 13: Lives of the Concubines
Ming Tombs Videos
Video 14: Death and the Ming Tombs Video 15: The Ming Dynasty Video 16: Admiral Zheng He
Video 1: The Meridian Gate Video 2: The Golden River Video 3: The Outer Court Video 4: The Lives of the Eunuchs Video 5: Ming Power Structure
Video 6: Hall of Supreme Harmony Video 7: Palace of Heavenly Purity Video 8: Palace of Earthly Tranquility Video 9: The Imperial Garden
Video 10: Imperial Sight Pavilion Video 11: Palace Defenses Video 12: Daily Life of the Emperor Video 13: Lives of the Concubines
Ming Tombs Videos
Video 14: Death and the Ming Tombs Video 15: The Ming Dynasty Video 16: Admiral Zheng He