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Reconstruction of the Masterplan of Jinmingchi Garden Shevchenko

Figure 4. The comparison of the master plans of Imperial Gardens. (A) the boundaries of Jinmingchi (based on
archaeological reports). (B) Beihai Park, Beijing. (C) Summer Palace, Beijing [17]

Thus, the central island and the Five such as Beihai, Summer Palace, Old Summer
Halls should be in the center of the pond, and Palace (圆明园), and Mountain Resort (避暑
the layout was consistent with the 山 庄 ), the length of the bridges linking
painting.What was the reason that the painter islands and lake banks is comparatively short,
drew a three-span bridge? For one thing, a and the islands are normally away from the
three-continuous-arch bridge could make the centers of the lakes. It is worth noting that
architecture of the Garden more outstanding, Jinmingchi had the function of dragon-boat
while simplifying architecture is contrary to racing, which required open and free water
what the painter pursued. For another, the space. To sum up, the depiction of the three-
bridge was a structure for a single function, span bridge in the painting Jinmingchi
less important than the surrounding buildings, Zhengbiao Tu was closer to reality.
and shortening the length of the bridge had no Another confusing point was the width
impact on the overall depiction. Another of Baojin Towerof 100 zhang as mentioned in
assumption was that the “three arches” the book (equal to more than 300 m). In the
described in Meng Yuanlao’s book actually literature, the question of which part of the
refer to the “three spans.” In this case, the Tower was 100 zhang ( 丈 ) in width was
contents of the book and the painting can unclear. Even if it was the width of the
match. The Five Halls connected with the enclosing wall, the size was much larger than
three-span bridge obviously could not be built the high foundation based Tower in the Song
in the center of the pond. However, in the era. In other words, the same with the painter
cases of imperial gardens of the Qing dynasty, of Jinmingchi Zhengbiao Tu, Meng Yuanlao

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