🏯 Summer Palace Plaque Art & Renshou Hall: Where Imperial Calligraphy Meets Cosmic Harmony! 🖌️

#hellohalloween

🎨 Plaque Art Highlights:

“Long Live the Mountain and Long Live the Spring” – The iconic plaque in Long Corridor, expressing imperial wishes for eternal natural beauty

“Hall of Joyful Longevity” – Empress Dowager Cixi’s residence plaque, blending personal desire with state symbolism

“Tower of Buddhist Incense” – A masterpiece of symmetry and spiritual aspiration overlooking Kunming Lake

“Garden of Harmonious Interests” – Calligraphy that mimics the flow of water and rhythm of hills

🏛️ Renshou Hall – The Throne of Benevolence & Longevity:

Architectural Grandeur: The primary hall where Empress Dowager Cixi held court, flanked by bronze dragons and phoenixes
Symbolic Layout: Designed according to feng shui principles, aligning earth, heaven, and imperial authority
Hidden Meanings: The name “Renshou” (Benevolence and Longevity) reflects Confucian ideals of virtuous rule
Historical Moments: Where major political decisions unfolded amid lacquered beams and silk curtains
📜 Cultural Significance:

→ Plaques were often inscribed by emperors themselves—a rare personal touch in imperial architecture
→ Each stroke followed strict calligraphic traditions, balancing strength (yang) and elegance (yin)
→ The color gold was reserved for plaques related to the emperor, blue for heavenly themes, green for nature

#summerpalaceart #imperialcalligraphy #renshouhall #beijingheritage