Chengguang Hall is a part of the so called circular city, which is an element of the much larger former Imperial Pleasure Gardens identified as Beihai Gongyuan (Beihai Park or North Lake Park). With the circular city itself being situated on the south shore of the lake, adjacent what amounts to the main
south entrance, directions to this structure are easy to find and follow.
Thus its sits at an important location near and in view of the power centers of the past and present. In addition and of crucial relevance in case, the circular city also sits due south of- and across the waters from Jade Islet, atop of which stands the highly revered Buddhist-Lamaist Yong An Temple, with its
Bai Ta - White Dagoba riding atop the hill, an important symbol of relations with both the Tibetan and Mongolian peoples. The Tibetans and Mongolians at the time were spread- and held sway over a much larger territory than inhabited by them today.
Qing Dynasty Era and so directly connects to the story of the circular city itself.
Chengguang Hall is the central feature of the circular city - or better "citadel" - and the only hall found
on what amounts to the platform of this circular "city". So elevated to a considerable height above the normal plain of the surrounding hutong and districts, the view from Chengguang Hall or better the platform of the citdael allows for the connecting of various historic periods in Chinese history into the minds eye. In case, the Forbidden Palace City was the realm built by the Ming Emperors (1368 AD - 1644 AD). As one will find explained, the presence of a large Tibetan Buddhist shrine right adjacent explains certain aspects of political relations of the early, and the other complex was an even larger and richer extension of it built by their successors, the Qing Dynasty (1644 AD - 1911 AD). The circular city, however had been the first location of a Palace and Throne in the Capital, a Mongolian Throne founded by the sucessors of the Great Khan Genghis (mainly the Kubilai Khan)
(See also: "History of Beijing - Part 2 Beijing during the Ming and Qing Dynasties".)
And thus by reminding the Mongolian guest of their past glories and achievements, and the bringing of later generations of Mongolians to this location, must have reinforced the Kangxi Emperor's claim to what was in fact the Khan-ship of (Buddhist-Lamaist) Mongolia.
Although highly symbolic, the message of hosting Mongolians to a state ceremony at the former location of Palace of their Great Khan's, must have read something alike this; Mongolians were the ones to found this greatest of all Capitals, and at the time the Manchu were their allies in the Empire (albeit subjected). During the Ming Dynasty the Han achieved great things resulting in a resplendent place and a powerful large and walled city. Now that the Manchu, a fellow nomadic peoples, had taken control over this vast city and Empire, the request (or proposal) of the Kangxi Emperor was, to once again join forces, this time under Manchu Banner, and take, lead and control again the greatest Empire of the entire planet (via the Jesuits and Ming the Manchu were aware of a circular globe) and its wealth. Of course, as the Kangxi Emperor had brilliantly ensured first, it was arther a request the Khalka Mongolians could not refuse.
Beihai Park & White Dagoba
Kublai Khan Circular City - Cheng Guang Hall
HISTORY OF CHENGGUANG HALL AND THE CIRCULAR CITY:
According to historical records, during the seating of the Mongolian Emperor in the city of Beijing during the Yuan Dynasty (1272 AD - 1368 AD) there was a hall named Yitian, which formed an important part of the circular city at that time. During that same Dynastic period, but at a later point, the Hall was renamed from Yanti to Chengguang Hall.
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Thus, replicating it many centuries after the destruction of the original circular city, its gardens and pavilions, when this historic site was "rebuilt" (in a free interpretation) during the succesful Kangxi Reign of the, also Foreign, Manchu Qing Dynasty a new Hall was built and given the same name.
As recorded, the current Chengguan Hall was completed in the year 1690 AD, which was the 29th year of the Kangxi Rule.
The Kangxi Emperor rulled from the year 1661 until his death in 1722 AD, achieving not only the most militarily succesful but also the longest reign of the entire Manchu Dynasty. Although, the exact reasons for the rebuilding of a Mongol Imperial Hall in that specific time frame are unclear, there must be a relation with the Kangxi's Emperor's smart diplomacy versus his northern neighbors, specifically the western Mongolians (also Dzungar) and the Eastern Mongolian Tribes together known as Khalkha's. Playing western Mongolians against their eastern counterparts, only 6 years after the (re-)
Step up to the Chengguang Hall via its own white marble stairs. The Hall sits elevated upon a spaceous white marble terrace with enough room for solid ceramic enameled ballustrades in a joyful pattern.
opening of the circular city with its symbols of Mongolian prowess, the eastern Mongolians effectively surrendered to the Manchu Throne making the Kangxi Emperor their more powerful overlord. Having effectively outmanouvered the western Mongolians, the way lay open to an invasion of their territory, the subjugation of western Mongolia and, always of prime interest to the Emperor and Court, the creation of even larger revenues from the international trade routes.
at the time of the construction of the Chengguang Hall however, all of these successes still lay in the future. Only in the previous year of 1689 AD, the Kangxi Emperor had managed to make a grandiose military expedition and tour of the "southern regions" (i.e. the Yangtze River Delta), in so doing spreading relations, influence and wealth in order to consolidate his political position and build his emerging Empire over all of China. Having completed the southern tour successfully and without interference, apparently the Kangxi Emperor felt confident enough to start thinking of further expansion, maybe even a conquest of the land and trade routes still dominated by Mongolians and Tibetans. Especially the salt, and the so called "Tea-Horse Trade" was of special interest to the Manchu and by then Chinese Emperor, who would prove himself to be brilliant strategist.
It appears as though the reconstruction of the Mongolian circular city and the restoration of Chengguang Hall amounted to the creation of some sort of spiritual shrine intended to facilitate the plans of the ambitious Kangxi Emperor in a magical (Feng Shui type of) way.
Although most of the available hints to this point have since disappeared, one may still note the giant bronze cauldron postioned squarely opposite of the Chengguan Hall, in a prime position. This cauldron, more elegantly dubbed the Jade Urn is important magical relic which was added in this location to add special symbolic significance to the site of the rebuilt ∢Mongol∢ circular city and its Chengguan Hall of Manchu-Mongolian friendship, diplomacy and spirituality.
JADE URN:
The ritual object found situated immediately across from the Chengguang Hall is known as the Jade Urn. This so called Jade Urn is the original object first created on orders of the Kublai Khan of the Yuan Dynasty (Reign period: 1260 AD - 1294 AD) who had this important and sacred ritual object enshrined in the the Temple of the Jade Island (Qianghua Dao) (just north of the circular city itself) his important reign period. According to its legend, the ritual cauldron
a roofing with several tiers, which elegantly curve up at the ends. With its exterior decorations set to the general pattern of the halls found in the "Forbidden City" and the many various temple complexes in Beijing; red walls with golden adornements, there are no large references to great Imperial Importance. Identifying the building as of lower Imperial status the enameled roof tiles are colored green, not yellow. Twin golden dragons facing eachother fill the space right above the entrance, whereas flowers and other decorative patterns have been chosen for the other decorations circling around the building. As was and more or less is the tradition, a namesake signboard in the Manchu as well as Chinese (Mandarin or Putonghua, Peking style Chinese) Language tops the front door and frame.
By virtue of its simple yet intricate design, the Chengguang Hall, unique among all halls found in the Capital, is especially spacious. The many window shutters, when left open allow for a surprising amount of light, as well as a light breeze to pass - when necessary- through the room.
3 bays wide and 3 bays deep, the hall has a giant coffered ceiling with opposite the entrance, a magnificent (and original) white jade statue of the Sakayamuni Buddha. This statue, aptly known as the Jade Buddha, is the only such statue surviving the pillage and plunder of the 19th and 20th century in Beijing.
JADE BUDDHA STATUE:
The Jade Buddha Statue found inside Chengguang Hall measures 1 and a half meters high. It was cut from one giant piece white jade crystal, not only spotless throughout but also flawless without seem or cracks. By itself, a rare natural wonder the "Jade Buddha" was carefully crafted by experts into a statue of the Buddha, complete with burmese hair-style and a golden bejwelled crown and ritual garment. A unique and priceless artifact, it is held that this Jade Statue was originally given as a tribute to the Empress-Dowager Cixi, the woman by some recognized as the last real Emperor of the by then ailing Qing Dynasty. According to the legend attached, the statue
Rather spectacularly, even before entering into Chengguang Hall, the visitor is confronted by a stately white Buddha, which in stately manner seems to await at the far other end of this Hall amidst various symbols of power and wisdom.
ARCHITECTURE OF CHENGGUANG HALL:
The Chengguang Hall is a 12 angled building which seems to be of some sort of intricate design when viewed from the exterior. However, in reality the exterior effect of Chengguang Hall is achieved through the use of a very simple method, namely by building a central hall and adding 4 halls to each side. The entire structure is then adorned with bracketed roofing. The main visual effect is created by making use
DIRECTIONS - REACHING CHENGGUANG HALL WITHIN BEIHAI PARK:
As mentioned, the circular city sits on the south side of Beihai Park right adjacent of its main south gate. Directions are therefor simple.
Having entered through the south gate, follow the central pathway that leads up to the white marble bridge which connects to the Jade Islet.
While walking along one will notice a stone staircase leading up the wall of the circular city. This is one of its two entrances and the most frequently used entry point. Climb the stairs and pay an additional
A detailed Map of all Streets and Alleys of Central and Southern Dongcheng District (and a part of the Chaoyang Central Business District (CBD)).
The area depicted roughly covers all between Beihai Park North Gate in the north west, Chaoyang Workers Stadium in the north east, the former Grand Canal and the Golden Triangle of Guomao in the south east and Dashillar Street in Xuanwu District in the south west.
Browse the Maps and follow the links to additional information, maps and photos on each location where available.
Tje Jade Islet and below it the circular city are easily identified within Beihai Park.
ticket fee to enter the circular city proper (an all-in-1 ticket is also available at the front gate or any other gate of the park).
After passing around the circular platform starting from the northern staircase at its back, one comes to the main door of the central Hall of the circular city. This is Chengguang Hall, an unusual 12 cornered arrangement. Being the main structure of the circular city it may be regarded as its shrine hall and this is more or less the purpose it is in use for at this time.
Although seemingly among the minor treasures among all still found in the Old City of Beijing, the circular city and its Chengguang Hall are of great historic importance. In addition, it is of a unique architecture and design.
From the main south entrance into Chengguang Hall one has a perfect view of the surrounding platform with beyond a view of the spacious south and middle lake, or Zhongnanhai, the lakes that lie exactly between the Forbidden City of the Ming Dynasty and the extensions of this Palace City added to the west of it, by the successive Emperors of the Ming Dynasty. The first Emperor to be in a position to build leisure parks was the Kangxi Emperor, who ruled for a staggering 61 years.
was brought back from Burma by a Monk identified as Ming Kuan (also Mingkuan) and given in tribute in 1896 AD, the 22nd year of the reign of the Guangxu Emperor (but really the Empress-Dowager).
As duly noted and advertized at this location as well as various others throughout the city of Beijing, the city was shamelessly burned and pillaged in 1860 AD, and 1900 AD, by what indeed amounted to an invasion of barbarians armies.
Although officials and army commanders did forbid looting and violent behavior, nevertheless the city was cleaned out and a multitude of Chinese locals found themselves robbed, raped and not often murdered in innocence.
In 1860 AD the great "(Old) Summer Palace (YuanMingYuan - Garden of Perfect Brightness" an architectural and cultural wonderland created by the Kangxi and Qianlong Emperors was burnt to the ground as a reprisal for the audacity of the Chinese Nation to have resisted the Foreign Armies.
In 1900 AD, the Foreign Armies returned to the city, not only to once again penetrate its thick city walls, but this time also to enter the most sacred "Forbidden City" and loot all of its contents.
Even such items as the large guilded statues of the Buddha found in the pavlions riding along the ridge on the adjacent Jingshan Hill were carted off to nearby harbors and subsequently foreign lands, or were simply melted down for their metal value. The gaint Jade Buddha, however was found too heavy to be taken away, hence it was among the few treasures remaining after the carnage was put to an end (only in 1901).
Possibly in frustration, or otherwise in an act of spite and vandalism a foreigner managed to scar the statue by hacking it with a sword and chipping the stone of the left arm of the statue.
A close view of the amazing white Jade Buddha found enshrined in the Chengguang Hall at the circular city. Although in the heydays of the Manchu Qing Dynasty such a statue would not have been entirely unseen, it is a spectacular artifact of exceptionally rare qualities, especially today. Many such statues were lost, others are found on display in foreign museums or are slowly being returned to Chinese hands. Nevertheless, no such statue can be seen on display in any of the exhibitions of the Palace Museum (Forbidden City) itself.
The small pavilion of especially royal design intended to hold the magically embued relic of the Jade Urn, a not so subtle reference the Heavenly Mandate once held by the Mongolian Khans by then having passed to the neighboring Manchu, who's Emperor had ambitions to make conquests and achievements rivaling the already by then legendary Great Khan Genghis. As one can tell, in the days of the early Manchu Era already, religion, politics and magical thoughts went hand in hand. A shrine was not merely a shrine, but also conveyed political messages and which may even have magical aspects hoped to induce a the coming true of a wish or desire. Those who visited and payed tribte to such a place or shrine, thereby signalled their agreement to the idea's conveyed through the symbolism created at the location.
was used by as a container for wine to be distributed to the Emperors high courtiers and Ministers during an especially important celebratory State Banquet. As an object of great symbolic significance, the massive cauldron was lost during the insurrection against- and subsequent overthrow of the Mongolians resulting in the Ming Dynasty Era (1368 AD - 1644 AD). Indeed, centuries later the lost cauldron was found again in the 10th year of the Qianlong Reign of the Manchu Qing Dynasty (1745 AD) after which the Emperor bought it at the price of a staggering 10 thousand silver taels in order to have it reinstalled at the Chengguang Hall. Accordingly, 4 years after having been found, a special pavilion was built for the expensive relic where it was installed shortly thereafter, seated on a Buddhist lotus pedestal decorated with a swastika and swirling clouds honoring its great powers.
In order to further honor the relic and embue the larger site with magical energies, no less than 40 of the highest Imperial Scholars and persona inscribed poems to go with the stone and cauldron.
Simply put, the Jade Urn is a relic placed here with an intend to induce a thought back to the historic Great Khan Genghis, and his nearly equally great but very different Grandson the Kublai Khan. Added at a later time, when the Empire created by Kangxi and completed by the Qianlong Emperor could celebrate the final succes of its quest to dominate the Mongolian and Tibetan peoples and so steal the lucrative monopoly on the trading of their resources, the presence of the Jade Urn reminds of a continuing (yet currently quite silent) claim of the Dragon Throne of Beijing to the overlordship of the all Mongolian Peoples and their lands, a claim gratefully copied and sought after by the current Chinese Communist Party, the political dictatorship which runs the Nation today. It is mainly for this political reason that this specific urn remains on display athe site of the circular city today and no where else. Afterall, according to ancient and traditional Chinese magical thought (the extended theory of Feng Shui), the removal of the object would disturb the magical balance of the site, disempowering it and thus collapsing any hopes for a future regaining of this claim.
Although the Chinese Communist Party claims to be entirely atheist and modern in thought, some of the ancient traditional fears are still held in high honors. These facts are however usually subtilly concealed and never too obviously explained to the passing usually oblivious public.
The object of the Jade Urn was made in the 2nd year of the Reign of The Kublai Khan (Zhiyuan Reign Period) for the purpose of his succesful establishment of himself as Great Khan of Mongolia and China, with his Capital (unlike previously) seated at Beijing.
The cauldron is 70 meters high with a 493 centimeter circumference. Cast out of bronze weighs in at a massive 3500 kilograms. Equipped with an elipse shaped mouth, the body of the cauldron is wildly decorated with various mythical and auspicious patterns of sea dragons, sea horses, sea pigs, sea rhonceroses and other lively creatures frolicking between foaming waves.
