Daming Lake
Encyclopedia
Daming Lake is the largest lake in the city of Jinan
, Shandong
, China
and one of city's main natural and cultural landmarks. Located to the north of the historical city center, the lake is fed by the artesian
karst
springs of the area and hence retains a fairly constant water level through the entire year.
Located in the lake are nine small islands:
The pavilion is said to mark the spot of a meeting between the Tang Dynasty poet Du Fu
and the calligrapher Li Yong . The pavilion was rebuilt in 1693 and features inscriptions by the Qing-Dynasty calligrapher He Shaoji and the Kangxi Emperor
.
The Moon-lit Pavilion is located on the north-eastern shore of the lake. It is connected to a large hall via a bridge. Military governor Han Fuju
had an emergency escape tunnel constructed that connected the basement of this hall to the outer city. The tunnel was used by Kuomintang general Wang Yaowu
to escape from the city at the end of the Battle of Jinan
.
The Ancestral Hall
of Lord Tie is located on the northwest shore of the Lake.
It is a memorial to Tie Xuan, a Ming-Dynasty
official during the reign of the Jianwen Emperor
. Tie Xuan was renowned for his heroism and loyalty in the defense of the city against the rebelling Prince Zhu Di, the later Yongle Emperor
. The memorial hall was erected during the times of the Qing Dynasty.
Beiji Temple is a taoist
temple dedicated to Xuan Wu
, the god of the North. It was first built in the early Yuan Dynasty, but rebuilt during the reign of the Yongle Emperor
of the Ming Dynasty. Numerous renovations were carried out during the Qing Dynasty. The temple contains several halls as well as a bell and a drum tower. It stands on a seven-meter tall base and covers an area of 1078 square meters.
The Huibo Building is located near the east gate of Daming Lake Park. It stands on the site of the watergate that controls the outflow of the Daming Lake into the Xiaoqing River.
The Nanfeng Ancestral Hall is a memorial to the Song-Dynasty
scholar Zeng Gong
. The present structure has been rebuilt in 1829.
, a military leader and statesman of the Southern Song dynasty who was born in Jinan. The temple buildings cover a total area of 1400 square meters. Converted for other uses during the Republic of China, the temple was restored to its present function in 1961.
came to an end in 1262, the governor Li Tan tried to drown himself in the lake. He was rescued by the Mongols in order to be executed by being put in a sack and trampled to death by horses. The warlord Zhang Zongchang
, nicknamed the "Dogmeat General" and unpopular because of his heavy-handed rule, planned to erect a living shrine to himself on the lake, but the plans were not executed due to Zhang's fall from power. During the Battle of Jinan
in the Chinese Civil War
, the commander of the city's defense against the communist People's Liberation Army
, Kuomintang
General Wang Yaowu
had his command post near the lake shore.
From March 2006 to April 2007, the Daming Lake Park was renovated and extended to connect all portions of the park for unified access. To achieve this, 1788 housing units (including 1639 residential units) were demolished. Since the expansion, the Daming Lake Park covers a total of 103.4 hectares, 29.4 hectares (land: 20 hectares, lake 29.4 hectares) of which were added in the expansion.
" by Northern Wei Dynasty writer and geographer Li Daoyuan
(died 527). It is described in "A Trip to Jinan" by the Jin Dynasty poet Yuan Haowen
(1235) and was also described by Marco Polo
a bit later. The scenery of Daming Lake is also featured in the novel "The Travels of Lao Can" by Liu E
and the essay "The Winter of Jinan" by Lao She
.
Daming Lake is also the subject of a poem by Han Fuju
, military governor of Shandong from 1930 to 1938, that has been frequently quoted to ridicule him:
The Daming ("Daming" means "big brightness") Lake, the bright lake is big
In the Daming Lake are lotus flowers
On the lotuses are toads
[You] prick them once, [the toads] leap once
Recorded visitors include:
Jinan
Jinan is the capital of Shandong province in Eastern China. The area of present-day Jinan has played an important role in the history of the region from the earliest beginnings of civilisation and has evolved into a major national administrative, economic, and transportation hub...
, Shandong
Shandong
' is a Province located on the eastern coast of the People's Republic of China. Shandong has played a major role in Chinese history from the beginning of Chinese civilization along the lower reaches of the Yellow River and served as a pivotal cultural and religious site for Taoism, Chinese...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
and one of city's main natural and cultural landmarks. Located to the north of the historical city center, the lake is fed by the artesian
Artesian aquifer
An artesian aquifer is a confined aquifer containing groundwater under positive pressure. This causes the water level in a well to rise to a point where hydrostatic equilibrium has been reached. This type of well is called an artesian well...
karst
KARST
Kilometer-square Area Radio Synthesis Telescope is a Chinese telescope project to which FAST is a forerunner. KARST is a set of large spherical reflectors on karst landforms, which are bowlshaped limestone sinkholes named after the Kras region in Slovenia and Northern Italy. It will consist of...
springs of the area and hence retains a fairly constant water level through the entire year.
Islands
.Located in the lake are nine small islands:
- Cuiliuping Island , also known as
- Niaoqingqiqi Island
- Guting Island , the location of the Lixia Pavilion
- Mingshi Island
- Huiquan Island
- Huxin Island
- Jiaxuan Island
- Qiuliu Island
- Huju Island
Buildings
The lake is surrounded by a park with an ensemble of historical buildings, some of which stand on the islands in the lake:Lixia Pavilion
The Lixia Pavilion is located on an island off the lake's east shore.The pavilion is said to mark the spot of a meeting between the Tang Dynasty poet Du Fu
Du Fu
Du Fu was a prominent Chinese poet of the Tang Dynasty.Along with Li Bai , he is frequently called the greatest of the Chinese poets. His greatest ambition was to serve his country as a successful civil servant, but he proved unable to make the necessary accommodations...
and the calligrapher Li Yong . The pavilion was rebuilt in 1693 and features inscriptions by the Qing-Dynasty calligrapher He Shaoji and the Kangxi Emperor
Kangxi Emperor
The Kangxi Emperor ; Manchu: elhe taifin hūwangdi ; Mongolian: Энх-Амгалан хаан, 4 May 1654 –20 December 1722) was the fourth emperor of the Qing Dynasty, the first to be born on Chinese soil south of the Pass and the second Qing emperor to rule over China proper, from 1661 to 1722.Kangxi's...
.
Lake Center Pavilion
The Lake Center Pavilion is set on an island near the lake's center.Moon-lit Pavilion
Han Fuju
Han Fuju or Han Fu-chü was a Kuomintang general in the early 20th century. He rose up the ranks of the Guominjun clique in the Warlord era but then went over to the Kuomintang, and held the position of military governor of Shandong from 1930 to 1938...
had an emergency escape tunnel constructed that connected the basement of this hall to the outer city. The tunnel was used by Kuomintang general Wang Yaowu
Wang Yaowu
Wang Yaowu was a high-ranking KMT general and the Governor of Shandong Province who successfully fought against both the Imperial Japanese Army and the Chinese Communists. In September 1948 Communist forces launched the Battle of Jinan and Wang was captured and held as a prisoner of war until his...
to escape from the city at the end of the Battle of Jinan
Battle of Jinan
The Battle of Jinan was a critical engagement fought between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party of China from during theChinese Civil War...
.
Jiuqu Pavilion
The Jiuqu Pavilion is located on the southwest shore of the Lake.Haoran Pavilion
The Haoran Pavilion stands on the lake's south shore.Ancestral Hall of Lord Tie
Ancestral hall
An ancestral hall or lineage temple is a site of ancestor worship in Chinese culture. Ancestral halls are closely linked to Confucian culture and the emphasis that it places on filial piety....
of Lord Tie is located on the northwest shore of the Lake.
It is a memorial to Tie Xuan, a Ming-Dynasty
Ming Dynasty
The Ming Dynasty, also Empire of the Great Ming, was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty. The Ming, "one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history", was the last dynasty in China ruled by ethnic...
official during the reign of the Jianwen Emperor
Jianwen Emperor
The Jianwen Emperor , with the personal name Zhu Yunwen , reigned as the second Emperor of the Ming dynasty...
. Tie Xuan was renowned for his heroism and loyalty in the defense of the city against the rebelling Prince Zhu Di, the later Yongle Emperor
Yongle Emperor
The Yongle Emperor , born Zhu Di , was the third emperor of the Ming Dynasty of China from 1402 to 1424. His Chinese era name Yongle means "Perpetual Happiness".He was the Prince of Yan , possessing a heavy military base in Beiping...
. The memorial hall was erected during the times of the Qing Dynasty.
Xiaocanglang Pavilion
The Xiaocanglang Pavilion is located on the lake's northwest shore.Huiquan Hall
Huiquan HallBeiji Temple
Taoism
Taoism refers to a philosophical or religious tradition in which the basic concept is to establish harmony with the Tao , which is the mechanism of everything that exists...
temple dedicated to Xuan Wu
Xuan Wu (god)
Xuan Wu , posthumously known as The Dark/Mysterious Heavenly Upper Emperor , as well as True Warrior Grand Emperor , and commonly known as The Northern Emperor or Emperor Lord or Teh Kong in Hokkien...
, the god of the North. It was first built in the early Yuan Dynasty, but rebuilt during the reign of the Yongle Emperor
Yongle Emperor
The Yongle Emperor , born Zhu Di , was the third emperor of the Ming Dynasty of China from 1402 to 1424. His Chinese era name Yongle means "Perpetual Happiness".He was the Prince of Yan , possessing a heavy military base in Beiping...
of the Ming Dynasty. Numerous renovations were carried out during the Qing Dynasty. The temple contains several halls as well as a bell and a drum tower. It stands on a seven-meter tall base and covers an area of 1078 square meters.
Huibo Building
Nanfeng Ancestral Hall
Song Dynasty
The Song Dynasty was a ruling dynasty in China between 960 and 1279; it succeeded the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period, and was followed by the Yuan Dynasty. It was the first government in world history to issue banknotes or paper money, and the first Chinese government to establish a...
scholar Zeng Gong
Zeng Gong
Zeng Gong , courtesy name Zigu , was a Chinese scholar and historian of the Song Dynasty in China. He was one of the supporters of the New Classical Prose Movement and is regarded as founder of one of the Eight Great Schools of Thought of the Tang and Song dynasties .Zeng Gong was born in Jianchang...
. The present structure has been rebuilt in 1829.
Jiaxuan Ancestral Hall
The Jiaxuan Ancestral Hall commemorates Xin QijiXin Qiji
Xīn Qìjí was a Chinese poet, military leader, and statesman during the Southern Song dynasty.-Life:During Xin's lifetime, northern China was occupied by the Jin or Jurchen, a nomadic people from what is now north-east China then regarded as barbarians. Only southern China was ruled by the Han...
, a military leader and statesman of the Southern Song dynasty who was born in Jinan. The temple buildings cover a total area of 1400 square meters. Converted for other uses during the Republic of China, the temple was restored to its present function in 1961.
Oushen's Temple
Oushen's Temple is a memorial temple that was originally dedicated to the Goddess of the Lotus Root. During the Qing Dynasty it was rededicated to the memory of Li QingzhaoLi Qingzhao
Li Qingzhao was a Chinese writer and poet of the Song Dynasty, regarded by many as the premier female poet in the Chinese language.-Biography:She was born Li Qingzhao (Traditional Chinese: 李清照; Simplified Chinese: 李清照, pinyin: Lǐ Qīngzhào; Wade-Giles: Li Ch'ing-chao, pseudonym Yi'an Jushi (易安居士...
Daming Lake Nanfeng Theater
The Daming Lake Nanfeng Theater is located in the courtyard of the Nanfeng Ancestral Hall and was constructed during the late Qing Dynasty.Xia Garden
The Xia Garden is a traditional courtyard garden that is located to the south of the lake and covers an area of about 9600 square meters. The garden dates back to the year 1909 and was formerly part of the Shandong Provincial Library.History
As a central site in the historical center of Jinan, Daming Lake has been the setting of many events in the history of the city: As his rebellion against the Mongol ruler Kublai KhanKublai Khan
Kublai Khan , born Kublai and also known by the temple name Shizu , was the fifth Great Khan of the Mongol Empire from 1260 to 1294 and the founder of the Yuan Dynasty in China...
came to an end in 1262, the governor Li Tan tried to drown himself in the lake. He was rescued by the Mongols in order to be executed by being put in a sack and trampled to death by horses. The warlord Zhang Zongchang
Zhang Zongchang
Zhang Zongchang , nicknamed the "Dogmeat General" and "72-Cannon Chang" , was a Chinese warlord in Shandong in the early 20th century...
, nicknamed the "Dogmeat General" and unpopular because of his heavy-handed rule, planned to erect a living shrine to himself on the lake, but the plans were not executed due to Zhang's fall from power. During the Battle of Jinan
Battle of Jinan
The Battle of Jinan was a critical engagement fought between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party of China from during theChinese Civil War...
in the Chinese Civil War
Chinese Civil War
The Chinese Civil War was a civil war fought between the Kuomintang , the governing party of the Republic of China, and the Communist Party of China , for the control of China which eventually led to China's division into two Chinas, Republic of China and People's Republic of...
, the commander of the city's defense against the communist People's Liberation Army
People's Liberation Army
The People's Liberation Army is the unified military organization of all land, sea, strategic missile and air forces of the People's Republic of China. The PLA was established on August 1, 1927 — celebrated annually as "PLA Day" — as the military arm of the Communist Party of China...
, Kuomintang
Kuomintang
The Kuomintang of China , sometimes romanized as Guomindang via the Pinyin transcription system or GMD for short, and translated as the Chinese Nationalist Party is a founding and ruling political party of the Republic of China . Its guiding ideology is the Three Principles of the People, espoused...
General Wang Yaowu
Wang Yaowu
Wang Yaowu was a high-ranking KMT general and the Governor of Shandong Province who successfully fought against both the Imperial Japanese Army and the Chinese Communists. In September 1948 Communist forces launched the Battle of Jinan and Wang was captured and held as a prisoner of war until his...
had his command post near the lake shore.
From March 2006 to April 2007, the Daming Lake Park was renovated and extended to connect all portions of the park for unified access. To achieve this, 1788 housing units (including 1639 residential units) were demolished. Since the expansion, the Daming Lake Park covers a total of 103.4 hectares, 29.4 hectares (land: 20 hectares, lake 29.4 hectares) of which were added in the expansion.
Literature
The scenery of Daming Lake has been a topic of Chinese literature for at least about 1,500 years. The lake is mentioned in "Commentary on the Waterways ClassicShui Jing Zhu
Shui Jing Zhu is a work on the ancient geography of China. It is an annotated and much expanded version of an older text, the Shui Jing , which has been lost.The annotated version was compiled by Li Daoyuan Shui Jing Zhu is a work on the ancient geography of China. It is an annotated and much...
" by Northern Wei Dynasty writer and geographer Li Daoyuan
Li Daoyuan
Li Daoyuan was a Chinese geographer during thetimes of the Northern Wei Dynasty. He is known as the author ofthe Commentary to the River Classic ....
(died 527). It is described in "A Trip to Jinan" by the Jin Dynasty poet Yuan Haowen
Yuan Haowen
The Chinese Sanqu poetry writer Yuan Haowen 元好問 was also known as Yishan 遺山 or “Yuan of Yi Mountain.” He was from Xinzhou in Shanxi province. His ancestors were of non-Chinese origins who changed their surname to Yuan. His father experienced disappointments in life and later led a secluded...
(1235) and was also described by Marco Polo
Marco Polo
Marco Polo was a Venetian merchant traveler from the Venetian Republic whose travels are recorded in Il Milione, a book which did much to introduce Europeans to Central Asia and China. He learned about trading whilst his father and uncle, Niccolò and Maffeo, travelled through Asia and apparently...
a bit later. The scenery of Daming Lake is also featured in the novel "The Travels of Lao Can" by Liu E
Liu E
Liu E , courtesy name/"zì": "Tieyun" , was a Chinese scholar, entrepreneur, and writer.-Government and politics:...
and the essay "The Winter of Jinan" by Lao She
Lao She
Shu Qingchun , better known by his pen name Lao She was a notable Chinese writer. A novelist and dramatist, he was one of the most significant figures of 20th century Chinese literature, and is perhaps best known for his novel Rickshaw Boy and the play Teahouse . He was of Manchu ethnicity...
.
Daming Lake is also the subject of a poem by Han Fuju
Han Fuju
Han Fuju or Han Fu-chü was a Kuomintang general in the early 20th century. He rose up the ranks of the Guominjun clique in the Warlord era but then went over to the Kuomintang, and held the position of military governor of Shandong from 1930 to 1938...
, military governor of Shandong from 1930 to 1938, that has been frequently quoted to ridicule him:
The Daming ("Daming" means "big brightness") Lake, the bright lake is big
In the Daming Lake are lotus flowers
On the lotuses are toads
[You] prick them once, [the toads] leap once
Visitors
Because of its cultural significance, the Daming Lake has attracted visits by artists, scholar, and political figures over the centuries.Recorded visitors include:
Song Dynasty
- Zeng GongZeng GongZeng Gong , courtesy name Zigu , was a Chinese scholar and historian of the Song Dynasty in China. He was one of the supporters of the New Classical Prose Movement and is regarded as founder of one of the Eight Great Schools of Thought of the Tang and Song dynasties .Zeng Gong was born in Jianchang...
, Su Zhe, Chao Buzhi, writers - Li QingzhaoLi QingzhaoLi Qingzhao was a Chinese writer and poet of the Song Dynasty, regarded by many as the premier female poet in the Chinese language.-Biography:She was born Li Qingzhao (Traditional Chinese: 李清照; Simplified Chinese: 李清照, pinyin: Lǐ Qīngzhào; Wade-Giles: Li Ch'ing-chao, pseudonym Yi'an Jushi (易安居士...
and Xin QijiXin QijiXīn Qìjí was a Chinese poet, military leader, and statesman during the Southern Song dynasty.-Life:During Xin's lifetime, northern China was occupied by the Jin or Jurchen, a nomadic people from what is now north-east China then regarded as barbarians. Only southern China was ruled by the Han...
, poets
Ming Dynasty
- Tie Xuan, provincial official, honored in the Lord Tie Ancestral Hall
- Bian Gong and Li Panlong, scholars
Qing Dynasty
- Zhu Yizun and Ruan YuanRuan YuanRuan Yuan , was a scholar official in the Qing Dynasty in Imperial China. He won jinshi honors in the imperial examinations in 1789 and was subsequently appointed to the Hanlin Academy...
, scholars - Wang ShizhenWang ShizhenWang Shizhen was a Chinese general and politician of the Republic of China.-Biography:Wang was born in Zhengding, Hebei in 1861. He was the Minister of War in the Republic of China three times, 1915–1916 and twice in 1917. He was the Premier of China from 1917 to 1918....
, poet - Gao FenghanGao FenghanGāo Fènghàn was born in Shandong to a minor bureaucrat. He was a painter, poet, and seal-carver. He later became associated with the Yangzhou school of painters. These painters were known as eccentrics for their unorthodox style and preference for individualism. Gāo Fènghàn is not usually...
, painter - Jiang ShiquanJiang ShiquanJiang Shiquan was a Chinese poet of Qing Dynasty. He was active during the Qian-Jia period, and was classed as one of "the Three Great Masters of Qianlong Period" along with Yuan Mei and Zhao Yi...
, playwright - He Shaoji, calligrapher
- Pu SonglingPu SonglingPu Songling was a Qing Dynasty Chinese writer, best known as the author of Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio.-Biography:Pu was born into a poor landlord-merchant family from Zichuan...
and Liu ELiu ELiu E , courtesy name/"zì": "Tieyun" , was a Chinese scholar, entrepreneur, and writer.-Government and politics:...
, novelists
Modern China
- Guo MoruoGuo MoruoGuo Moruo , courtesy name Dingtang , was a Chinese author, poet, historian, archaeologist, and government official from Sichuan, China.-Family history:Guo, originally named Guo Kaizhen, was born on November 10 or 16, in the small town of Shawan...
and Lao SheLao SheShu Qingchun , better known by his pen name Lao She was a notable Chinese writer. A novelist and dramatist, he was one of the most significant figures of 20th century Chinese literature, and is perhaps best known for his novel Rickshaw Boy and the play Teahouse . He was of Manchu ethnicity...
, writers - Mao ZedongMao ZedongMao Zedong, also transliterated as Mao Tse-tung , and commonly referred to as Chairman Mao , was a Chinese Communist revolutionary, guerrilla warfare strategist, Marxist political philosopher, and leader of the Chinese Revolution...
(in 1958) and Zhou EnlaiZhou EnlaiZhou Enlai was the first Premier of the People's Republic of China, serving from October 1949 until his death in January 1976...
(in 1959), politicians