Peking University West Gate

West gate of Peking University

synonym

The west gate of Peking University generally refers to the west gate of Peking University

The west gate of Peking University is the main gate of Yanjing University before Peking University and Yanjing University merged into the new Peking University in 1952. It was built by alumni of Yanjing University in 1926, so it is also called alumni gate. Sitting in the east facing west, the west school gate is a classic three open red lacquer palace gate building, which is no more than seven or eight meters high. It is simple, solemn and elegant in style, similar to the east palace gate of the summer palace, and has a strong national style. There are two stone lions on both sides of the school gate.

Introduction to the school gate

The west gate, which was built by alumni of Yanjing University in 1926, is also called alumni gate. The west gate used to be the main gate of Peking University, facing the East and the West. It is a classical three open red lacquer palace gate, which is no more than seven or eight meters high. Its style is simple, solemn and elegant, similar to the east gate of the summer palace, and has a strong national style. In the jungle of modern urban architecture, it is particularly different. It is said that when the gate was first built, the design scheme was widely solicited to design the gate which is consistent with the architectural style of the campus. Finally, the temple gate building with three gates was selected.

The number of the west school gate is loudou bridge No.1. Loudouqiao site is about 12 meters south of xixiaomen, also known as Xigou. It was a famous scenic spot in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. At that time, the literati in the capital often sang here. Wang Jiamo, a poet of the Ming Dynasty, said: "watching fish on loudou bridge in Haidian, walking westward, the scene is clear and victorious.". In his poem, he wrote: "in the water of Yuanyuan River, green Pu leaves are everywhere. In the forest, the fruit is beautiful... " From the poem, we can know that loudou bridge at that time was full of green willows, lotus pond reflecting the eyes, fish flying at the bottom, which was a bit of a paradise. At the end of Ming Dynasty, it became a part of miwan bell garden. Michaelis and his friends often view the scenery here, and there are poems praising the beauty of the scenery. In the Qing Dynasty, it was still a place where scholars often visited. Wang Shizhen of the Qing Dynasty said in the poem of bamboo branches in Dumen: "Xigou bridge rises at the beginning of last month, and the water of Xigou bridge is clear. Qi stone corridor is missing, visitors also asked to come home lamp It seems that the location of the west school gate is really "scenic". When Yanjing University moved here in 1926, the railings on the bridge and the sign engraved with "loudou bridge" were still there. Later, in order to expand the road, the railings were removed and the sign disappeared. In recent years, due to the demolition and construction in this area, even the ruins of loudou bridge are nowhere to be found. Located at the starting point of the main axis of Peking University, the west gate is the best entrance to Peking University to enjoy the scenery of Yanyuan. The location of the west gate was determined by Murphy, a Yale graduate. When Murphy first drew the campus planning map, he got inspiration from the tower on Yuquan mountain, and thought that the main axis of the campus should point to the tower; the main buildings and lakes of the campus should be on the main axis; the ancient tower of Yuquan mountain as the endpoint, extending eastward as the main axis of the campus, thus determining the location of the west school gate. In this way, contrary to the tradition that Beijing architecture faces south from north, he arranged the main school gate of Yanyuan towards the West. The west school gate was the only main gate of Yanyuan during the period of Yanjing University. At that time, in the middle of the gate hung a four character plaque "Yanjing University" written by Mr. Cai Yuanpei. After Peking University moved to Yanyuan in 1952, the plaque of "Peking University" was put on the middle of the gate. The four characters of "Peking University" are enlarged according to Chairman Mao Zedong's autograph on the emblem of Peking University in 1950, which is integrated with the red school gate. The plaque is slightly tilted forward, which provides a very appropriate angle for everyone's looking forward, and also gives people a sense of solemnity. This is a place that people have to look up to. Its height will never be reached. Yanjing University has many outstanding alumni, including the outstanding physicist Huang Kun, the famous historical geographer Hou Renzhi, the famous medical scientist Wu Jieping and so on. Yanda in history is still a valuable asset of Peking University, which has a far-reaching impact on today's Peking University. On the west gate of Peking University is hung the name of Peking University written by Comrade Mao Zedong, an alumnus of Peking University who worked in the library of Peking University. The four words "Peking University" in his book are vigorous and powerful.

There is also a pair of powerful stone lions on the left and right sides of the school gate, with curly hair and bright eyes, which makes the west school gate more solemn. As for the origin of these stone lions, some people think that they came from Yuanmingyuan. In fact, they were purchased from the people by Yanjing University in 1924. There is also a deed of purchase in the archives of Peking University. The full text is as follows:

This is because there is a pair of stone lions left by our ancestors. Because of the hardship of the he people's livelihood, the Shang people agreed to sell it. It was sold to Yanjing University by the introducer Zhen Deyuan. It is stated on three sides that the current price is seven hundred yuan, and the first one hundred yuan will be paid in advance, which will be paid in full upon shipment. In addition, the seller will not be responsible for the damage of hands and feet caused by the workers. The buyer shall pay the amount in accordance with the contract. This is the proof. "

School history

In the west school gate, a well carved stone bridge is donated by alumni. The famous alumni bridge, the winding small bridge and the flowing water contain the charm of the north and the south of the Yangtze River. Next to the old ginkgo tree, she is an old man in Yanyuan. Facing the west gate is the main building of the campus, which is now the office building. In the open space, there are two Chinese watches moved from Yuanmingyuan. The west school gate, which runs westward, is a relic of Ming He garden, a famous garden in the Qing Dynasty; a piece of green land and lotus pond to the south is the former site of miwan Zhongshao garden, a painter in the late Ming Dynasty.

The west gate and alumni bridge have left many memories of Peking University Alumni. For Mr. Hou Renzhi, who is more than 90 years old, many of the beautiful sceneries in his life are not as good as the autumn when he first entered Yanyuan more than 70 years ago

"As soon as you enter the west school gate, there is a half acre square pond and a stone bridge. When I came here, there was still water coming out from under the bridge. At that time, I was very happy to see it. As soon as I came in, I thought of a poem by Zhu Xi: when half an acre of fangtang was opened, the sky was full of light, clouds and shadows. I asked where the canal could be so clear, because there was a source of fresh water. ".

For Peking University, whether in history, today or in the future, the position of the west school gate is extremely important. As one of the landmark buildings of Yanyuan, xixiaomen has become an important representative of Peking University and an important window for people to know Peking University. Today's west gate is not only the gate for teachers and students to go in and out of the campus, but also the symbol of Peking University, which contains rich spiritual and cultural content. Entering the west gate, you will enter the holy land of Peking University, which is the sacred academic palace.

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Longitude: 116.304624

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