The Wenyuan Pavilion

The Wenyuan Pavilion

The Wenyuan Pavilion is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

The Wenyuan Pavilion is located at the southern foot of Gushan Hill by West Lake in Hangzhou.

The Wenyuan Pavilion was first built in the 47th year of the Qianlong reign during the Qing Dynasty (1782). That year, the compilation of the Complete Library of the Four Treasuries (Siku Quanshu) was completed, and four copies were handwritten and respectively housed in the “Four Inner Court Pavilions”: the Wenyuan Pavilion in the Forbidden City, the Wenyuan Pavilion in the Old Summer Palace, the Wensu Pavilion in Shenyang, and the Wenjin Pavilion in Rehe. Later, considering that “the Jiangsu and Zhejiang regions are cradles of culture and learning, it is only right to widely disseminate their heritage to glorify literary enlightenment,” Emperor Qianlong ordered three additional copies to be made and stored in the “Three Southern Pavilions”: the Wenhui Pavilion in Yangzhou, the Wenzong Pavilion in Zhenjiang, and the Wenyuan Pavilion in Hangzhou. These came to be known as the “Three Southern Pavilions.” Today, among the Three Southern Pavilions, only the Wenyuan Pavilion and its collection of the Complete Library of the Four Treasuries remain, making it a “treasure of the southeast.”

The Wenyuan Pavilion was reconstructed from the Yulan Hall behind the Temple of Holy Benevolence in Hangzhou, with all renovation expenses donated by Zhejiang merchants. Historical records state: “The pavilion lies to the south (southern foot) of Gushan Hill, with the Bai Causeway to its left and the Xiling Bridge to its right. It sits on high ground, offering a panoramic view of West Lake. Outside is a floral-hanging gate, inside which is a main hall, beyond which lies a large pond. In the center of the pond rises a solitary peak called the ‘Immortal Peak.’ To the east is an imperial stele pavilion, to the west a covered walkway, and in the middle stands the Wenyuan Pavilion.” In the 11th year of the Xianfeng reign (1861), the Wenyuan Pavilion was burned down, and part of its collection was lost. Reconstruction began in the 6th year of the Guangxu reign (1880), during which scattered and damaged books were gathered and recopied. After further restoration efforts following the Xinhai Revolution, the Wenyuan Pavilion’s collection of the Complete Library of the Four Treasuries was finally restored to its former glory. Since the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the building and its collections have undergone multiple renovations, taking on a completely renewed appearance.

The Wenyuan Pavilion is a classic example of traditional Jiangnan-style garden architecture. Its landscape design makes skillful use of the terrain, incorporating pavilions, winding corridors, ponds, and rockeries, all interconnected by small bridges. Within the garden, pavilions, corridors, ponds, bridges, and rock formations complement one another and form a cohesive whole. The main structure is modeled after the Tianyi Pavilion in Ningbo—a two-story building with a gable-and-hip roof and an additional mezzanine floor, effectively making it a three-story structure. Upon entering the entrance hall, visitors are greeted by a rockery shaped like a group of lions and elephants, beneath which lies a cave. Passing through the cave leads to a flat-roofed hall, behind which in the central pond stands a unique rock formation known as the “Immortal Peak,” considered a masterpiece among West Lake’s rockeries. To the southeast is a stele pavilion, with the front of the stele inscribed with a poem by Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty and the back with the imperial edict issuing the Complete Library of the Four Treasuries. Another stele pavilion to the east features an inscription of the characters “Wenyuan Pavilion” written by Emperor Guangxu of the Qing Dynasty. In front of the flat-roofed hall is a delicate and ingeniously designed rockery with a pavilion atop and an opening cave in the middle. Behind the square pond lies the Wenyuan Pavilion at the center, with a winding corridor to the west and a moon gate to the east leading to the Taiyi Fenqing Chamber and the Arhat Hall. The entire architectural complex and garden layout are compact, elegant, and uniquely distinctive.

The Wenyuan Pavilion is one of the seven major book depositories built during the Qing Dynasty to house the Complete Library of the Four Treasuries and is the only surviving member of the Three Southern Pavilions. In 2001, the Wenyuan Pavilion was included in the fifth batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units as a historical building of the Qing Dynasty.

Further Reading:

· Fifth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units