Shandong Province 山 东 省 简 介 - Li Qingzhao Memorial 李清照纪念堂

Li Qingzhao (1084-c.11510) is recognized as one of the greatest poetesses in ancient China and one of the foremost writers of lyric songs, or ci style poetry. Characterized by melancholy and profound memories of her happy marriage, which was cut short, many of Li’s poems demonstrate her carefree and light-hearted spirit with a little touch of sorrow or despair. Her poetic presentation of women’s emotions and feelings find no match in the works of either other women or men in the Chinese poetic tradition.

Born into a literary family in 1084, Li was known for her talent in poetry even before her marriage to Zhao Mingcheng赵明诚(1081-1129), a famous scholar of seal cutting金石考据家.

Tragedy struck first with the death of her husband from illness, followed by the loss of the family’s collection of antiques during episodes of chaotic warfare. In 1151 Li succumbed to illness and despair. Her writing was originally published in seven volumes of poetry and prose, plus six vlumes of lyric songs. About 50 poems and 17 lyric songs survived. Also extant are two brief prose works. One is an epilogue that she added to her husband’s work Jin Shi Lu《金石录》(Records on Metal and Stone), and the other is about the study of lyric songs, or ci, poetry written to certain tunes with strict tonal patterns and rhyme schemes, in fixed numbers of lines and words, originating in the Tang Dynasty and fully developed in the Song Dynasty (960-1279).

Li Qingzhao was a native of Jinan, and her home used to be near the Rinse Jade Spring漱玉泉 in Jinan. Her famous work Rinse Jade Collection《漱玉词》took its name from Shuyu Quan (Rinse Jade) Spring. To commemorate her, Li Qingzhao Memorial has been built north of Spring—a typical Chinese style compound with a main hall, side buildings, pavilions, studies, winding galleries and service quarters. It is not only a memorial but also a garden within a garden. The courtyard is planted to pines, bamboo and banana, ornamented with grotesque rocks and crisscrossed with spring. On show are portraits of the poetess, specimens of her works, and tributes often in poetic form from celebrated writers of later generations.

Pavilion for Watching the Billows 观澜亭

The Pavilion for Watching the Billows, a square building with grey-tiles and red columns was built in 1461 of the Ming Dynasty. Inside is a stone table and some stone stools. The pavilion faces the pond on two sides, where its steps lead into the water. From here, the tourist can watch leisurely the gushing of the fountains in the center of the pond. A stone tablet with three large characters meaning “jet spring” stands in the water in front of the pavilion. On the wall behind it are two more tablets; one inscribed, “First Spring” and the other “Watching the Billows.”

Pavilion for Watching Cranes 望鹤亭

The Pavilion for Watching Cranes is now turned into a teahouse. Here the visitor usually stops for a short rest and sips a cup of tea made from the water of the “First Spring under Heaven” as s/he enjoys the view of Jet Spring through the windows.

Hall of High Aspiration 尚志堂

Hall of High Aspiration is also known as Jinxianshuyuan (Gold Thread Academy). In the past, it used to be the place where feudal officials and private scholars stored their books and gave lectures. Jinxianquan or Gold Thread Spring is located in the northeastern corner of Hall of High Aspiration. It used to be a pond about 13.3 meters long and 6.65 meters wide. Two fountains bubbling up with a varying force caused a wavy current to appear upon the surface. In the sunlight this resembles a piece of gold thread. Later, when the pond was rebuilt, the bottom was damaged and the “gold thread” vanished. But by some freak of nature, the “thread” reappeared in another pond, Liuxuquan柳絮泉 (Catkin Spring), southeast of Jinxianquan金线泉, and therefore the tablet with the inscription “Gold Thread Spring” was moved over to Liuxuquan, which has become the neo Gold Thread Spring.

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