Xiang Jiang Pavilion
The Xiang Jiang Pavilion 湘江亭 located in the St. Paul-Changsha China Friendship Garden of Whispering Willows & Flowing Waters at Phalen Regional Park, is a gift to the City of Saint Paul from the City of Changsha and Changsha Yanghu Wetlands Park in 2018, the 30-year anniversary of the St. Paul-Changsha sister-city relationship. The Xiang Jiang Pavilion is a replica of the 18th Century Aiwan Pavilion 爱晚亭 in Changsha, one of four famous pavilions in China (see description below). Construction began in 2018 and was completed in 2019 with a Grand Opening Ribbon Cutting Ceremony in September 2019.
The Pavilion is 35 feet tall by 23 feet wide. The granite columns are from 南岳 Nanyu, Hunan Province, and weigh approximately 10 tons each. The Xiang Jiang Pavilion illustrates the Changsha architecture style with sweeping eaves and landscaping style with open garden grounds, unlike the Beijing style with straight eaves or the Suzhou Southern style with extreme sweeping eaves and enclosed grounds. Inside the Pavilion is a round granit table and 4 granite stools used for drinking tea, playing Chinese chess, and relaxing.
Poetry
Xiang Jiang Pavilion Name Plate
The Xiang Jiang Pavilion 湘江亭 is named after the Xiang River 湘江 that runs through the heart of the City of Changsha, much like the Mississippi River runs through the City of Saint Paul, further binding these two sister cities together. The Pavilion name plate reads from right to left, as in classical Chinese, Xiang Jiang Ting.
Beautifully carved on the right and left front granite columns of the Xiang Jiang Pavilion are couplets that are read right column first, then left column as in traditional Chinese writing. This is the same couplet carved on the Aiwan Pavilion in Changsha, China.
Blooming Peach Trees
Peach trees produce vibrant-colored flowers and bear edible fruits. In China, accomplished students are often compared to peach and plum trees. The young peach trees in the couplet carved on the Pavilion’s granite column symbolize new generations of esteemed students graduated by the Yuelu Academy in Changsha.
Red-Crested Cranes
The couplet carved on the Pavilion’s granite column references “red-crested cranes.” In Chinese literary tradition, red-crested cranes were considered companions to scholars. Some reclusive literati pride themselves in raising and training red-crested cranes to dance to Guqin music (Guqin is a traditional Chinese string instrument that looks like a zither, and is considered a staple accessory of intellectuals)
Cultural Symbols
Peony
The King of flowers, represents virtue and beauty; symbol of spring.
Narcissus
Grace and elegance, Family reunions.
Chinese Plum Blossoms
Blooms even in harsh winter snow, symbol of perseverance and resilience in the face of adversity.
蝶恋花 “Butterflies love Flowers” – 4 Butterflies Surrounding Flowers and Buds
Butterflies have one partner for life and symbolize loyalty, love and happiness; symbol of summer.
Architectural Symbols
葫芦宝顶 = Hulu Baoding Peak
Look to the very top of the Pavilion rooftop to see the Hulu Baoding Peak. It represents 1-3-5, meaning “rising to the sky.” This peak looks like a hulu gourd used by the immortals and provides protection to the Pavilion and brings happiness.
8 Water Dragons
Look to the tips of each of the eight eaves of the Pavilion roof to find eight water dragons. These protect this wooden structure from fire.
Dragons
Look along the roof line to spot more dragons, which represent power and strength, control over water and rainfall, and good luck.
Acquatic Flowers
Look along the crossbeams under the Pavilion roof to spot the aquatic flowers that symbolize protection of this wooden Pavilion from fire.
祥云 = Auspicious Clouds
This auspicious cloud symbol can be found in several places in the Pavilion. The Ancients believed that immortals stepped on clouds to enter this world. This cloud pattern represents the clouds of the immortals and brings good fortune and happiness.
Aiwan Pavilion
Aiwan Pavilion
The Xiang Jiang Pavilion in St. Paul is a replica of the famous Aiwan Pavilion in Changsha, one four famous pavilions in China. The Aiwan Pavilion was built in 1792 at the Yuelu Academy under the Qing Dynasty Emperor Qianlong. The Yuelu Academy is one of China’s four most prestigious institutions of higher learning over the last century. Founded during the Northern Song Dynasty, in 976 A.D., Yuelu Academy produced numerous influential intellectuals ranging from Confucian philosophers to scholars of practical subjects such as martial engineering and political economy in the nineteenth century.
The Aiwan Pavilion was originally named the 红叶亭 Hongye Ting (“Red Leaf Pavilion”) because of the surrounding beauty of the red maple trees in autumn, but was later renamed the 爱晚亭 “Aiwan” Pavilion, which translates as “Love Night” or “Love Late” or “Autumn Admiring” Pavilion.
Aiwan Pavilion Poetry
The “Aiwan Pavilion” in Changsha takes its name from the verse of the “Mountain Travel” poem 三行 by Tang Dynasty poet 杜牧 Du Mu (803-852):
“I stop my carriage to admire the maple trees at nightfall, whose frosty leaves are redder than the flowers of early spring.”
停车坐爱枫林晚，霜叶红于二月花
tíng chē zuò ài fēng lín wǎn, shuāng yè hóng yú èr yuè huā
This poem was the inspiration for Changsha architect Jennifer Junfang Fan (Hunan Jianke Architecture) when she did the layout design of the China Friendship Garden.