乾隆半月台诗碑

Carved from white jade and shaped like a half-moon, the Qianlong Half-Moon Stele Poetry Pavilion at Peking University is a poignant reminder of an emperor’s reflections. The Qianlong Emperor, a figure whose reign spanned decades of both prosperity and turmoil, left his mark not only on China’s vast empire but also within the serene confines of what is now Peking University’s campus. This stele, nestled near an unnamed lake, offers us a glimpse into the emperor’s memories of his youth spent in the former Old Summer Palace. The pavilion’s inscription, both in Chinese and Manchu, tells of a silver world shimmering under a full moon, untouched by the cold. The Qianlong Half-Moon Stele Poetry Pavilion bears two poems composed by the Qianlong Emperor in 1787. One side features a seven-character poem titled “Playing with Pine Trees,” while the other displays a five-character poem titled “Earthen Wall.” Both poems evoke a sense of nostalgia for the emperor’s youthful days spent at the Old Summer Palace. The poem “Playing with Pine Trees” tells of planting trees, a pastime that offered not just a connection to nature but a reminder of the delicate balance of growth and ambition. The poem “Earthen Wall,” on the other hand, recounts the construction of a five-foot wall, a task that took half a year. This simple act of building becomes a metaphor for the emperor’s own life, the challenges faced and the lessons learned. The stele, measuring 2.27 meters long and 1.10 meters high, is remarkably well-preserved, its cloud and dragon carvings still vivid. Although some characters have weathered over time, the pavilion and its poems endure, offering visitors a quiet space for contemplation and a connection to the Qianlong Emperor’s personal reflections on time, nature, and the enduring power of memory.