Guyue Bridge
Guyue Bridge 古月橋 | |
---|---|
Guyue Bridge in 2008 | |
Crosses | Dragon Creek |
Locale | Yiwu, Jinhua, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China |
Official name | 古月橋 |
Characteristics | |
Design |
Arch bridge Stone bridge |
Total length | 31.2 m (102 ft) |
Width | 4.5 m (15 ft) |
Height | 4.15 m (14 ft) |
Longest span | 15 m (49 ft) |
Number of spans | 1 |
History | |
Construction end | 1213 |
Opened | 1213 |
The Guyue Bridge (simplified Chinese: 古月桥; traditional Chinese: 古月橋; pinyin: Gǔ Yuè Qiáo) is an ancient Chinese arch bridge located in Yiwu, Jinhua, Zhejiang province, People's Republic of China.[1]
"Guyue Bridge" literally means the bridge of the ancient moon.
Introduction
The bridge is located in Chi'an Village (simplified Chinese: 赤岸镇; traditional Chinese: 赤岸鎮; pinyin: Chì'àn Zhèn), and it's about 100-meter western of the Yazhi Street (雅治街). It goes across the Dragon Creek (traditional Chinese: 龍溪, simplified Chinese: 龙溪, pinyin: Lóng Xī).[2][3]
It is a single span arch bridge. The design is very special: more precisely, its structure feature is girder-arch, and the girders are arranged like ribs. Such design can be found in the famous painting Along the River During the Qingming Festival of Song dynasty by Zhang Zeduan.[2]
The bridge was completed in 1213, the sixth year of the Jiading Era (Chinese: 嘉定; pinyin: Jiā Dìng), Southern Song dynasty. Since then it has never been rebuilt or repaired.[2][3]
On the body of the bridge are engraved 12 Chinese characters: Huangsong Jiading Guiyou Jiqiu Runyue Jianzao[3] (simplified Chinese: 皇宋嘉定癸酉季秋润月建造; traditional Chinese: 皇宋嘉定癸酉季秋閏月建造; pinyin: Huáng Sòng Jiā Dìng Guǐ Yǒu Jì Qiū Rùn Yuè Jiàn Zào),[1][2] which literally means: Constructed in Autumn September Imperial Song Jiangding Era the Year of Guiyou ("Huang" means Imperial. "Song" reveals Song dynasty. "Jiading" is an era 1208-1224 of the Emperor Ningzong of Song. "Guiyou" is the year 1213, it's the Sexagenary cycle-way to record years in traditional Chinese calendar. "Jiqiu" means the late autumn period of a year.
See also
- Stone bridge
- Arch bridge
- Zhaozhou Bridge, a famous Chinese stone arch bridge completed in 605 AD.
References
- 1 2 "古月桥 (Guyue Bridge) (Tourism sites in Jinhua)" (in Chinese). 联合网 (www.ungou.com). Retrieved January 2, 2010.
- 1 2 3 4 "古月桥 (Guyue Bridge)" (in Chinese). Baidu.com Chinese Encyclopedia. Retrieved January 2, 2010.
- 1 2 3 "古月桥 (Guyue Bridge)" (in Chinese). Hudong.com Chinese Encyclopedia. Retrieved January 2, 2010.
External links
- Detailed descriptions on the Guyue Bridge (Chinese), including photos (from Hudong.com)
- Detailed descriptions on the Guyue Bridge (Chinese), including photos (from Baidu.com)
- A blog describing Guyue Bridge in spring (Chinese)