The Jesuit Water Works at the European Palaces（Xiyanglou西洋樓）of Yuanmingyuan（圓明園）: Hydraulic Design in the 17th Century
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ABSTRACT
When the Qianlong Emperor (乾隆皇帝; 1711-1799) was shown pictures of European scenes one day in 1747, he was especially impressed by the fountains and ordered the construction of Western-style buildings and fountains on the grounds of the Old Summer Palace outside Beijing, known in Chinese as Yuanmingyuan. The Western buildings (Xiyanglou) were built in two phases between 1747 and 1759, with the court painter Giuseppe Castiglione S. J. (郎世寧; 1688-1766) from Italy serving as main architect. The French father Michel Benoist S. J. (蔣友仁; 1715-1774), a young court mathematician and astronomer, was put in charge of the hydraulic works which included dozens of fountains, piping systems, hydraulic machines for raising water and elevated reservoirs. This talk will present a first analysis of how Benoist might have designed the main components of the water works, using the hydraulic knowledge available in the 17th century. In particular, how did he determine the required water flows, estimate the required size of the reservoirs, calculate the water raising devices, etc.? What Western examples did he possibly follow? What was the possible mechanism of the famous zodiacal water clock in front of the Hall of Calm Seas (海晏堂)? These and other questions will be discussed as well as the challenges he faced in completing the works. The talk will be richly illustrated with historic drawings, pictures and plans.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Albert Koenig, a native Austrian, obtained a BSAE degree from the University of the Philippines at Los Baños, followed by an MS and PhD from Cornell University. He has worked for more than thirty years in academia, industry and government in various countries, always in the area of environmental engineering. In 1992 he joined the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Hong Kong. After his retirement in 2009, he held visiting positions at the University of Padua, Italy and the University of Hong Kong where he is currently an Adjunct Professor. He is a member of several professional associations, including HKIE and the International Water Association (IWA), Specialist Group on Water and Wastewater Technology in Ancient Civilizations.
When the Qianlong Emperor (乾隆皇帝; 1711-1799) was shown pictures of European scenes one day in 1747, he was especially impressed by the fountains and ordered the construction of Western-style buildings and fountains on the grounds of the Old Summer Palace outside Beijing, known in Chinese as Yuanmingyuan. The Western buildings (Xiyanglou) were built in two phases between 1747 and 1759, with the court painter Giuseppe Castiglione S. J. (郎世寧; 1688-1766) from Italy serving as main architect. The French father Michel Benoist S. J. (蔣友仁; 1715-1774), a young court mathematician and astronomer, was put in charge of the hydraulic works which included dozens of fountains, piping systems, hydraulic machines for raising water and elevated reservoirs. This talk will present a first analysis of how Benoist might have designed the main components of the water works, using the hydraulic knowledge available in the 17th century. In particular, how did he determine the required water flows, estimate the required size of the reservoirs, calculate the water raising devices, etc.? What Western examples did he possibly follow? What was the possible mechanism of the famous zodiacal water clock in front of the Hall of Calm Seas (海晏堂)? These and other questions will be discussed as well as the challenges he faced in completing the works. The talk will be richly illustrated with historic drawings, pictures and plans.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Albert Koenig, a native Austrian, obtained a BSAE degree from the University of the Philippines at Los Baños, followed by an MS and PhD from Cornell University. He has worked for more than thirty years in academia, industry and government in various countries, always in the area of environmental engineering. In 1992 he joined the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Hong Kong. After his retirement in 2009, he held visiting positions at the University of Padua, Italy and the University of Hong Kong where he is currently an Adjunct Professor. He is a member of several professional associations, including HKIE and the International Water Association (IWA), Specialist Group on Water and Wastewater Technology in Ancient Civilizations.