China | Beijing | Imperial College

From the Confucius Temple I passed through an archway into the Gui Zi Jian (Imperial College) complex, located just to the west. The Gui Zi Jian was created by Khölög Khan (1281–1311), who in 1308 had been named Mongol Yuan Emperor Wuzong at the old Mongol capital of Shangdu near Dolonnuur in what is now the Chinese province of Inner Mongolia.

Khölög Khan, a.k.a. Emperor Wuzong

The same year he established the Gui Zi Jian right next door to the Confucius Temple founded by his predecessor, the Mongol Yuan Emperor Chengzong. The whole complex covers 28,000 square meters, or almost seven acres. It would become the highest ranking educational institution in China during the Yuan Dynasty and remained so during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Now it is the oldest educational institution in China which has been preserved intact.

Gateway to the Gui Zi Jian
Building in the Imperial College

Building in the Imperial College

Like the Confucius Temple, the Gui Zi Jian contains numerous trees planted in the fourteenth century, during the Yuan Dynasty. Here they are known as Chinese Scholar Trees. This one was later given the name Luo Guo Huai (Hunchback) by the Qing emperor Qianlong, who said that it resembled one of his advisers, a hunchback himself.

Tree named Luo Guo Huai

This Chinese Scholar Tree was planted by Xu Heng, the president of Guo Zi Jian for a time during the Yuan Dynasty. It flourished for a while and then withered and appeared to have died. Then in 1751, in the Qing Dynasty, the tree suddenly sprang back to life during the celebration of the 6oth birthday of the mother of the Qianlong emperor, which was considered auspicous. It was given the name Fu Su Huai, meaning “Coming back to Life.” Now the main trunk is propped up with a metal support but overall the tree appears fairly healthy.

Tree named Fu Su Huai

Entrance to the Scholars’ Courtyard

Statues of Scholars in the Scholars’ Courtyard

Statues of Scholars in the Scholars’ Courtyard

Statues of Scholars in the Scholars’ Courtyard

Vegetarian restaurant just outside the entrance to the Imperial College. From the assortment of the luxury sedans parked out front this appeared to be a pretty up-scale place. I did not go in.