Philosophical values and landscape cognition of Orchid Pavilion in Zhejiang from the perspective of environmental history

Abstract

With the traditional society’s continuous development and the change in the water environment, the Orchid Pavilion landscape has changed several times. The cognition of the Orchid Pavilion landscape, by the literati of the past dynasties, has also been continuously sublimated due to a range of natural and societal factors. As an important historical landscape, south of the Yangtze River, Orchid Pavilion contains more historical and cultural significance than the landscape itself. From Wei and Jin Dynasties to Tang Dynasty, the beautiful water environment and cultural landscape of Orchid Pavilion aroused nationwide longing and appreciation for its beauty. However, from the Song Dynasty to the end of the Ming Dynasty, factors, such as warfare, population growth and climate change caused damage to the water environment, and the landscape of the Orchid Pavilion was not spared. Scholars had to recall the Orchid Pavilion landscape in their work due to its destruction. In the Qing Dynasty, imperial power intervened to rebuild Orchid Pavilion landscape. The literati and officials, in the south of the Yangtze River, gradually accepted the rule of the Qing regime, and the image of the Orchid Pavilion landscape was reshaped. Since the Republic of China, the adherents of the late Qing Dynasty have used Orchid Pavilion and its ritual activities to reinforce their sense of identity through new forms of media. The preface to the Orchid Pavilion is a collection of events, articles and calligraphy, which surpasses the general value for viewing. Although calligraphy achieves its ultimate significance, the influence of events and articles is the condition for it to enter the classical world, and the legendary appearance and the support of imperial power are the important aids to its spread.