Between the Hao and Pu in Beihai Park, there lies a universe

On the eastern shore of Beihai Park, a royal garden in the capital, there is a garden within a garden called Hao Pu Jian. This small garden, hidden by the slope of a hill, can be easily missed if one is not careful; however, it was meticulously designed by Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty, who personally inscribed couplets and plaques for it. As people wander through the garden's winding bridges, ponds, rocks, and corridors, they not only marvel at the ancient Chinese art of gardening but also gradually comprehend the original intention behind Emperor Qianlong's creation of this garden. The naming of Hao Pu Jian naturally leads to inquiries about its origin. In the Mountain Resort in Chengde, one of the thirty-six scenic spots is named 'Hao Pu Jian Xiang.' The term 'Hao Pu Jian Xiang' comes from 'Shishuo Xinyu·Yanyu.' According to historical records, when Emperor Jianwen of the Eastern Jin Dynasty entered the Hualin Garden, he turned to his attendants and said: 'A place that pleases the heart need not be far away; amidst the sheltering trees, one can have thoughts of Hao and Pu, and feel the birds and beasts, fish and fowl come close to man.' It is a metaphor for a contented heart or interest, and also implies a hope for the help of nature. Hao and Pu were originally the names of two rivers. It is said that Zhuangzi and Hui Shi were playing on a bridge over the Hao River. Zhuangzi said, 'The pike fish swim so leisurely and contentedly in the river, that is the happiness of the fish.' Hui Shi replied, 'You are not a fish, how do you know the fish's happiness?' Zhuangzi retorted, 'You are not me, how do you know that I do not know the fish's happiness?' Hui Shi responded, 'I am not you, indeed I do not know whether you know the fish's happiness; but since you are not a fish, you cannot know the fish's happiness, that is certain.' Zhuangzi said, 'Let's trace back to the origin of the conversation. When you said, 'How do you know the fish are happy,' you already knew that I knew the fish are happy and asked me. I know it from the bridge over the Hao River.' This is the famous 'Debate on the Hao Bridge' in history. It also reflects the ancient understanding of man's relationship with nature. Both the Hao Pu Jian Xiang in the Mountain Resort and the Hao Pu Jian in Beihai Park originate from this story. As for the difference of one character between the two places, it is said that Emperor Qianlong intentionally made the change out of reverence for his 'Grandfather Emperor Kangxi.' Although Hao Pu Jian is not a large garden, it has its own characteristics, with a gradual rise from north to south, featuring archways, winding bridges, ponds, rocks, mountain-climbing corridors, Chongjiao Room, and Yunxiao Room, quiet and unique. The Chongjiao Room is a place for reading, and the Yunxiao Room, with its through-hall structure, comes from Tao Yuanming's 'Returning Home' with the line 'Clouds drift out of the gorges without intent, and birds weary of flight know to return.' From this, we learn about Zhuangzi and Hui Shi from the Warring States period, and about Emperor Jianwen and Tao Yuanming from the Eastern Jin Dynasty. At the same time, we can faintly feel that Emperor Qianlong, as a ruler of his time, intended to cultivate his inner self through the joy of mountains and waters, in order to govern the country and bring peace to the world, which may well have been his original intention in building the garden. Visitors can tour Hao Pu Jian from north to south, walking from the water's edge to the mountain top, or enter from the southern palace gate, ascend to the mountain top via the corridor, overlook the Yunxiao Room, and then follow the corridor from south to north to the water's edge, experiencing the wonder of different starting and ending points in this garden within a garden.