Zhongchi Pond is located at the heart of Zhuge Village, right in front of the Dagong Hall, covering an area of 0.24 hectares. Adjacent to it is a piece of land with an inverse symmetrical area. The pond is used for drying fields. According to the I Ching, ‘the southeast is yang and the northwest is yin,’ combined with the concept of ’round heaven and square earth,’ the open space and Zhongchi Pond form a yin-yang Tai Chi diagram.
There is a well on the north of the land and on the south of the pond, symbolizing the fish eyes in Tai Chi. Surrounded by houses, Zhongchi Pond and the open space create an enclosed space, with a road encircling the pond. The northwestern part of the north bank leads to the entrance of Dagong Hall’s courtyard, with a small garden to the east and west, where the green leaves of canna lilies and red pomegranate flowers set off the shadow of Dagong Hall, occasionally reflected in Zhongchi Pond. The southern bank of the pond is a steep slope, and several large buildings constructed along the slope appear increasingly higher from the north bank, with a row of small bungalows in front, creating a dramatic and beautiful silhouette. Eight alleys radiate from Zhongchi Pond, each with distinct characteristics, forming the eight trigrams of Kan, Gen, Zhen, Xun, Li, Kun, Dui, and Qian. Dagong Hall is situated in the Kan Palace area. A very deep alley leads east from the side of its main entrance, up a series of steps, with a lush garden on the left and the back walls of houses on the right, leading to one of the eighteen halls in the village, Jiquning Hall. The alley to the east of Zhongchi Pond is straight and 100 meters long, lined with wooden eaves and door canopies, with several Suzhou-style brick door faces that are particularly exquisite. Turning right at the end of the alley leads to the side entrance of the Prime Minister’s Ancestral Hall. The alley on the southern slope ascends 50 meters before descending a flight of stone steps, with several narrow lanes connected within, leading to the back door of Jifen Shang’s ceremonial hall. The eight alleys seem to connect yet are closed, seem to link yet are broken, creating an illusion of reality, like a spider’s web and a labyrinth. The scenic area is open all year round, accessible 24/7.Zhuge Bagua Village Scenic Area – Zhongchi Pond
Zhongchi Pond is located at the heart of Zhuge Village, right in front of the Dagong Hall, covering an area […]
