Bridges

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Anji Bridge -
a gray rainbow drinking
from a mountain brook


(Inspiration from Tsang Tsuoshuo, a T'ang Poet of China)


The oldest extant bridge of China is a single span stone arch bridge -- Anji Bridge in Zhaoxian County of Hebei Province, built in the Sui Dynasty (581-618). Also known as the Zhaozhou Bridge with a history of about 1,400 years, it is reputed as The First Bridge Under Sky.

It is a single segmental stone arch, composed of 28 individual arches bonded transversely, 37.02m in span and rising 7.23m above the chord line. Narrower in the upper part and wider in the lower, the bridge averages 9m in width. The main arch ring is 1.03m thick with protective arch stones on it. Each of its spandrels is perforated by two small arches, 3.8m and 2.85m respectively in clear span, so that flood water can be drained and the bridge weight is lightened as well.

The Anji Bridge has a segmental deck and the parapets are engraved with dragons and other animals. Its construction started in the 15th year (595) of the reign of Kaihuang and was completed in the 1st year (605) of Daye's reign of the Sui Dynasty.

The bridge, exquisite in workmanship, unique in structure, well-proportioned and graceful in shape, and meticulous yet lively in engraving, has been regarded as one of the greatest achievements in China. Great attention and protection have been given to it through successive dynasties.

The Anji Bridge is by far the earliest and best preserved stone arch bridge in the world. In 1991, it was named among the world cultural relics of civil engineering, which indicates that the Anji Bridge is equally famous as the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the Panama Canal and the Pyramid in Egypt.
© 2003 Ministry of Culture, P.R.China.

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The Zhaozhou Bridge (traditional Chinese: 趙州橋; simplified Chinese: 赵州桥; pinyin: Zhàozhōu Qiáo) is the world's oldest open-spandrel stone segmental arch bridge.

The intriguing design of the Zhaozhou Bridge has given rise to many legends. According to one legend, the bridge was built by a master architect named Lu Ban in a single night. In another story, the bridge was put to the test by two immortals who crossed it at the same time and Lu Ban saved it by wading into the water and supporting the structure.

Although Ming Dynasty (1368–1644) authors compared the bridge to
"a new moon rising above the clouds" and
"a long rainbow hanging on a mountain waterfall",

it later fell into obscurity. When Professor Liang Sicheng (梁思成) of Tsing Hua University rediscovered the bridge on a field exploration of ancient architecture in Hebei province, made detailed measurements, and published a report and drawing ("An Chi Ch'iao the Great Stone Bridge Chao Hsien, Hobei, Sui Dynasty AD 569-617, Li Chun Master Builder"), it became world famous.
©　More in the WIKIPEDIA !


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Japanese Stone Bridges



NHK 石橋



Yatsuhashi Bridge

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.. .. .. colors moving
.. .. .. in clear waters -
.. .. .. a bridge to you



Ritsurin Park in Takamatsu, Japan



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BRIDGES ad topic for Haiku


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Chinese Carpet

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meditating in winter - the mind crawls along carpet patterns

..... LOOK HERE ! for more carpet distortions .....


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... Meditation (dhyana) and haiku


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Lion Grips

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through wear and tear the lions shine in ancient history Peking, Imperial Palace

Read my Haiku Archives from January 2007

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Great Wall

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the great wall - leading in the mist of history

. PHOTO ALBUM : Peking 1988 　　


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the great wall -
memories of a thousand
black heads

Gabi Greve
Februaray 2011


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Great Wall
resting in autumn moonlight
the shadow and I

Chen-ou Liu
Canada


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how catchy
spider's spun threads all over ...
the great wall

Heike Gewi
Yemen


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the Great Wall---
a kite crosses over
not on purpose

Fred Masarani


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long gone protection
becomes today's attraction
old men play checkers

Charles Ford


source : my facebook



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The Great Wall of China

a series of stone and earthen fortifications in northern China, built originally to protect the northern borders of the Chinese Empire against intrusions by various nomadic groups. Several walls have been built since the 5th century BC that are referred to collectively as the Great Wall, which has been rebuilt and maintained from the 5th century BC through the 16th century.

One of the most famous is the wall built between 220–206 BC by the first Emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang. Little of that wall remains; the majority of the existing wall was built during the Ming Dynasty.

The Great Wall stretches from Shanhaiguan in the east, to Lop Nur in the west, along an arc that roughly delineates the southern edge of Inner Mongolia. It stretches for 8,851.8 km.
©　More in the WIKIPEDIA !


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. WKD : Berlin Wall (Berliner Mauer) 　　


. Place Names used in Haiku 　

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Peking Dragon Pole

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Dragon Pole in Peking, Imperial Palace showing his might in stone and marble - Dragon Emperor

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Dunhuang patterns

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Patterns on the Temple Beams ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo dragons watching the magic jewel - you and I

Dragon Art in Asia

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Dunhuang apsaras

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snowflakes - the heavenly crowds descending carpet with apsaras

Read my Article on the
APSARAS in Dunghuang ..... 敦煌の飛天

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Keilin Fisherman

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lost in the river of time the fisherman's boat

Lost in the river of time ... more about this

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Shanghai Decorations

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More of my
Stones in Shanghai


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Shanghai Stones

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unmovable wisdom in the Chinese park - the season is NOW