Zhaozhou Bridge, also known as Anji Bridge, is located about 40 kilometers southeast of Shijiazhuang and 2.6 kilometers south of Zhao County. It is the earliest and best-preserved ancient open-shoulder stone arch bridge in the world. Zhaozhou Bridge was built in 605 AD and was designed and built by the famous craftsman Li Chun. It was selected by the China World Records Association as the world's earliest open-shoulder stone arch bridge, creating a world record. Such open-shoulder arch bridges did not appear in Europe until the mid-19th century, more than 1,200 years later than in my country. It is known as "one of the four treasures of North China". The carving art of Zhaozhou Bridge, including railings, balusters and lock stones, is lifelike in the form of lions, elephants, dragons and beasts, and the carving is exquisite and beautiful, worthy of being an art treasure in the treasure house of cultural relics. One of the outstanding representatives of ancient stone arch bridges in my country is Zhaozhou Bridge. Zhaozhou Bridge is 64.4m long, 37.02m in span, 9m wide in arch, and 7.23m in height. Two small arches with different spans are set on each shoulder of the bridge arch, i.e. open-shoulder arches, which makes it more elegant and beautiful than solid-shoulder arches. It can not only reduce the weight of the bridge, save materials, but also facilitate flood discharge and increase beauty. The design concept and exquisite craftsmanship of Zhaozhou Bridge were second to none in the world at that time. Zhaozhou Bridge is more than 1,400 years old and has experienced 10 floods, 8 wars and many earthquakes. In particular, on March 8, 1966, a 7.6-magnitude earthquake occurred in Xingtai. Zhaozhou Bridge was only more than 40 kilometers away from the epicenter, but it was not damaged. Famous bridge expert Mao Yisheng said that regardless of the internal structure of the bridge, the fact that it can exist for more than 1,400 years explains everything. On March 4, 1961, the State Council of China announced it as the first batch of key cultural relics protection units in the country, so it cannot be opened to traffic.
Poem of the heritage generated by AI
Philosophy related to the heritage
Interpretation of Zhaozhou Bridge from the perspective of Eastern philosophy As an outstanding representative of ancient Chinese bridge architecture, Zhaozhou Bridge not only reflects the wisdom of ancient craftsmen, but also contains the profound thoughts of Eastern philosophy. From the perspective of Eastern philosophy, the construction concept of Zhaozhou Bridge coincides with the Taoist "Tao follows nature". The design of the bridge follows the laws of nature and cleverly uses the arch structure, which not only reduces the weight of the bridge body, but also enhances its load-bearing capacity, reflecting the philosophical thought of "ruling by inaction". At the same time, the Zhaozhou Bridge has survived thousands of years of wind and rain, symbolizing the Confucian "doctrine of the mean", that is, seeking balance in change and development in stability, showing the wisdom of harmonious coexistence between man and nature. Interpretation of Zhaozhou Bridge from the perspective of Western philosophy From the perspective of Western philosophy, the interpretation of Zhaozhou Bridge focuses more on the rationality of its structure and the embodiment of human wisdom. The unity of "form and function" emphasized by ancient Greek philosophers such as Aristotle is perfectly reflected in the Zhaozhou Bridge. The arch design of the bridge is not only beautiful, but also scientifically reasonable, reflecting the pursuit of practicality and rationality in Western philosophy. In addition, the long-term existence of Zhaozhou Bridge also reflects the thinking about "eternity" and "change" in Western philosophy. Although the bridge is silent, it has witnessed countless historical changes. Its existence itself is a philosophical reflection on the passage of time and the continuity of human civilization. In summary, whether from the harmony of nature and the doctrine of the mean in Eastern philosophy, or the rationality, practicality and eternal change in Western philosophy, Zhaozhou Bridge has become a bridge connecting the past and the present and communicating Eastern and Western philosophical thoughts with its unique existence.