Juniperus chinensis from Six Dynasties

A Juniperus chinensis tree, over 1500 years-old, is located near Southeast University (Chinese: 东南大学; pinyin: Dōngnán Dàxué) in Nanjing. It was planted by the Emperor Wu of Liang, the founder of the Liang dynasty during the Six Dynasties period, within the compound of the Liang imperial palace. The palace was later destroyed by war, but the tree survives to this day.

A photograph of the Juniperus chinensis.

Stone carving depicting the Juniperus chinensis.

During the Ming dynasty, the Guozijian was built in the same location. In the beginning of the 20th century, the Liangjiang Normal Institute (Chinese: 两江师范学堂; pinyin: Liǎngjiāng Shīfàn Xuétáng) was situated here. That school was a predecessor of Southeast University, where the tree is now located.