Compiled by Qiu Liyuan
Editor’s note Suzhou is a good place to go for a spring outing, flowers and gardens. Suzhou has been a famous tourist resort in the south of the Yangtze River since ancient times, and its gardens are models of Chinese gardens.
Suzhou gardens can be traced back to the Spring and Autumn Period, developed in the Jin and Tang Dynasties, flourished in the Song Dynasty and the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Several gardens in Suzhou were once residences of nobles, and each garden has its own history and unique design.
Since the late Qing Dynasty, Suzhou has been known as the "Venice of the East". It has attracted many foreign tourists and researchers for more than a hundred years, leaving a large amount of image data. Local literati in Suzhou said that gardens require you to enter with a peaceful and accepting attitude, and you need to use your observation skills to discover details that echo and match each other like couplets. There is a mysterious force that makes gardens come from human hands and blend with nature. Only those who are good at discovering the inner spirit through the appearance can get a glimpse of it.
In Suzhou gardens, we can also see how the Chinese people in the south of the Yangtze River have a deep feeling for nature, which affects their understanding of the art of living.
Tiger Hill
Tiger Hill is a beautiful island located 20 miles northwest of the ancient city of Suzhou. There are temples, pagodas, and Buddhist pagodas in the dense forest on the island, and the Zen courtyard is looming. The entire building complex is slightly solemn due to the existence of the pagoda. Emperor Qianlong once stayed here during his southern tour and built a palace.
Route map from Suzhou Station to Huqiu Mountain, Xiyuan and Liuyuan. F.R. Nancy: "Suzhou, a Garden City", Shanghai, 1936.
Tiger Hill Palace. Arom: Pictures of the Chinese Empire, London, 1843.
Huqiu Tower. It should have been built in the 11th century AD. Xi Renlong: "Chinese Landscape: Xi Renlong's Photography and Insights", Sweden, 1937.
The famous inscription below the Leaning Tower - Tiger Hill Sword Pond. Photography by Huang Zhongheng. F.R. Nancy: "Suzhou, a Garden City", Shanghai, 1936.
Qiu Xiaowu Xuan. Xiaowuxuan is also famous as Sutai, located in the southeast corner of Yunyan Temple in Huqiu. The walls are covered with paintings and calligraphy, and in the upper left corner you can see the plaque "Xiao Wu Xuan" in block letters with black characters on a white background. The plaque was written by Pang Guojun. Celebrities, calligraphers and painters such as Pang Guojun and Fei Shuwei formed a non-governmental organization to protect the gardens, and restored the gardens through exhibitions and sales of paintings and calligraphy. Bao Ailan: "Chinese Garden Views: The Lingering Garden and the Lion Grove", New York, 1943.
Lingering Garden
Lingering Garden was built in the Ming Dynasty and has been passed down as a private garden for many generations. It is known as the "residence in the garden". The houses in the courtyard surround the landscape of the garden. As you enter the building, you enter one after another. The bedrooms, verandahs, banquet rooms, and flower halls are connected by long corridors, arch bridges, and curved bridges over the water.
Floor plan of the Lingering Garden. Bao Ailan: "Chinese Garden Views: The Lingering Garden and the Lion Grove", New York, 1943.
The gate of Lingering Garden. The door is an ordinary black wooden door. There is a guard box next to the door, and a dog is walking leisurely in front of the door. Bao Ailan: "Chinese Garden Views: The Lingering Garden and the Lion Grove", New York, 1943.
Camphor trees and whitewashed walls. An ancient camphor tree casts a shadow on the whitewashed wall. Under the shadow of the trees, there is a small stone bridge, a gravel path, a niche-style stone lantern to warn of danger here, and the flower windows of the covered corridor. On the left side of the picture is a two-story teahouse. Bao Ailan: "Views of Chinese Gardens: Gardens and Lion Groves", New York, 1943.
A delicate hexagonal pavilion standing high on the rocks. The light-colored pebbled path leading to the pavilion is from centuries ago. Bao Ailan: "Chinese Garden Views: The Lingering Garden and the Lion Grove", New York, 1943.
Lake rocks in a pocket courtyard. The bear-shaped lake stone and the round flower window complement each other, and the elegant branches and leaves of nandina bamboo complement the square flower window. Bao Ailan: "Chinese Garden Views: The Lingering Garden and the Lion Grove", New York, 1943.
The room with the moon cave door. Adjacent to the room pictured above. There is a potted plant on the table in front of the moon cave door and on the right side of the picture. Through the moon cave door, you can see three small decorative tables. Bao Ailan: "Views of Chinese Gardens: The Lingering Garden and the Lion Grove", New York, 1943.
Wisteria. Through the door next to the boulder, you can see the lush wisteria. Bao Ailan: "Views of Chinese Gardens: The Lingering Garden and the Lion Grove", New York, 1943
Small island on the shore of the lake. The shores of the lake are made of rustic stones, in some places set against a backdrop of white walls, in others providing support for ancient trees leaning over the water. Xi Renlong: "Chinese Garden", New York, 1949.
Xiyuan
Xiyuan Jiezhuanglu Temple, also known as Xiyuan Temple, was built between the Yuan Dynasty and Yuan Dynasty (1264-1294). It was originally called Guiyuan Temple and was known as "Wu" The first ancient temple in China. During the Jiajing period of the Ming Dynasty, this place was the villa of the imperial servant Xu Taishi.
Photo by F.R. Nancy: "Suzhou, a Garden City". Shanghai, 1936.
Huxin Pavilion.
Release pool. Okadaji: "On Chinese Gardens", Japan, 1943.
A lady takes a photo in front of the Main Hall.
Lion Grove
The Lion Grove originally belonged to a temple. It was founded in about 1342 by the eminent monk Wei Ze, who gave it a name derived from Buddhist scriptures - "Lion Grove". There is also a rockery with five pine trees in the garden, giving it another name - "Five Pine Garden". After changing hands several times, it was finally purchased by the Bei family. After a huge sum of money was spent on rebuilding it, the Lion Forest has an exquisite layout, numerous strange stones, pavilions and covered bridges, stacked stones and sparse springs, small bridges and flowing water, and winding paths leading to secluded places. It is extraordinary everywhere. construction techniques.
Floor plan of the Lion Grove. Bao Ailan: "Chinese Garden Views: The Lingering Garden and the Lion Grove", New York, 1943.
Jiuqu Bridge. Bao Ailan: "Chinese Garden Views: The Lingering Garden and the Lion Grove", New York, 1943.
The trees, pavilions, lake rocks and their reflections in the lotus pond. Bao Ailan: "Chinese Garden Views: The Lingering Garden and the Lion Grove", New York, 1943.
The arch bridge leading to the artificial island. Bao Ailan: "Chinese Garden Views: The Lingering Garden and the Lion Grove", New York, 1943.
A rockery made of lake rocks on an island in the lake. There are many forked roads and caves on the island, and it may take an afternoon to reach the other side. Bao Ailan: "Chinese Garden Views: The Lingering Garden and the Lion Grove", New York, 1943.
Lake stones stacked in front of the pavilion. Bao Ailan: "Chinese Garden Views: The Lingering Garden and the Lion Grove", New York, 1943.
Petrified wood. The lower part of the picture is filled with flower pots, and next to the huge lake stone on the left side is a petrified wood plant with elegant posture and strong branches. Bao Ailan: "Chinese Garden Views: The Lingering Garden and the Lion Grove", New York, 1943.
Dragon-shaped flower windows in the covered corridor. Through the flower window, you can see the roof of a newly built square building in the courtyard. (Left) Wisteria-patterned windows in the covered corridor. (Center) Phoenix-patterned stained glass windows in the covered corridor. (Right) Ailan Bao: "Views of Chinese Gardens: The Lingering Garden and the Lion Grove", New York, 1943.
A boulder shaped like a sitting lion. This photo was taken in 1918, when the garden was being renovated. Xi Renlong: "Chinese Garden", New York, 1949.
Yiyuan (Gu Family Garden)
Yiyuan is located in Shangshu Lane. It is the residence of Gu Heyi, the great-grandfather of the owner of the garden. The Garden includes several quiet corners, pathways, and other areas suitable for walking and meditation. The pond in the garden is the theme of the garden. It is said that 18 Ming Dynasty Arhat statues were dug out during the excavation of the pond. Later, the owner of the garden placed them on the wall of a pavilion. The lake stones, decorative columns and cloisters in the garden come from the old gardens in Suzhou city. The ancient piano table and some garden decorations date back to the Song Dynasty, while other furnishings are from the Ming Dynasty. The entire garden is extremely elegant and worth savoring.
A corner of Gu Family Garden (now known as Yiyuan). Before worshiping Shixuan. Xi Renlong: "Chinese Garden", New York, 1949.
Souvenir photos taken by tourists in Yiyuan. The impression left by a garden like this may be a dazzling array of strange rocks and trees. It aims to attract through richness and variation rather than any obvious design. Xi Renlong: "Chinese Garden", New York, 1949.
Interior view of Yiyuan. Photography by A.J. Waller. (Left) Ancient stone furnishings in Yi Yuan. Photography by Huang Zhongheng. (Right) F.R. Nancy: "Suzhou, a Garden City", Shanghai, 1936.
Yiyuan. Photography by Donald Manney. Elizabeth Cooper: "Women in the Chinese Courtyard", New York, 1914.
The Humble Administrator's Garden
The Humble Administrator's Garden is located on North Street in the inner city. It was built by officials in the Ming Dynasty, so its name is Ziqian, which means "humble in government affairs". Wen Zhengming, a great literati of the Ming Dynasty, wrote a collection of essays here, and also created many paintings and poems. By the Qing Dynasty, it became the seat of the Qing generals stationed in Suzhou in charge of the Eight Banners. During the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, it was occupied by the Taiping Army. The garden has gone through changes, and although it has an appearance of decay, its temperament and spirit remain the same.
Fang-style pavilion on the lotus pond. Photography by Huang Zhongheng. F.R. Nancy: "Suzhou, a Garden City", Shanghai, 1936.
The Moon Cave Gate is located in the Eight Banners Guild Hall, the former site of the Humble Administrator's Garden. Xi Renlong: "Chinese Garden", New York, 1949.
Entrance planted with old vines. It is thought to date from the 16th century. Xi Renlong: "Chinese Garden", New York, 1949.
The moon cave door on the undulating cloud wall. Xi Renlong: "Chinese Garden", New York, 1949.
Break the bridge. There was originally a pond under the long folding bridge, but now lush plants have replaced the water. Xi Renlong: "Chinese Garden", New York, 1949.
Wang's Girls' School Garden
Wang's Girls' School is the "Zhenhua Girls' School" founded by Ms. Wang Xiedada in 1906. Cai Yuanpei is the school director. In 1928, the school was divided into a middle school and a primary school. The middle school moved to the Suzhou Textile Department and was named "Zhenhua Women's Middle School".
The perfect Taihu stone - Ruiyun Peak. This Taihu stone stands in the garden of the devastated Suzhou Wang's Girls' School. Xi Renlong: "Chinese Garden", New York, 1949
An abandoned garden in a girls' school. Xi Renlong: "Chinese Garden", New York, 1949.
Master of the Nets Garden
The Master of the Nets Garden is the smallest garden in Suzhou. It was built in the Southern Song Dynasty and was the "Wanshi Garden" of Yangzhou native Shi Zhengzhi (a bibliophile and official to the minister). The former site of "Juantang", the garden was originally named "Yuyin", but was later abandoned. During the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty (about 1770), Song Zongyuan, the young minister of Guanglu Temple who became an official, purchased the abandoned garden and rebuilt it, naming it "Nets Master Garden".
The small lake and promenade of Master of the Nets Garden. The small lake that forms the central element is surrounded by the building on three sides, and the open promenade is higher or lower, or winding along the lake shore. Xi Renlong: "Chinese Garden", New York, 1949.
Water pavilion in the promenade of Master of Nets Garden. Xi Renlong: "Chinese Garden", New York, 1949.
A stone bridge across the stream in Master of the Nets Garden. Xi Renlong: "Chinese Garden", New York, 1949.
A corner of the backyard at the end of Dian Chunyan. Xi Renlong: "Chinese Garden", New York, 1949.
Canglang Pavilion
Canglang Pavilion was built in the Song Dynasty and has been destroyed many times in history. It was rebuilt in the 1870s, and an art school was built in it in 1927. Although it has been preserved, the layout of the garden has been changed, and the original buildings have been replaced by large palaces with antique colonnades.
The open corridor of Canglang Pavilion. It is now the location of Suzhou Fine Arts College. Xi Renlong: "Chinese Garden", New York, 1949.
Canglang Pavilion. Photography by Huang Zhongheng. F.R. Nancy: "Suzhou, a Garden City", Shanghai, 1936.
Stacked lake rocks. Okadaji: "On Chinese Gardens", Japan, 1943.
Half a pond full of lotus flowers. Okadaji: "On Chinese Gardens", Japan, 1943.
The pictures in this article are excerpted from "The History of China Lost in the West: Suzhou Gardens" compiled by Qiu Liyuan (China Workers Publishing House, January 2021), and The Paper is authorized to publish it.
Proofreading: Luan Meng