On Suu Kyi in Paradise

As soon as I fell into this world, I suddenly became

A sparkling lake

A criss-crossing waterway

And misty rain

Since then, this place

The grass grows and the warbler flies, and the fish is happy and the seedlings are numerous.

A vivid and complicated word "Su" sprang out.

Suzhou is famous for it.

It is said that Suzhou is made of water.

The word "Suzhou" was originally a homonym of "made of water"

Beauty, water is paradise, unique in the world.

Suzhou is made of water.

"There is heaven above and Suzhou and Hangzhou below". Suzhou in my imagination is just like heaven, sacred and beautiful.

Therefore, Suzhou has always been my yearning place. I often bring my family, make an appointment with my girlfriends, or make an appointment with three or five friends to stroll in Suzhou. Every time I will linger, I am still unfinished.

There are small bridges and flowing water, elegant century-old buildings, alleys paved with stone slabs, distant history and culture, and delicious snacks. . . This is indeed a place that you can never get tired of seeing, and it is worth savoring and savoring.

Recently, because the COVID-19 epidemic raided Suzhou, one side was in trouble and all directions supported it, and all the brother cities in Jiangsu immediately lent a helping hand. Suzhou is in urgent need of help. I also actively signed up to go to Suzhou with my friends and devoted myself to epidemic prevention. There is no gap in work arrangement except going out to perform tasks. The team members are required to stay alone in the hotel room to rest, do their own protection and strictly prevent cross-infection.

I suddenly realized that this time alone is a gift and enjoyment for me. Usually busy work, busy pace of life, have forgotten how quiet it used to be.

No housework and trivial chores. As a result, my world slowed down. Have a plenty of time to sit there alone, you can think casually or think nothing; You can think deeply, or you can be in a daze quietly, completely immersed in your own world.

Enjoy your good time slowly. At this moment, I feel that the world is my own and has nothing to do with others.

On the bookshelf by the window in the hotel lobby, I came across the book The Story of Paradise. I was attracted by reading a few pages casually, so I borrowed them to read them carefully.

After reading this book, I realized that my previous understanding of Suzhou was only rough or superficial, and I only stayed on its beautiful scenery, delicious food and some superficial things.

"The Book of Heaven" combed and interpreted the past lives and its context in Suzhou, which made me really understand the cultural background of Suzhou.

Suzhou has a long history of humanities. Through this book, I have a brand-new understanding and understanding of her.

China has three major regions, namely, the Pearl River Delta in the south, the Bohai Bay Delta in the north and the Yangtze River Delta in the east. Suzhou is located in such a golden zone as the Yangtze River Delta.

The most striking feature of Suzhou is its large water area. Suzhou has a total area of 8488 square kilometers, but the water area reaches 3608 square kilometers, accounting for 42.52%, accounting for almost half of the country.

Looking down at Suzhou from the air, the land of Suzhou is like a huge ink painting scroll, which is displayed in front of people in an unobstructed view. There are vast and colorful fields, green wheat fields, rape flowers in Huang Cancan and purple grass flowers. Trees surround towns and villages, mostly black and white painted tiles.

Suzhou is dotted with lakes and ponds, and rivers and inlets are as dense as cobwebs. They shine and spread out in the sun like countless pearls and jade belts, so dazzling and charming.

No wonder people call Suzhou a "water town" and a "splendid south of the Yangtze River", and are praised by contemporary people as "Venice in the east wind" and "water paradise", which is really worthy of the name.

I have to mention that there is a famous street in Suzhou called Shantang Street, which my friends and I have been to. During the day, she is a realistic ink painting. At night, Shantang Street is even more dreamlike, with dim lights and colorful. How can such a mountain pond not teach people to linger?

Shantang Street has been famous since ancient times. There is a beautiful song called "Nine Chains", and the lyrics are as follows: "There is heaven above, Suzhou and Hangzhou below, West Lake in Hangzhou and Shantang in Suzhou."

Comparing Shantang and West Lake, we can see that Shantang Street is famous in history.

Shantang Street is about seven miles long, so it is commonly known as "Qili Shantang". Shantang Street is built by the river. It used to be a stone street, but later it was changed to a stone road. Therefore, it has long been praised as "the most beautiful street in the world, with flower shoes after the rain", which is Shantang Street.

It is said that water is alive, trees have roots, and the history of Suzhou is extraordinary.

In that distant time and space, a spectacular rainbow was painted. It can be said that without this rich color, this paradise will be eclipsed, and I am afraid it will not be so brilliant so far.

Suzhou's history is profound, full of legends and intriguing, which has been pursued by countless historians.

Suzhou in history was indispensable in the Spring and Autumn Period, including He Lv, Gou Jian, Wu Zixu, Zhuan Xu and Beauty Stone. . . Everyone must have heard of these allusions.

These stories are not only related to Suzhou, but also extraordinary.

Anyone who knows a little about the history of China knows that the Spring and Autumn Period is an extraordinary period, an era of disorderly dancing and a turbulent era. The time began around 770 BC and lasted about 300 years until 476 BC.

In 585 BC, there was a man named Shoumeng. Everything has changed since he became the king of Wu.

Shou Meng's twenty-four years in power created a new situation and wrote a new chapter for Wu.

"Historical Records" said: "Shoumeng was established, and Wu Shiyi was king." The meaning is clear enough. Wu's real strength began with this Shou Meng.

Great undertakings always depend on people with great ambitions, and they are inherited and created by people with great ambitions. This is probably the experience and summary of thousands of years of history.

Time reached 5 14 BC, under the guidance of the master Wu Zixu. He directed the so-called "assassination of Liao Wang" in history and achieved great success.

This year, Gongzi proclaimed himself king and was designated as the year of He Lv. He became the 24th king of Wu.

According to history, He Lv was the most meritorious king in the process of Wu's hegemony, and he was also called "the five tyrants in the Spring and Autumn Period" with Qi Huangong, Jin Wengong, Chu Zhuangwang and later Gou Jian.

Then, in the history of Wu for more than 600 years, why is it that only he Lu can get such a high evaluation? Of course, this is by no means boasted by anyone. In fact, just look at the three things he did after taking office.

Recruit talents, this is the first pile.

Before He Lv took the top position of the king of Wu, his political foresight began to show its edge, and Wu Zixu was the first person he saw.

Wu Zixu is an outstanding talent. He is "less adept at writing and good at martial arts", "brave in planning" and "judging clearly", and is recognized as a talent who "governs the country with writing and the world with martial arts".

Another talent is familiar to everyone. His name is Sun Wu, and he is the author of the world-famous Art of War. Sun Tzu's Art of War was written by Sun Tzu who lived in seclusion in the vault valley in the west of Suzhou, and was called "the work of a soldier's sage" by the world.

George, a famous management scientist, said in the History of Management Thought: "Do you want to be a management talent? You must read the Art of War. "

The second pile is to build the capital.

Wu Zixu said to He Lv, the king of Wu, "If you want to rule the people and make a rich country a king, from near to far, you must first build a fortress, set up a garrison and rule Hyogo, and then you will have your own skills."

Wu Zixu is an outstanding politician. He stands tall and sees far. The general plan of "ruling the people by peaceful means" put forward by him for He Lv, the king of Wu, is both far-sighted and practical.

After several years' efforts, a brand-new capital city of Wu has been built, which is now the ancient city of Suzhou.

At that time, its scale, preparation and function were first-class. Even today, more than 2500 years later, even with the critical eyes of modern people, she is amazing to the world. Of course, it is the image and symbol of the hard power, cohesion and deterrence of Prince Wu, He Lv, Fuguo and Qiang Bing.

The third pile is to break Chu and join the army.

The war between Chu and Wu started as early as Shoumeng. After he came to power, he first adopted the nibbling strategy of "from near to far" put forward by Wu Zixu, and finally competed for the Central Plains and seized hegemony.

The story of "flogging 300 corpses" happened after He Lv, the king of Wu, won the capital of Chu.

Wu Zixu wanted to avenge himself. He wants to capture King Zhao and Chu alive and pay his father's debts. I didn't expect the king of Zhao and Chu to run away. Wu Canzi stopped? His anger burned to the extreme: "The living can't be found, and the dead are still there!" He went straight to King Chuping's tomb and dug up the body. He just drew 300 lashes to trap to feel avenged.

This incident is recorded in Sima Qian's Biography of Historical Records and Wu Zixu.

There was no righteous war in the Spring and Autumn Period, which seems to be said later.

Kings of the State of Wu, especially from Taibo to the establishment of Gou Jian in the State of Wu, to Shou Meng, He Lv and even Fu Cha, have always cherished the dream of a great country. They were never afraid of difficulties and obstacles, and made great efforts to advance wave after wave until they became one of the five tyrants in the Spring and Autumn Period. Since then, the reputation of the State of Wu has spread all over the world.

Although it was only a flash in the pan, it ended in overthrowing the country, but after all, it realized its dream ambition and won glory and status for Wu's history. In this sense, Wu is commendable and they are kind.

From another perspective, it can be said that it is an indispensable spiritual wealth for a nation, a country and even a place to remain invincible forever.

If you do a questionnaire survey, what is your deepest impression of Suzhou, a paradise?

I dare not say 100%, but one thing is certain. At least 80% or 90% people will make their first reaction, and that is the garden.

"Jiangnan gardens are the best in the world, and Suzhou gardens are the first in Jiangnan." Indeed, in my opinion, if Suzhou is compared to heaven, Suzhou gardens are paradise in heaven.

In the bustling city, you have a home with your own daily life, natural beauty and humanistic atmosphere, which has both material enjoyment and spiritual pleasure. You don't have to think about it. This is probably what paradise on earth looks like!

Suzhou gardens are unique in the architecture of Han Dynasty, mainly private gardens. Among them, Canglang Pavilion, Lion Forest, Humble Administrator's Garden and Liuyuan are also called the four major gardens in Suzhou.

What kind of style is this Suzhou garden? What are the characteristics and characteristics?

Because everyone's experience is different, so the point of view is different. In this regard, many experts and scholars have put forward this or that point of view, but also have unique views.

No matter how you sum up, there are several things that cannot be deviated, which can be summarized as "three beauties": first, beauty sees the big with the small; Second, beauty is exquisite and picturesque; Third, beauty lies in nature, and heaven and man are one. This is not only the starting point and foothold of Suzhou gardens, but also the biggest highlight and fundamental point of Suzhou gardens.

Let's start with small.

The word "small" embodies a major feature of Suzhou gardens: seeing the big from the small, which is the uniqueness of Suzhou gardens.

Judging from the existing gardens, except Humble Administrator's Garden, which covers an area of more than 60 mu compared with the original three gardens, most of them are only about 10 mu, 78 mu, such as Lingering Garden and Master Garden. Others, such as Huanxiu Mountain Villa, are more than one acre; A garden is only over 300 square meters, less than half an acre; The remnant garden is only 140 square meters.

From the garden names recorded in Suzhou history, such as Firefly Garden, Spoon Garden and Yizhi Garden, as well as Xiaonan Garden, Xiaoyintang, Xiaoyintang and Xiaoxiang, we can also get a glimpse.

Not to mention the comparison with European royal gardens, but also with northern royal gardens such as Yuanmingyuan, Summer Palace and Summer Resort, its scale is not the same.

Xiao Ran has many birth defects, but he can make up for them with his intelligence. This "coincidence" really turned the disadvantage into a miracle, and made a big article in middle school, which made endless reverie bloom in the place close at hand.

First, "Qiao" is on the winding path.

We often say "winding paths lead to secluded places" and "a village is bright". The cloister of Liu Meng Road in the Humble Administrator's Garden is only 100 meter in diameter from the cave to the gable. However, it is from this winding corridor that it winds under Liu Meng, beside the winding water and between rocks, and the beautiful scenery is constantly changing. The garden seems to be suddenly enlightened.

The second is to be clever in "hiding the dew".

"The more hidden the scene, the bigger the scene boundary; the more exposed the scene, the smaller the gathering boundary", which is a summary of predecessors and makes sense.

The disposal after leaving the park is typical. As soon as I choose to enter the door, I feel a little "depressed". First, a narrow and dark corridor, then turn left and right, only to see an open hall facing the sky, a little rediscovered.

That doesn't count. From here, through the narrow alley, you come to the patio named "Gumuduko". Here, you can see the true face of the scenic spot in the garden through the six leaky windows on the north wall or the cave door in the west.

Here, the owner of the garden passes through the narrow aisles and patios between high walls, and finally becomes suddenly enlightened, thus reaching the infinite space where he wants to rise first and then restrain.

The "Sleeping Cloud Room" in the lion forest is a unique two-story pavilion-style building. If you don't pay attention, you can't see it, because there are rockeries and peaks around.

If you want to see its true colors, you have to go through the hole of the lake stone, or look up at the rockery stone peak, which is really a bit "invisible and occasionally exposed". This also expands the spatial scope of the garden.

Third, it is clever in "separation".

Or use a walled courtyard for relative isolation, or use flowers and trees to separate, half-covered and half-covered.

Suzhou Lingering Garden is to divide the whole garden into more than 30 areas of different sizes through courtyard architecture, forming a pattern inside and outside the garden, which is very natural and seamless, increasing the depth and breadth of the landscape.

Fourth, it is clever to "borrow scenery".

When you stand in different positions in the garden, you can bring the scenery inside and outside the garden into your own field of vision, thus expanding the spatial scope of the garden. This mainly includes borrowing from afar, from neighbors, from others, from others, from others and from water.

Anyone who has been to the Humble Administrator's Garden knows that tour guides usually take tourists to the Hongyi Pavilion in the middle of the Humble Administrator's Garden. This is the best place to borrow a name.

You look up to the west, and a nearby lake reflects the blue sky and white clouds, and the trees on both sides of the stone embankment go leisurely. Not far away are winding corridors, winding bridges, rockeries, pavilions and so on.

Looking further away, it is the towering North Temple Tower. Otherwise, most tourists think that the North Temple Tower is in the garden, but it is actually located on the People's Road in the distance.

If the sky in the west is rosy in the evening, the Humble Administrator's Garden will be covered with red and gold, colorful, infinite in light and shadow, and even more enchanting and charming.

Look at that exquisite.

Exquisiteness is mainly reflected in the following three aspects:

The first is careful layout.

This is an important prerequisite for gardening. It is to have an overall consideration and thinking on the theme, style and trend of the garden. This is the same as writing an article. We should have a central theme and basic framework in advance, and then prioritize, step by step, echo each other and achieve mastery through a comprehensive study.

As the famous educator Ye Shengtao brilliantly expounded in My Careless Garden, what designers and craftsmen have been pursuing is to ensure that no matter where visitors stand, there is always a perfect picture in front of them. In order to achieve this goal, they pay attention to the layout of pavilions, the coordination of rockery ponds, the foil of flowers and trees, and the level of close-up vision.

In short, everything must exist in order to form a perfect picture, and it can't hurt the failure of beauty.

Second, it is the selection of fine peaches.

In other words, all materials used in the garden must be strictly screened. Take the Taihu stone in the garden and ask its birthplace first. The best choice should be Taihu stone from Dongshan and Xishan in Suzhou, which is the native product of our hometown. This is only the first level.

Secondly, it is best to dig out the Taihu stone from the water in Taihu Lake. Its texture and color are better. Finally, it depends on its shape and texture. There are also trees planted in the garden, including size and posture, which should be conceived repeatedly and selected reasonably.

Third, elaborate.

The gardens in Suzhou, especially the decoration, whether doors, windows or furnishings, are so exquisite in materials and workmanship.

For example, the brick carving of "Zao Gao Yao Xiang" on the gate of Master Wang's garden, and the "Three Friends of Old Cold" carved on the long window between the mountains and rivers in Ou Garden are exquisite in knife work and vivid in shape, which is amazing.

As we all know, Suzhou Netscape Garden is known as a "boutique garden". No wonder Mr. Liu Dunzhen, a master gardener, praised its exquisite style: "The buildings in the park are famous for their beautiful shapes and exquisiteness."

For example, in the area of "A Branch of the Bamboo Garden" and "Shooting Duck Gallery", Wan Chuan is hung on it, and a beautiful woman leans on it. Everything is so exquisite. There are also empty windows and caves in the porch, which are round, vertical and horizontal, and the proportion is appropriate.

Look at the jade carvings embedded in the east wall of Diaoxuan. The pines, stones, bamboos, orchids, chrysanthemums and pavilions on the sea here are all exquisite and elegant, which is pleasing to the eye.

This is undoubtedly the most wonderful place in Suzhou gardens.

As Ji Cheng, a master gardener in Ming Dynasty, said, "Although it is man-made, it seems natural." These eight words are also a classic summary of the natural beauty of Suzhou gardens.

Some people may disagree and even question that there is no such thing as nature. As long as you open your eyes, there are natural scenery everywhere, the primitiveness of mountains, the wildness of loess slopes, the lyricism of green mountains and green waters, the simplicity of red sorghum fields, the interest of every grass and tree, and so on.

However, this is precisely the most magical place of Suzhou gardens. Because this kind of nature happens in a bustling city, in your home where you live together day and night, have you ever thought about it? Have you seen it?

In my opinion, this is entirely because the orientals have integrated the idea of harmony between man and nature in China's traditional culture into human settlements.

Anyone who knows a little about China's traditional culture knows that Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism have different understandings on many issues. But the relationship between man and nature is the same, that is, man and nature should be harmonious, harmonious and harmonious.

Therefore, in this sense, Suzhou gardens are the first brand-new creation that perfectly combines life and nature in the history of human civilization.

This is probably the fundamental reason why Suzhou gardens are listed in the World Heritage List.

No wonder UNESCO made such an incisive and profound evaluation: "No garden can better reflect the ideal quality of Chinese classical garden design than the garden in Suzhou, a historic city, and recreate Gankun in a short distance."

Kunqu opera, which seems to have been forgotten for a long time in recent years, seems to have revived in the Spring Breeze Blowing High overnight.

Especially on May 8, 2000165438+8, when she was declared by UNESCO to be included in the world's first batch of "representative works of human oral and intangible cultural heritage", she quickly entered people's sight.

Followed by a series of drama and climax. First, in the winter of 2004, the new version of the Palace of Eternal Life was released in Beijing, which caused quite a stir. Then the new version of "1699 Peach Blossom Fan" made people shine again.

The most unexpected thing is that in 2006, Bai Xianyong, a writer from Taiwan Province Province, planned and presided over the production, and artists from both sides of the Taiwan Strait and Hong Kong joined hands to create a youth version of Peony Pavilion, which was continuously performed 12 times on the west coast of the United States across the ocean. It's like hearing thunder in a quiet place, which immediately shocked the American audience.

Kunqu Opera, from China in the ancient East, is unpredictable, which makes them amazed and impressed.

Kunqu opera has gone through 600 years of history. It is so starry, amazing and charming. So where is her beauty? Where is the charm?

The biggest feature or feeling of Kunqu Opera is the word "elegance". This is the soul of Kunqu opera, the god of Kunqu opera, and even the great beauty of Kunqu opera.

First, the singing is elegant.

Needless to say, anyone who hears Kunqu opera for the first time, or who has just come into contact with Kunqu opera, may say that he doesn't understand it, but then he will have a strong feeling. This Kunqu opera is so beautiful, just like Wu Nong's soft language, euphemistic, lingering and melodious.

At this point, it seems that it doesn't matter what you know or not. What's important is that she has sung in the tune of Shuimo cavity, grinding you like a lullaby and leading you straight into a quiet and dreamlike situation.

There is no doubt that you have been conquered, and you can't resist just opening your heart voluntarily, which leads to a huge click.

Perhaps this is the elegance and charm of Kunqu opera.

Second, it's a performance.

Anyone who knows a little about China's operas knows that the combination of singing and dancing is also a remarkable feature that distinguishes China's operas from other drama schools in the world.

At the earliest, the west was integrated. For example, there are songs and dances in Greek tragedies, which finally divided into what we see now. Drama is talking, opera is standing there singing and dancing, including ballet, dancing there.

After constant polishing, our Kunqu opera has formed such a performing art that combines singing and dancing and pays equal attention to singing and doing.

"Silence, no music, no movement and no dance" is a major feature of Kunqu singing.

This kind of performance complements the Shuimo cavity of Kunqu opera, which makes the original single singing of Kunqu opera become the "three-dimensional" elegance of singing and dancing.

The third is the elegance in the lyrics.

Anyone who has studied literature knows that the highest realm of literature is poetry.

The lyrics of Kunqu Opera are the lyrics on the opera stage, especially so. As an elegant art, Kunqu Opera is not only elegant in tune, beautiful in singing and elegant in lyrics, which makes Kunqu Opera even more icing on the cake and picturesque.

For example, in the familiar Peony Pavilion Garden, Du Liniang and Chunxiang sang together: "It turns out that flowers are everywhere, and it seems that they have all been given to that broken well." Who will be happy if there is a beautiful day? Twilight, clouds and green pavilions, wind and rain films, smoke and waves painting boats, what Jinping people see are all so embarrassing. "

How touching and sad it is to listen to such lyrics, and how poetic and full of reverie.

No one can but admire her,

The river of culture for more than two thousand years has infiltrated and grown into a brilliant city.

She is a model of water city in the world and a representative of oriental gardens.

Embroidery, pingtan and Kunqu opera are all exquisite.

As early as the ancient farming times, she was already the capital of the Three Kingdoms.

In today's reform and opening up, she is the economic center of the Yangtze River Delta.

(This article was written in February-March, 2022 to support the epidemic prevention work in Suzhou)