Pictures and Memories —— Searching for Shadows and Going to Gardens: Memories of Suzhou as a Garden City.

Editor's note: Suzhou is a good place to go for a spring outing and enjoy flowers in the garden. Suzhou has been a famous tourist attraction in the south of the Yangtze River since ancient times, and its gardens are a model of China 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 flourished in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Several gardens in Suzhou used to be aristocratic mansions, and each garden has its own history and unique design.

Since the late Qing Dynasty, Suzhou has been known as "Venice of the East", which has attracted many foreign tourists and researchers for more than a hundred years, leaving a lot of video materials. The local literati in Suzhou said that the garden needs you to enter with a peaceful and accepting attitude, and you need to use your own observation to discover the details that echo each other like couplets. There is a mysterious force that makes the garden break away from human hands and melt into nature. Only those who are good at discovering the inner spirit through appearances can glimpse ignorance.

In Suzhou Gardens, we can also see the people in the south of China's Yangtze River deeply feel about nature and how it affects their understanding of the art of life.

Tiger Hill

Tiger Hill is a beautiful island located 20 miles northwest of Suzhou ancient city. There are temples and pagodas in the dense forest on the island, and Buddhist temples are looming. The whole building complex is slightly solemn because of the pagoda. Emperor Qianlong's southern tour was stationed here to build a palace.

Route map from Suzhou Station to Huqiu Mountain, Xiyuan and Liuyuan. Nancy: Suzhou, Garden City, Shanghai, 1936.

Tiger Hill Palace. Arrom: The Picture of the Chinese Empire, London, 1843.

Tiger mountain. It should be 1 1 century. Xi Long Ren: China Scenery: Xi Long Ren's Photography and Experience, Sweden, 1937.

The famous inscription under the leaning tower-Tiger Hill and Sword Pool. Huang zhongheng photography. Nancy: Suzhou, Garden City, Shanghai, 1936.

Qiu Xiaowuxuan. Xiao Wuxuan, also known as Tai Su, is located in the southeast corner of Huqiu Yunyan Temple. The wall is covered with calligraphy and painting, and the plaque "Xiaowuxuan" in regular script with black characters on a white background can be seen at the top left. The plaque was inscribed by Pang. Pang, Fei and other celebrities, painters and calligraphers formed non-governmental organizations to protect the garden, and sold paintings and calligraphy to repair the garden through exhibitions. Bao Ailan: China Garden Tour Victory: Lingering Garden and Lion Forest, new york, 1943.

Lingering Garden

Lingering Garden was built in Ming Dynasty, and it has been circulated for generations as a private garden. It is called "the house in the garden". The houses in the courtyard are built around the landscape in the garden. The bedroom, veranda, banquet hall and flower hall are connected by a long corridor, an arch bridge and a curved bridge over the water.

Stay in the garden plan. Bao Ailan: China Garden Tour Victory: Lingering Garden and Lion Forest, new york, 1943.

Leave the garden gate. The gate is an ordinary black wooden door. There is a sentry box by the door, and a dog is taking a leisurely walk in front of it. Bao Ailan: China Garden Tour Victory: Lingering Garden and Lion Forest, new york, 1943.

Cinnamomum camphora and powder wall. An ancient camphor tree cast a shadow on the powder wall. There is a small stone bridge, a stone road, a niche stone lamp and a flower window to warn of the danger here, and there is a covered corridor under the shade of the tree. On the left of the picture is a two-story teahouse. Bao Ailan: China Gardens: Gardens and Lion Grove, new york, 1943.

A slender hexagonal pavilion standing high on the rock. The path leading to the pavilion is paved with light pebbles in the style of centuries ago. Bao Ailan: China Garden Tour Victory: Lingering Garden and Lion Forest, new york, 1943.

The lake stone in the pocket courtyard. The bear-shaped lake stone complements the round flower window, and the elegant branches and leaves of the southern bamboo complement the square flower window. Bao Ailan: China Garden Tour Victory: Lingering Garden and Lion Forest, new york, 1943.

A room with a moon door. Adjacent to the room above. There is a pot of plants on the table on the right side of the screen in front of the Moon Cave. You can see three small decorative tables through the moon cave door. Bao Ailan: China Garden Tour Victory: Lingering Garden and Lion Forest, new york, 1943.

Wisteria. Through the door next to the boulder, you can see the lush wisteria. Bao Ailan: China Gardens: Existing Gardens and Lion Grove, new york, 1943.

Lakeside island. The lakeshore is made of simple stones, with white walls as the background in some places and ancient trees leaning against water as the support in some places. Xi Long Ren: China Garden, New York, 1949.

Xiyuan

Xiyuan Zhuang Jie Fayuan Temple, also known as Xiyuan Temple, was built in the first year of Yuanhe (1264- 1294). Originally named Guiyuan Temple, it is known as "the first ancient temple in Wuzhong". During the Jiajing period of the Ming Dynasty, this was the villa of the servant Xu Taishi, and the owner renamed it Xiyuan.

Photography by Huang Zhongheng in Daxiong Hall. Nancy: Suzhou, Garden City, Shanghai, 1936.

Lake pavilion.

Release Ikeoka Road: China Garden, Japan, 1943.

A lady took a photo in front of the Ursa Major Hall.

Lion Grove

Lion Forest originally belonged to a temple. It was founded by the eminent monk Wei Ze on 1342 and named "Lion Forest" after Buddhist scriptures. There is also a Wukesong rockery in the park, which gives it another name-"Wukesong Garden". After several changes of hands, it was finally bought by the Bayesian family. After great reconstruction, the lion forest is exquisitely laid out, with many strange stones, pavilions, covered bridges, stacked stones and scattered springs, small bridges and flowing water, and winding paths leading to secluded places, showing extraordinary architectural skills everywhere.

Floor plan of lion forest. Bao Ailan: China Garden Tour Victory: Lingering Garden and Lion Forest, new york, 1943.

Bao Ailan of Jiuqu Bridge: Victory of China Garden Tour: Stay in the Garden and Lion Forest, new york, 1943.

Trees, pavilions and lake stones on the shore and their reflections in the lotus pond. Bao Ailan: China Garden Tour Victory: Lingering Garden and Lion Forest, new york, 1943.

Arch bridge leading to artificial island. Bao Ailan: China Garden Tour Victory: Lingering Garden and Lion Forest, new york, 1943.

A rockery piled up by lake rocks on an island in the lake. There are many forks and caves on the island, and it may take an afternoon to reach the other side. Bao Ailan: China Garden Tour Victory: Lingering Garden and Lion Forest, new york, 1943.

Lake stones piled up in front of the pavilion. Bao Ailan: China Garden Tour Victory: Lingering Garden and Lion Forest, new york, 1943.

The bottom of the silicified wood picture is filled with flowerpots, and next to the huge lake stone on the left is an elegant and leafy silicified wood. Bao Ailan: China Garden Tour Victory: Lingering Garden and Lion Forest, new york, 1943.

Dragon-shaped flower window with top porch. Through the flower window, you can see the roof of a new square building in the yard. (Left) A wisteria-patterned flower window with a covered corridor. (Middle) Top Gallery Feng Huangwen Flower Window. (right) Bao Ailan: Victory of China Garden Tour: Stay in the Garden and Lion Forest, new york, 1943.

It's like sitting on a lion-shaped boulder. Taken at 19 18, when the garden was being rebuilt. Xi Long Ren: China Garden, New York, 1949.

Yiyuan Garden (Gujia Garden)

Yiyuan Garden, located in Shangshu Lane, is the home of the master's great-grandfather Gu. Yiyuan Garden includes several quiet corners, paths and other places suitable for walking and meditation. The pond in the garden is the theme of the garden. It is said that when digging the pond, the Luohan statue of 18 in Ming Dynasty was dug up, and then the owner put them on the wall of a pavilion. The lake stones, decorative columns and cloisters in the garden all come from the ancient gardens in Suzhou. The ancient piano table and some garden decorations can be traced back to the Song Dynasty, while other furnishings are from the Ming Dynasty. The whole garden is elegant and extraordinary, which is worth savoring.

Corner of Gujia Garden (now called Yiyuan Garden). Bye, Shi Weiren. Xi Long Ren: China Garden, New York, 1949.

Memorial photos of tourists in Yiyuan. Gardens like this may give people a dazzling impression of strange stones and trees. It aims to attract people through richness and diversity, not any obvious design. Xi Long Ren: China Garden, New York, 1949.

Interior of Yiyuan Garden. Waller photography. (left) Ancient stone furnishings in Yiyuan Garden. Huang zhongheng photography. (right) F.R. Nancy: Suzhou, Garden City, Shanghai, 1936.

Yiyuan Donald Manny Photography. Elizabeth Cooper: Women in China Courtyard, new york, 19 14.

Humble Administrator's Garden

Humble Administrator's Garden, located in the north street of Inner City, was built by officials in Ming Dynasty, hence its name "modest". Wen Zhiming, a great scholar in Ming Dynasty, wrote many works here, and also created many paintings and poems. In the Qing Dynasty, it became the headquarters of the general of the Qing army in Suzhou in charge of the Eight Banners, and was occupied by the Taiping Army during the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom. The garden has undergone changes, although it has the appearance of decline, but the temperament spirit still exists.

The boat pavilion on the lotus pond. Huang zhongheng photography. Nancy: Suzhou, Garden City, Shanghai, 1936.

The former site of Humble Administrator's Garden is the Moon Cave Gate of Eight Banners Pavilion. Xi Long Ren: China Garden, New York, 1949.

An entrance with old vines. It is believed that its date can be traced back to16th century. Xi Long Ren: China Garden, New York, 1949.

Moon cave gate on the undulating cloud wall. Xi Long Ren: China Garden, New York, 1949.

Broken bridge. There used to be a pond under the long broken bridge, but now lush plants have replaced water. Xi Long Ren: China Garden, New York, 1949.

Wangshi girl school garden

Wang Girls' School, namely "Zhenhua Girls' School" founded by Ms. Wang Xiechangda on 1906, with Cai Yuanpei as the principal. During the period of 1928, the school was divided into middle school department and primary school department. The middle school department moved to Suzhou Weaving Department, and the school was named "Zhenhua Girls' Middle School".

Perfect Taihu Stone-Ruiyunfeng. This Taihu stone stands in the destroyed garden of Suzhou Wangjia Girls' School. Xi Long Ren: China Garden, New York, 1949.

Abandoned gardens in girls' schools. Xi Long Ren: China Garden, New York, 1949.

The owner of the network garden

Wang Shi Garden is the smallest garden in Suzhou, which was built in the Southern Song Dynasty. It is the "Wanjuan Hall", the former site of Yangzhou Renshi (bibliophile, official assistant minister). The original name of the park was "Fish Hidden", which was later abandoned. During the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty (about 1770), Song Shaoqing Zongyuan, an official of Guanglu Temple, bought an abandoned garden and rebuilt it, naming it "Wang Shiyuan".

Small lakes and promenades in Master Wang's garden. The small lake, which constitutes the central element, is surrounded by buildings on three sides, and the open promenade and the lakeshore are high or low, or tortuous. Xi Long Ren: China Garden, New York, 1949.

Shuige in the promenade of Master Wang's garden. Xi Long Ren: China Garden, New York, 1949.

Master Wang Garden is a stone bridge across a stream. Xi Long Ren: China Garden, New York, 1949.

The last depth of the temple is the corner of the backyard. Xi Long Ren: China Garden, New York, 1949.

pavilion of surging waves

Canglang Pavilion was built in the Song Dynasty and has been destroyed many times in history. Rebuilt in the 1970s, 1927 built an art school. Although it has been preserved, the garden pattern has changed, and the original building has been replaced by a big palace with antique colonnade.

The open corridor of Canglang Pavilion. Now it is the seat of Suzhou Academy of Fine Arts. Xi Long Ren: China Garden, New York, 1949.

Huang Zhongheng Photography in Canglang Pavilion. Nancy: Suzhou, Garden City, Shanghai, 1936.

Accumulated lake stones. Okada Road: China Garden, Japan, 1943.

Lotus Okada Road in Bantang: Chinese Garden in Japan, 1943.

The pictures in this article are excerpted from The History of China Lost in the West: Suzhou Gardens edited by Qiu Liyuan (China Workers Publishing House, 202 1, 1), and published with the authorization of the paper.

Proofreading: Luan Meng