The Development History of Suzhou Potted Flowers

Suzhou gardens are famous at home and abroad. This is not only because many ancient gardens are preserved in Suzhou today, but also because the gardening history here is extremely long. As can be seen from the literature, the earliest recorded gardens in Suzhou appeared in the Spring and Autumn Period before the construction of Helengcheng in Wu State, with a history of more than 2,500 years. Since then, gardening activities have been almost uninterrupted. Especially after the Tang and Song Dynasties, many literati settled here out of longing for beautiful scenery, rich products and economic prosperity, which promoted the development of local garden construction. In the Ming and Qing dynasties, Wuzhong was not only rich, but also competing to build hidden caves with lake stones, which was also wonderful, that is, "I went to the house and decorated the hills and basins for fun." Under the influence of such a universal gardening style, not only the number of local gardens has soared, but also the gardening art has become more and more perfect. Some people praise Suzhou's garden art by saying that "the gardens in the south of the Yangtze River are the best in the world, and the gardens in the south of Suzhou are the best in the world" (Chen Congzhou's Appreciation of Elegant Gardens in Suzhou).

As the carrier of culture, the emergence and development of gardens need the corresponding economic and cultural environment. Judging from the development history of ancient gardens in China, all the places where gardening activities flourished generally had superior natural conditions, good material foundation and profound cultural origins. This has always been indispensable in the social evolution of Suzhou. Suzhou has built its capital here since the Spring and Autumn Period. The location of the city is reasonable and the planning is appropriate. In addition, the future social development process has not been affected by large-scale wars, nor has it declined or moved. Therefore, the location and pattern of the city have not changed much in the long historical evolution. The superior local natural environment and climatic conditions have continuously improved the economic level. Under such economic and cultural background, the development of landscape architecture has a stable and solid foundation. According to relevant historical records and statistics, since the palace garden was built in the Spring and Autumn Period, there have been thousands of famous gardens, which are widely distributed in Wudi urban and rural areas. As for those small courtyards of yamen that only cut a pool, counted several peaks and planted several flowers and trees, there are countless more. It is the extremely common gardening practice for thousands of years that makes Suzhou's garden art mature. Therefore, reviewing the history of Suzhou garden development will help to deepen the understanding of Suzhou classical garden art.

First, the prehistoric civilization of Soochow.

The appearance and development of gardens are closely related to the accumulation of economy and culture. Judging from the historical evolution of Suzhou, the civilization here originated very early. Although the history of Wudi, which can be found in historical materials, began at the end of Shang Dynasty, recent achievements tell us that as early as 10,000 years ago, there were traces of human activities here, and with the unremitting efforts of local residents for thousands of years, a prehistoric culture with extremely developed civilization was created. After that, the development of Suzhou, although not completely inherited this ancient civilization, created the natural environment of the ancient civilization, and also gave birth to the later Suzhou economy and culture. Therefore, it is necessary to make a brief introduction before describing the development history of Suzhou gardens. Hundreds of millions of years ago, the lower reaches of the Yangtze River in the east of China was once a desolate and silent ancient land of China. /kloc-During the Yanshan Movement 0/0.5 billion years ago, the fracture and fold of the earth's crust and the gushing of magma caused many mountains in the west of Suzhou. By the Quaternary 3 million years ago, the earth's crust was slowly sinking, forming bays and islands. As the Yangtze River deposits a lot of sediment here day after day, it gradually divides the bay into many lakes and depressions, forming the original Taihu Lake and its surrounding large alluvial plain. Because it is located in temperate zone, with mild climate and abundant rainfall, the unique natural environment and climatic conditions have laid the foundation for human prosperity.

Archaeological results tell us that there were human activities on Sanshan Island in Taihu Lake about 10,000 years ago in the Paleolithic Age. Around 7000, the local area entered the Neolithic Age. Before 1000, due to the warm and humid climate and relatively stable sea level, the "Majiabang culture" here developed rapidly. The cultivation of rice and the domestication of domestic animals also began at that time. Settled life has promoted the development of architecture, and local houses with rectangular plane and circular plane have appeared, with wooden columns inside and mud walls outside, and their waterproof performance has been improved through barbecue hardening. Mortise and tenon technology has been widely used in many wooden components. The roof consists of reeds, bamboo mats and straw bales. In addition, there are many moisture-proof and drainage measures to adapt to the environment of southern water towns. Since about 6000 years ago, the climate has changed greatly, and the sea level fluctuated from time to time. Especially, the large wetlands formed in the low temperature period around 5400 seriously affected people's lives, thus restricting the development of Songze culture after Majiabang culture. In the thousands of years after 5200 years ago, the natural conditions improved again, and the residents here created a highly civilized "Liangzhu culture", which became the heyday of Neolithic culture in Taihu Lake Basin. At this time, not only the productivity level has been greatly improved, but also the patriarchal etiquette system has been completed. In the tombs left at that time, later generations saw very rich funerary objects, and a large number of funerary jade articles unearthed at that time reflected that the level of jade-making at that time had reached a fairly high level, while the number of funerary objects of the deceased showed that the social hierarchy was extremely clear and strict. However, "Liangzhu Culture" came to an abrupt end around 4000 years ago. Some people speculate that this is due to a sudden change in the natural environment. At that time, the climate became cold and an unprecedented flood occurred, which caused the water level in Taihu Plain to rise and flooded the lowlands, almost bringing disaster to the residents here. So people had to leave their homes and go far away, and the mainstream culture was integrated into the tide of Chinese civilization in the Central Plains.

About 3700 years ago, the flood finally receded and the climate improved. People who took refuge in distant places gradually returned to their distant homes. Although Liangzhu culture, which was once brilliant, was difficult to recover in a short time because of this disaster, the returning residents brought back many cultural factors in the surrounding areas and even the Central Plains, forming the local Maqiao culture. Around the 1l century BC, a branch of the northern Zhou people went south to Taihu Lake basin, joined forces with local residents to improve the water system, resume production, establish the country, and began the recorded history of Wu. During the hundreds of years from the late Shang Dynasty to the mid-Spring and Autumn Period, the State of Wu never completely got rid of the flood disaster. Therefore, the economic and cultural development lags far behind many vassal States in the Central Plains, so that it has long been just an unknown small barbarian country in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River.

Second, the magnificent palace of Wu.

According to historical records, the State of Wu was formed in the late Yin and Shang Dynasties. At that time, the Zhou family, living in the northwest of China, grew stronger and stronger under the leadership of its leader, the father of King Gu Tai. Qi Huangong's son Taibo and his nephew often (later) successfully inherited the sovereignty of the Zhou Dynasty, left the Central Plains, and went south together to the Taihu Lake basin in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River. Together with the local aborigines, they established a tribal country called "Wu Gou" and established the city as the capital in today's Wuxi Meili. When the fifth generation was in existence, the Zhou family finally overthrew the Shang Dynasty and established the Zhou Dynasty in the Central Plains, named Ji. Out of the memory of Taibo and the meaning of Zhong Yong's surrender, Zhang Zhou was named "Wu Bo". Since then, it has experienced the inheritance and development of 15 generations. By Shoumeng (reigned in 585-560 BC), the country gradually became stronger, calling itself the "King of Wu", and began to visit the northern countries and Jingchu, and had closer political and cultural exchanges with various vassal countries, and officially entered the ranks of princes in the Spring and Autumn Period. When the Fourth Movement spread to He Lv (reigned in 5 14-495 BC), the State of Wu had entered its heyday. If you want to compete for hegemony in the Central Plains, you must have a grand capital that is compatible with the status of a powerful country. However, it is difficult for Old Merry to develop further because of its "low castle and rough position towards the city". So He Lv listened to Wu Zixu's suggestion of "building castles, stationing troops, managing warehouses and managing Hyogo" and decided to move the capital to the south of Gusu Mountain, which is now the location of Suzhou City. In the following 2500 years, it became the economic and cultural center of Taihu Lake Basin.

China's early gardens were only facilities for agriculture and animal husbandry production, and their appearance should be after the transition from nomadism to settlement. The formation of agricultural production of Wudi residents can be traced back to the early Neolithic age. However, due to the lack of relevant empirical historical data, it is difficult to determine whether there were production facilities similar to gardens at that time. With the development of society, gardens have gradually changed from production facilities to entertainment places, and even become a symbol of power status like palaces. Therefore, during the Spring and Autumn Period, various vassal states competed to boast about "Li Palace" and "Guang Yuan". At this time, with the gradual development of economy and culture in the south of the Yangtze River, the kingdom of Wu at the end of the Spring and Autumn Period had a strong national strength to compete with the vassal states of the Central Plains, so leisure gardens began to appear in the Taihu Plain.

The origin of Suzhou gardens is earlier than that of Hehe Greentown. The earliest record we can see today is Xiajiahu written by Wu Wangshoumeng, and recorded by Lu Guangwei in Wu Di Ji in the Tang Dynasty. According to later research; "Xiajiahu" is located in today's Suzhou Qufang Wu area. At that time, Shou Meng was a summer resort in midsummer, and it was named "Xiajiahu" because of "digging lakes and building gardens". When Helv built the city, "Xiajiahu" was built and rebuilt on the original basis, and became a playground for Helv and Fucha kings. After the death of Wu, the garden was abandoned. In the Song Dynasty, the lake basically disappeared, leaving only a part under the root of Xicheng, which was connected with the outer moat. The local people planted Sophora alopecuroides in the lake, which is sweet and called "Xiajialing Sophora alopecuroides Lake". Yang Beiyou, a poet in the Song Dynasty, wrote the poem "Driving the Lake in Summer": "The lake is sparkling, the shadows are open, and the violet Hong Ling is around the balcony. The poor scenery remains the same. I have seen King Wu and six horses. " About the early years of Qing Dynasty, Xiajiahu was razed to the ground.

During the Spring and Autumn Period, the most famous palace of Wu State was Guanwa Palace, which was located on Lingyan Mountain, 30 miles southwest of Wucheng. It is said that wuyue has been fighting for a long time because of the border issue, but there has never been a large-scale battle. In the fifth year of Hechuang (5 10 BC), the King of Wu attacked Yue on a large scale and defeated Li Cheng (now near Jiaxing, Zhejiang) on the pretext that Yue was unwilling to attack Chu. From then on, wuyue forged a vendetta. In the tenth year of Helu (504 BC), the State of Yue attacked Chu together with the King of Wu, and when it was at loggerheads with the State of Wu, it attacked Wu from behind. The king of Wu was defeated when he was caught between Scylla and Charybdis. In the 19th year of Helu (495 BC), the State of Wu attacked Yue on a large scale. Because of underestimating the enemy, Wu Yuewei was defeated and Lu was injured and died. In the second year of Fu Cha (494 BC), in order to avenge his father's death, Fu Cha personally led the troops to attack the State of Yue, and defeated the Vietnamese army Yu Fujiao (in Taihu Lake). Gou Jian, the King of Yue, only led more than 5,000 people to flee to the capital of Huiji. Wu wanted to win and destroy Yue at one fell swoop. At this critical moment, Vietnamese officials put forward the strategy of enduring humiliation and surviving. Wen Zhong, a doctor from the State of Yue, went to the State of Wu and bribed Bo Huo, the prime minister of the State of Wu. With the help of Bo Huo, he finally persuaded the king of Wu to accept the surrender of the State of Yue and let Gou Jian, the king of Yue, take his wife to the State of Wu as a slave. During his three years in the state of Wu, Gou Jian tried his best to be humble and obedient, and finally got the pity and forgiveness of the king of Wu. He also used Wen's plan to destroy Wu, offering sacrifices to beautiful women to confuse the king of Wu. Guanwa Palace is a large palace built for Fu Cha, a beautiful woman of Yue.

Guanwa Palace stands tall on the top of Lingyan Mountain, with towering pavilions. The palace is composed of Hailing Pavilion and Guanwa Pavilion, all of which are "copper ditch and jade sill, jade beads dotted". There is also "Spring Night Palace, Long Night Drink". On one side of the palace is a garden, and there are three pools on the top of the mountain. One is "playing in the flower pond". According to legend, Fuxi is a stone-chiseled lotus, and four-color lotus is planted in the pool, which blooms in summer and is full of fragrance. King Wu often enjoys the summer and enjoys the cool here, picking lotus flowers for fun. The other is "playing the moon pool". It is said that Shi likes to enjoy the moon by the water, so the king of Wu dug a pool for him to enjoy the moon. When he swims high, he often covers the shadow of the moon with his hand and jokes that he is "fishing for the moon in water". Later generations thought it was the death of Wu, so there was a poem saying, "I insisted on playing with flowers and the moon, and I was already in my fantasy." Another cloud says, "The moon in the well breaks the Millennium dream." Another day, the "inkstone pool" is said to have been left by the ancients when they quarried and made inkstones. It was slightly decorated by the king of Wu, so Lingyan Mountain was also called "inkstone mountain". In fact, paper, ink and inkstone were not used in China during the Spring and Autumn Period, and they should have been misinformed to future generations. There are two wells between the flower pond and the moon pond, a round "sun pond" and an octagonal "moon pond". "The circle is like the sky and the octagon is like the earth." Later, people renamed it "Wu Wang Jing" and "Zhi Zhi Jing". Fang Zhizai: In the Ming Dynasty, when I was digging a well, I found a jade hairpin with the word "Yi" engraved on it, which proved that this well was indeed one of the palace wells in Guanwa Palace. Chen Zikai has a poem: "Zeng Kaijian took a picture of the palace baby. Jade hands hold ribbons to expose flowers. Today, the mountain people are self-sufficient, and a bottle of cold is offered to Buddha. " (Wu Wangjing) There is also a "Qintai" on the top of Lingyan Mountain, which is the place where the stone plays the piano. Liang Jian Deng Wendi wrote in his poem "On the Piano Stage": "I tried my best to play the piano in the past, but I want to play the piano again. The sound is full of spring scenery, and the high name stays for thousands of years. Weak branches give birth to old trees, and old stones dye new streams. The origin sighs, and the death of Sichuan is unacceptable. " Before the Song Dynasty, there was a big pine tree lying on the ground under the piano, with both ends rising, making a shadow like a cover. The local people thought it was a wonderful reward. There is a corridor winding eastward under the piano. "History of the Past and Present" says: "Fu Cha, the king of Wu, built a corridor with pepper in the south, and there was no one, so that Shi and his ministers surrounded it and there was a noise."