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Tending classic gardens of tranquility and culture
By Chen Qianqing |
June 29, 2009, Monday
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Print Edition
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AMONG Hangzhou's many charms are its classical private gardens that were part of the residences of many literati and successful business people.
In this story, we visit two of them that are open to the public.
Guo Garden
The garden is beside Sleeping Dragon Bridge on Xishan Road, near the scenic Qu Yuan Feng He (Lotus in the Breeze at the Crooked Courtyard).
The garden has beautiful views. It is preserved in its original form and has not been expanded or renovated.
Among all the jiangnan (regions south of the Yangtze River) gardens, Guo Garden is the only one that is most representative of a private garden in Hangzhou.
It was built in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) by a silk merchant, Song Duanfu. Then Guo Shilin from Fenyang, Shanxi Province, bought the garden residence and gave it his family name, Guo.
Covering almost 10,000 square meters, the garden has a pavilion in the center and is divided into two parts - Jingbiju and Jingkaitian.
The first means "house of tranquility" and the second "mirror-like pond area."
Jingbiju was the living room where guests were entertained. Jingkaitian was for relaxation.
Since ancient Chinese people believed that water brought life and vigor, the garden contains a large pond covering half the total area.
It was a place to refresh and meditate. Visitors can walk around the pond and enjoy the tranquil atmosphere.
Though not as magnificent as royal gardens, Guo Garden is exquisite and elegant. It is meticulously arranged, so that the stones and rock formations are in harmony with the pond.
Jiang Garden
This former private garden is also famous. It lies in the heart of the park called Hua Gang Guan Yu (Viewing Fish on the Harbor of Flowers). It is in the southwest of the West Lake.
The garden was first part of the Hall of Willows, the name given by its first owner Lian Huiqing, a well-known collector of ancient stone inscriptions, calligraphy and paintings.
He and his wife, Wu Zhiying, lived there in retirement.
Later they were obliged for financial reasons to sell the garden to Jiang Guobang, a rich businessman from Nanjing, Jiangsu Province. He renamed it Jiang Garden.
Jiang became a disciple of Ma Yifu, a master of Chinese traditional culture. He renovated the structure and planted willows and flowers in the garden, which had a stunning view of mountains and water.
Jiang designed it for Master Ma and invited him to live there. Ma accepted and lived in the garden until the "cultural revolution" (1966-1976).
The two-story main house, where Ma lived for nearly 16 years, is called Zhen Shang Lou, meaning the "house of true appreciation."
It covers about 400 square meters and features typical ancient architectural style, with a sweeping curved roof that rises at the corners and delicately carved wooden windows.
Since 1990, it has become the memorial hall for Master Ma.
In this story, we visit two of them that are open to the public.
Guo Garden
The garden is beside Sleeping Dragon Bridge on Xishan Road, near the scenic Qu Yuan Feng He (Lotus in the Breeze at the Crooked Courtyard).
The garden has beautiful views. It is preserved in its original form and has not been expanded or renovated.
Among all the jiangnan (regions south of the Yangtze River) gardens, Guo Garden is the only one that is most representative of a private garden in Hangzhou.
It was built in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) by a silk merchant, Song Duanfu. Then Guo Shilin from Fenyang, Shanxi Province, bought the garden residence and gave it his family name, Guo.
Covering almost 10,000 square meters, the garden has a pavilion in the center and is divided into two parts - Jingbiju and Jingkaitian.
The first means "house of tranquility" and the second "mirror-like pond area."
Jingbiju was the living room where guests were entertained. Jingkaitian was for relaxation.
Since ancient Chinese people believed that water brought life and vigor, the garden contains a large pond covering half the total area.
It was a place to refresh and meditate. Visitors can walk around the pond and enjoy the tranquil atmosphere.
Though not as magnificent as royal gardens, Guo Garden is exquisite and elegant. It is meticulously arranged, so that the stones and rock formations are in harmony with the pond.
Jiang Garden
This former private garden is also famous. It lies in the heart of the park called Hua Gang Guan Yu (Viewing Fish on the Harbor of Flowers). It is in the southwest of the West Lake.
The garden was first part of the Hall of Willows, the name given by its first owner Lian Huiqing, a well-known collector of ancient stone inscriptions, calligraphy and paintings.
He and his wife, Wu Zhiying, lived there in retirement.
Later they were obliged for financial reasons to sell the garden to Jiang Guobang, a rich businessman from Nanjing, Jiangsu Province. He renamed it Jiang Garden.
Jiang became a disciple of Ma Yifu, a master of Chinese traditional culture. He renovated the structure and planted willows and flowers in the garden, which had a stunning view of mountains and water.
Jiang designed it for Master Ma and invited him to live there. Ma accepted and lived in the garden until the "cultural revolution" (1966-1976).
The two-story main house, where Ma lived for nearly 16 years, is called Zhen Shang Lou, meaning the "house of true appreciation."
It covers about 400 square meters and features typical ancient architectural style, with a sweeping curved roof that rises at the corners and delicately carved wooden windows.
Since 1990, it has become the memorial hall for Master Ma.
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