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A garden of history, heritage
By Chen Zhaoxiong and Chen Ye |
November 29, 2010, Monday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
TAN Garden is one of the most celebrated in China, largely due to its creator, Li Liufang, a renowned poet, painter and writer during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).
Li had high aspirations at his teenage. When he was 32, he became a juren, or successful candidate in the imperial examinations at the provincial level.
In 1622, Li went to Beijing to sit for the examination. During the journey he witnessed the suffering of many people and grew disenchanted with the Ming rulers. After he completed the examination, he decided to build the Tan Garden, a refuge from what he saw as the ills of the world.
Tan Garden was located in the north side of Nanxiang Town on the eastern bank of the Hengli River. Now called Jiading Nanxiang Town, it's close to Dehua Road.
Although the total area of Tan Garden was less than a hectare, it still beckons a lot of visitors with well-known attractions, like Luohe and Jiantui buildings.
Unfortunately, when the Ming Dynasty fell, the Tan Garden fell into disrepair.
Tan Garden used to be a gathering place for ancient literati, and Li used to live in the Pao Buddhist Temple, calling himself a "Pao Buddhist" in his later years.
Shanyu Building was home to Li and his friends to make poems and paintings for many years. It was surrounded by crape myrtle bushes, creating an ambient environment for poetry and painting.
Although Tan Garden was considered a place without luxury attractions or d¨¨cor, it still attracted many famous people because of its artistic heritage.
Zhang Dashou and Zhang Kuifang who came from Nanxiang Town, Cheng Jiasui from Jiading Town, and Song Biyue from Shandong Province frequently visited the garden to share their inspirations and artworks.
After more than six years' living in Tan Garden, Li died and the garden fell into ruin.
Later, during the reign of Emperor Qianlong in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), Li Fengliu, a grand-nephew, helped to rebuild Tan Garden into the Longxi Li Family's Ancestral Hall. That, too, was destroyed by subsequent warfare.
Nowadays, the original site of the garden is occupied by residential buildings, and the reconstruction of the original garden in a new site in Nanxiang Ancient Street is under way. Visitors can enjoy once again the solitude and history of Li's sanctuary.
Li had high aspirations at his teenage. When he was 32, he became a juren, or successful candidate in the imperial examinations at the provincial level.
In 1622, Li went to Beijing to sit for the examination. During the journey he witnessed the suffering of many people and grew disenchanted with the Ming rulers. After he completed the examination, he decided to build the Tan Garden, a refuge from what he saw as the ills of the world.
Tan Garden was located in the north side of Nanxiang Town on the eastern bank of the Hengli River. Now called Jiading Nanxiang Town, it's close to Dehua Road.
Although the total area of Tan Garden was less than a hectare, it still beckons a lot of visitors with well-known attractions, like Luohe and Jiantui buildings.
Unfortunately, when the Ming Dynasty fell, the Tan Garden fell into disrepair.
Tan Garden used to be a gathering place for ancient literati, and Li used to live in the Pao Buddhist Temple, calling himself a "Pao Buddhist" in his later years.
Shanyu Building was home to Li and his friends to make poems and paintings for many years. It was surrounded by crape myrtle bushes, creating an ambient environment for poetry and painting.
Although Tan Garden was considered a place without luxury attractions or d¨¨cor, it still attracted many famous people because of its artistic heritage.
Zhang Dashou and Zhang Kuifang who came from Nanxiang Town, Cheng Jiasui from Jiading Town, and Song Biyue from Shandong Province frequently visited the garden to share their inspirations and artworks.
After more than six years' living in Tan Garden, Li died and the garden fell into ruin.
Later, during the reign of Emperor Qianlong in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), Li Fengliu, a grand-nephew, helped to rebuild Tan Garden into the Longxi Li Family's Ancestral Hall. That, too, was destroyed by subsequent warfare.
Nowadays, the original site of the garden is occupied by residential buildings, and the reconstruction of the original garden in a new site in Nanxiang Ancient Street is under way. Visitors can enjoy once again the solitude and history of Li's sanctuary.
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