Related News
Scholar leaves imprint in garden tranquility
By Tao Jiming |
February 28, 2011, Monday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
THE fame of the old streets in Nanxiang lies not only in their expression of ancient culture but also for history of the eminent scholars and artists who lived among their zigzag passageways.
Jiading District government is currently renovating Tan Yuan, the original garden of Li Liufang, an intellectual of the Ming Dynasty.
The project is part of an effort to protect the scenery around the ancient double towers in the area.
Li was born in 1575 to a family of government officials in Nanxiang. Later he rose to his own fame for the elegance and simplicity of his poems. He was also widely revered as a painter and calligrapher.
He designed and supervised the building of the garden in Nanxiang, which he financed from the sale of his paintings. He did a lot of the work himself with the help of his son. The garden, which covers 1,330 square meters, includes a rockery, a pavilion and other buildings, as well as elaborate greenery.
Li used to spend idyllic hours in the garden with other scholars and artists.
The name of Tan Yuan originates from a huge sandalwood tree in the back of the garden. In Chinese, Tan means sandalwood tree while Yuan means garden. Li was so fond of this tree and named the garden as Tan Yuan.
The garden impressed Li's contemporaries. The famous scholar Qian Qianyi (1582-1664), deputy minister in the court of the Ming Dynasty, made a poem to praise its beauty and tranquillity. He said, "Walking inside the garden, as if strolling in the picture."
The restored garden will be open to the public soon when the work thereis completed.
Jiading District government is currently renovating Tan Yuan, the original garden of Li Liufang, an intellectual of the Ming Dynasty.
The project is part of an effort to protect the scenery around the ancient double towers in the area.
Li was born in 1575 to a family of government officials in Nanxiang. Later he rose to his own fame for the elegance and simplicity of his poems. He was also widely revered as a painter and calligrapher.
He designed and supervised the building of the garden in Nanxiang, which he financed from the sale of his paintings. He did a lot of the work himself with the help of his son. The garden, which covers 1,330 square meters, includes a rockery, a pavilion and other buildings, as well as elaborate greenery.
Li used to spend idyllic hours in the garden with other scholars and artists.
The name of Tan Yuan originates from a huge sandalwood tree in the back of the garden. In Chinese, Tan means sandalwood tree while Yuan means garden. Li was so fond of this tree and named the garden as Tan Yuan.
The garden impressed Li's contemporaries. The famous scholar Qian Qianyi (1582-1664), deputy minister in the court of the Ming Dynasty, made a poem to praise its beauty and tranquillity. He said, "Walking inside the garden, as if strolling in the picture."
The restored garden will be open to the public soon when the work thereis completed.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
