Humble Administrator's Garden (Suzhou, Jiangsu, China) : Bamboo Pavilion (Yiyu Xuan, 倚玉軒), ceiling

Creator:

Wang Xiancheng, active ca. 1513-1550
Wen Zhengming 文征明, 1470-1559

Published/Created:

Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
ca. 1513-1551 ; 1952 (restoration)

Physical Description:

51,950 m2 (area)

Date Depicted:

2009
1500 AD - 1699 AD

Materials:

stone; stucco; wood; plantings

Notes:

The garden's site was a scholar garden during the Tang Dynasty, and later a monastery garden for the Dahong Temple during the Yuan Dynasty. In 1513, during the Ming Dynasty reign of Emperor Zhengde, an administrator (censor) named Wang Xianchen (Wang Xiancheng) appropriated the temple and converted it into a private villa with gardens, which were constructed by digging lakes and piling the resultant earth into artificial islands. Following his retirement in 1522 it was frequented by many important artists in the Ming Dynasty. Wen Zhengming had his Tingyun studio near there. Its large open vistas emphasize water, and although today it is largely remodelled, its initial appearance can be envisaged through the many paintings it inspired. Wen completed a series of 31 views on album leaves in 1533 and another shorter series of eight in 1551. Today's garden is only very loosely related to its earliest version, but closely resembles its late Qing appearance, with numerous pavilions and bridges set among a maze of connected pools and islands. It consists of three major parts set about a large lake: the central part (Zhuozheng Yuan), the eastern part (once called Guitianyuanju, Dwelling Upon Return to the Countryside), and a western part (the Supplementary Garden). The house lies in the south of the garden. In total, the garden contains 48 different buildings with 101 tablets, 40 stelae, 21 precious old trees, and over 700 Suzhou-style penjing/penzai (miniature trees and rockeries).

Variant Titles:

Zhuozheng Yuan

Topics:

Architecture -- China -- 16th century -- (YVRC)

Period/Style:

Ming dynasty, 1368-1644

Culture:

Chinese

Accession Number:

2A2-C-SU-HAG-G9

Genre:

gardens: landscape gardens (AAT)
landscape architecture (AAT)

Format:

Image

Content Type:

Sculptures, Models, & Architecture

Rights:

Copyright Scott Gilchrist, Archivision, Inc
The use of this image may be subject to the copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) or to site license or other rights management terms and conditions. The person using the image is liable for any infringement.

Access Restrictions:

Yale Community Only

Digital:

interior architecture; botanical; decorative arts; landscape; Gardens; water gardens; landscape gardens Ming; Qing; Zhengde open spaces; gardens

Source Creator:

Gilchrist, Scott

Source Title:

Archivision Addition Module Five

Source Created:

2878 Chamonix, Montreal QC
Archivision, Inc.
2009

Source Note:

Purchase, Visual Resources Collection, May, 2011; photographer Scott Gilchrist

Yale Collection:

Visual Resources Collection

Digital Collection:

Visual Resources Collection

Local Record Number:

4090

OID:

10056725

PID:

digcoll:1812114