Master of the Nets Garden

Classical Gardens of Suzhou
UNESCO World Heritage Site
	File:ChinaTrip2005-179.jpg
Criteria	Cultural: i, ii, iii, iv, v
Reference	813
Inscription	1997 (21st Session)
Extensions	2000

The Master of the Nets Garden (simplified Chinese: 网师园; traditional Chinese: 網師園; pinyin: Wǎngshī Yuán) in Suzhou is among the finest gardens in China. It is located at Cang Lang District, Dai Cheng Qiao Road, No. 11 Kuo Jia Tou Xiang (沧浪区带城桥路阔家头巷11号). It is recognized with other classical Suzhou gardens as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The garden demonstrates Chinese garden designers’ adept skills for synthesizing art, nature, and architecture to create unique metaphysical masterpieces. The initial garden was first constructed over 800 years ago and even though its physical form has changed drastically since, the name and spirit of the garden still remain intact. The Master of the Nets is particularly regarded among garden connoisseurs for its mastering the techniques of relative dimension, contrast, foil, sequence and depth, and borrowed scenery. While the garden’s primary uses have varied over time, its ability to inspire visitors intellectually and spiritual remains unchanged. Keen physical architecture combined with poetic and artistic inspirations makes the Master of the Nets garden a unique and incredible garden experience that has stood the test of time.

History

The Master of the Nets garden was first constructed in 1140 AD by the Southern Song Dynasty (1127 – 1279) government official Shi Zhengzhi. Then named the Fisherman’s Retreat (Yuyin), it was inspired by the simple and solitary life of a Chinese fisherman. The garden subsequently fell into disarray until six centuries later it was restored by Song Zongyuan, a retired government official of the Qing Dynasty, Qianlong Period (1735 – 1796). He drastically redesigned the garden and added multiple buildings, but retained the humble spirit of the site when renaming it the Master of the Nets. Qu Yuancun, a scholar well-versed in the classics and literature, is said to have next modified the garden during the eighteenth century, adding and remodeling buildings, planting trees, and arranging stones. Over the years, the Master of the Nets garden continued to be updated numerous times as ownership changed, but the name, spirit, and splendor remained constant. During the late 18th century it was recognized for its herbaceous peonies and during the early 20th century it served as the studio of the celebrated landscape painter Zhang Daquin. He Yanong was the final private owner of the Master of the Nets garden before it became public property in 1958.

Among all the gardens in Suzhou, the Master of the Nets Garden is considered the most "balanced" in terms of its use of water, rocks, plants, and timber.

Design

The 5,400 m² garden is divided into East and West sections.^[1] The eastern part consists of residential quarters, while the gardens are located in the western part.

Eastern Section

The residential area consists of a complex of halls and a rear court.

Entrance Hall
Sedan-Chair hall
Beauty within Reach Tower
Cloud Stairway Room Named after a verse from Xuan Shi Zhi by Zhang Du, "Zhou Sheng fetches the moon in after ascending to the clouds with a rope at the Mid-Autumn Festival".
Cave of Cloud Hall

Western Section

The western garden is an ensemble of buildings around the 334 m² Rosy Cloud Pond. Plants and rocks are used to create views which represent several seasons. It also includes three side courts to the east and south. The two dominant elements of the composition are the Barrier of Cloud grotto, a cypress tree dating from the Ming Dynasty, and pine several centuries old.

Peony Hall Also called The Hall of Dewy Grace, a three bay structure named for a Li Bai verse, "The spring breeze is stroking gently the balustrade and peony is wet with dew".
Five Peaks Library Named after verse by Li Bai, "There are five peaks south of Mount Lu which look like lotus flowers cut by nature". A small grotto of scholar stones is front of the libaray and individual scholar stones are located behind it.
Meditation Study Named after a quote by Zhuang Zi ,"Tao is in agreement with emptiness, a state of emptiness is mentality".
Prunus mume Pavilion A typical boat pavilion in front of the Meditation Study.
Watching Pine and Appreciating Paintings Studio
The Moon Comes with the Breeze Pavilion Named for a verse by Han Yu, "The twilight brings the Autumn and the breeze sends the moon here". It is a ting structure including the flanking Shooting at Ducks Walkway and A Branch Beyond Bamboo Viewing Porch.
Washing Ribbon Pavilion over Water Named from a verse by Chu Ci in The Fishermen, "If the water of Canglang River is clean I wash my ribbon, if the water of the Canglang River is dirty I wash my feet". It is a three bay water pavilion, decorated with carvings which depict scenes from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Barrier of Clouds Terrace
The Small Hill and Osmanthus fragrans Pavilion Named for a verse from Little Hill Appeals to the Hermit by Yu Xin, "Many sweet Osmanthus fragrans trees are growing at the foot of the mountain". A three bay hall with portico surrounded by a court of scholar stones.
Music Room A ting structure used as a stage.
Truth and Harmony Guest House A three bay guest house named after a proverb, "To conduct yourself harmoniously and support the truth."
Cool Springs Pavilion Named for the adjacent Azure Spring, which was named after a verse by Zhu Xi, "A spring inside is full of clean water". It is a ting structure housing a the valuable Goshawk scholar stone.
Belvedere of Magnificent and Bright Waters An orthagonal ting structure, beside the Prunus mume Pavilion.
Late Spring Cottage Named after a verse by Su Dongpo, "Only the peony is still flowering in the late spring". It was used to model the “Ming Hall” in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. This Ming Hall is used in creating an area of display for Ming Dynasty artifacts.

Images

Western Section
Peace and Tranquility Guest House
Five Peaks Library
Watching Pine and Appreciating Paintings Studio
Meditation Study
Washing Ribbon Pavilion over Water
The Moon Comes with the Breeze Pavilion
Late Spring Cottage
Cool Springs Pavilion
Belvadere of Bright and Magnificent Waters
Barrier of Cloud Grotto
Prunus Mume Pavilion
Osmanthus Saloon
Hall of Dewy Grace
Lute Chamber

Eastern Section
Cloud Stairway Room
Cave of Cloud
Sedan Chair Hall
Beauty within Reach Tower
Gatehouse

Details
Painted map of the garden.
Entry gate detail
three step bridge

Notes

^ Suzhou, 2009

References

Suzhou China (2009), The Master-of-Nets Garden, retrieved 2009 {{citation}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)

Ministry of Culture, P.R.China (2003), Garden of the Master of the Nets, retrieved 2009 {{citation}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)

External Links

Asian Historical Architecture (2009), Master-of-Nets Garden, Suzhou, China, retrieved 2009 {{citation}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)

Ebrey, Patricia Buckley (2009), Garden of the Master of Nets, retrieved 2009 {{citation}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)

Suzhou Morning Landscape Information Technology Co (2009), THE MASTER-OF-NETS GARDEN, retrieved 2009 {{citation}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)

Terebess Hungary LLC. (2009), The Master-of-Nets Garden, retrieved 2009 {{citation}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)

31°18′01.20″N 120°37′47.60″E / 31.3003333°N 120.6298889°E / 31.3003333; 120.6298889

[1] Suzhou, 2009

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