Yi Garden

Yi Garden in Suzhou is a classical garden with unique characteristics. Here's a detailed introduction: Overview - Construction Time and Background: Built between 1874 and 1882 by Gu Wenbin, the Ning-Shao-Tai Circuit Intendant of Zhejiang Province, on the former residence of Wu Kuan, a Ming Dynasty minister. The garden's name, meaning "harmony among brothers," is derived from a phrase in the Confucian Analects. - Location: Situated in the middle section of Renmin Road, Suzhou. - Layout and Divisions: Covering an area of approximately 6,000 square meters, the garden is narrow and long, divided into eastern and western sections by a covered walkway. The eastern part mainly consists of buildings, while the western part features a central pond surrounded by rockeries. Architectural Features - Eclecticism: The covered walkway is modeled after Canglang Pavilion, the pond after the Master of the Nets Garden, the rockeries after the Huanxiu Villa, the grottoes after the Lion Grove Garden, and the dry boat after the Humble Administrator's Garden, blending the characteristics of various famous Suzhou gardens. - Compact Elegance: The pavilions, corridors, and covered boats are small and elegant, the hills, ponds, flowers, and trees are sparse and pleasant, and the layout is natural. Although the area is not large, the ingenious arrangement of landscapes creates a unique style. Main Attractions - Poxian Qin Hall: Divided into east and west sections, the east part is the "Poxian Qin Hall," featuring a hanging inscription and postscript by Wu Yun, and formerly housing Su Dongpo's "Jade Stream Flowing Spring Qin" from the Song Dynasty. The west part is the "Stone Listening to Qin Room," with a courtyard containing a lake stone resembling a hunched old man listening to the qin. - Baishi Pavilion: Also known as "Suihan Caolu" (Year-Round Green Hut), it is the main building in the east garden. The north courtyard has many strange stones, while the south courtyard is filled with pine, cypress, wintergreen, square bamboo, camellia, and other evergreen plants. - Yuhong Pavilion: Named after Lu You's poem "Falling Stream, Rushing Spring, Dancing Jade Rainbow," the pavilion's side wall is inlaid with exquisite stone carvings of bamboo by Yuan Dynasty painter Wu Zhonggui. - Stone Boat: Originally furnished with white stone furniture, the house is shaped like a boat and is also known as "Baishi Jingshe" (White Stone Retreat). Inside hangs a couplet by Zheng Banqiao: "A room needs not be large to be elegant, flowers need not be many to be fragrant." - Covered Walkway: Located between the east and west sections, it has twelve leaky windows with different patterns, allowing for mutual borrowing of scenery from both sides, a clever design. - Calligraphy Stone Tablets: The walls of Yi Garden are inlaid with 101 stone carvings of calligraphy by famous calligraphers such as Wang Xizhi, Huaisu, and Mi Fu, known as the "Yi Garden Calligraphy Rubbings," mainly concentrated on the long corridor south of the "Painted Boat Studio" in the western part. Cultural Activities - Yi Garden Painting Collection: In 1895, Gu Heyi, along with Wu Dacheng, Lu Lianfu, Zheng Wenzhuo, Wu Changshuo, and others, created the Yi Garden Painting Collection in the garden. - Yi Garden Qin Society: In the mid-autumn of 1919, the owner of Yi Garden invited more than 30 qin players from Shanghai, Yangzhou, Chongqing, Hunan, and other places to gather in the garden for a qin meeting. Since then, the "Yi Garden Qin Society" has become a regular gathering for qin enthusiasts.