COLLECTION NAME:
Archivision Base to Module 9
Record
Preferred Title:
Humble Administrator's Garden
Alternate Title:
Zhuozheng Yuan
Image View:
Pergola, north section of the garden
Creator:
Wang Xiancheng (Chinese landscape architect, active ca. 1513-1550); Wen Zhengming (Chinese artist, 1470-1559)
Location:
site: Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
Location Note:
Dongbei Street
GPS:
+31.325956+120.62465
Date:
1952 (restoration); ca. 1513-1551 (creation)
Cultural Context:
Chinese
Style Period:
Ming; Qing; Zhengde
Work Type 1:
garden
Classification:
landscape architecture
Material:
stone; stucco; wood; plantings
Technique:
construction (assembling); gardening
Measurements:
51,950 m2 (area)
Subjects:
architecture; botanical; decorative arts; landscape; Gardens; water gardens; landscape gardens
Description:
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 co
Collection:
Archivision Addition Module Five
Identifier:
2A2-C-SU-HAG-U17
Rights:
© Scott Gilchrist, Archivision, Inc.
Humble Administrator's Garden
