The Charm of Nature – The Tamed Beauty of Landscape Painting
Although the Master of the Nets Garden was created by humans, it pursues a natural charm that is "as if created by nature" in every aspect.
Rainbow Cloud Pond: The Heart and Mirror of the Garden
- The central pool of clear water—the Rainbow Clouds Pool—though only half an acre in size, is the soul of the entire garden. The designer used a technique of gathering without dividing to make the water appear expansive. The low banks and the small, low-lying, and translucent buildings near the water, such as the Washing Tassels Pavilion and the Moonlit Wind Pavilion, further accentuate the vastness of the water. Cleverly placed bays in the northwest and southeast corners of the pool create an atmosphere of endless source and unfathomable depth.
Flowers and trees convey emotions: a picture is formed at every moment of the four seasons.
- The plants in the garden are not planted randomly; they are all "living paintings." In front of the Pine and Painting Pavilion, the ancient pines and cypresses, hundreds of years old, have gnarled and strong branches, and can be painted in all four seasons: admire the peonies in front of the pavilion in spring, smell the lotus fragrance in the pond in summer, observe the withered chrysanthemums in autumn, and appreciate the pine snow in winter.
The Xiaoshan Conggui Pavilion is surrounded by osmanthus trees, and its name comes from the poem "Xiaoshan Conggui lingers people." Every autumn, the courtyard is filled with the fragrance of osmanthus, truly living up to its name of "lingering for osmanthus."
- The courtyard of Dianchun Pavilion is named after the peonies that were planted there in the past (peonies bloom in late spring, hence the name "Dianchun"). It is famous for its simple and elegant style.
The Charm of Humanity: Frozen Music and Philosophy
Every building and every component here is a crystallization of craftsmanship and the philosophical thoughts of scholars.
Architectural Symphony: The Myth of Scale and Proportion
The entire garden is laid out extremely compactly, with the eastern part being the residential area, the central part being the landscape garden, and the western part being the inner garden. These three parts are organically combined, each with its own distinct atmosphere. All the pavilions, terraces, and towers are built along the water, and they are well-matched, forming a harmonious architectural symphony.
- Yinjing Bridge: This miniature stone arch bridge, only 2.4 meters long, is known as the smallest bridge in Suzhou gardens. It spans a small stream, and its extreme smallness highlights the vastness of Caixia Pond and the depth of the valley. It is a prime example of the design philosophy of "seeing the big in the small".
- Moonlit Pavilion: Perched atop a bay, it is a landmark of the Master of the Nets Garden. Its name is taken from a line in a poem by the Song Dynasty poet Shao Yong: "When the moon reaches the center of the sky, the wind blows across the water." A large mirror is placed inside the pavilion, not only reflecting the water and sky but also visually expanding the space—a truly ingenious design.
Epic of Detail: Brick Carvings, Plaques and Inscriptions
The brick-carved gate towers in the garden are exquisite, especially the gate tower in front of Wanjuantang. The brick carvings "Locking Clouds" and "Buttoning the Moon" (also known as "Hoeing the Moon") in the small courtyards on the east and west sides of the corridor were respectively inscribed by Wang Wenzhi, a calligrapher of the Qing Dynasty, and Feng Guifen, a scholar, symbolizing the reclusive sentiment of locking in the beauty of nature and cultivating the fields.
The three "fayue" (cylindrical decorations) on the lintel of the main gate, the lion playing with an embroidered ball relief on the drum-shaped stone piers beside the gate, and the high threshold all indicate that the garden owner once held an official position and a prominent family background.
Photography Tips:
The best spot for capturing the reflection is at the Moonlit Breeze Pavilion, where you can photograph the pavilion and its perfect reflection in the Rainbow Clouds Pond, especially when a breeze is blowing across the water, creating the most picturesque scene.
Framing compositions can utilize the window panes or doorways of the Kansong Duhuaxuan (看松读画轩) as frames to capture picturesque pine and cypress trees or courtyard scenery outside the window.
Don't forget to use close-up shots to capture the exquisite beauty of the Yinjing Bridge, the delicate patterns of the brick carvings, and the intricate designs of the latticed windows.
