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Zhao Liewen’s Gardening Practices and Activities in His Diary Li & Yin

which were accompanied by compositions of He also invited his friends to the garden to
literati and scholars. Yue Jun’s Scroll appraise paintings and calligraphies. On
Painting, Elegant Gathering in Yixing November 25 in the 13th reign year (1887) of
Mountain House (Yixingshanfangyajitujuan) Emperor Guangxu, “Zhao Zuoren came and
[Figure 7] depicts the faraway Yu Mountain, revealed the silk version of Wang Shigu’s
Xinfeng Pavilion, and the Yixing Pavilion Twelve Attractions of Yu Mountain” (Yushan
(Yixingxuan) with its center hidden in green shi’er jing) painted in the year of (1695 Yihai)
pines and verdant cypresses, to record the in the Kangxi period, it was undoubtedly a
elegant things about him and his friends real work. There were also calligraphies
gathering at Wugu, outside the west gate of produced in the Ming dynasty [1368‒1644].
Changshu to appreciate maples, drink wine, The first was the Hongwu Command Paper
have dinner, and compose poems. Although (Hongwuchishu), then there were works by
Zhao Liewen did not paint himself, he set a dozens of people, some were true and some
big mirror in the south pavilion to reflect the false, it had two volumes, with an asking price
Yu Mountain, to “picturize” the real scenery of 100 yuan, I paid 60 yuan, which was a good
[3]
in the garden, “placing a big mirror in the deal” .
[3]
south pavilion to portray the Xi Mountain” .

Figure 7. Scroll Painting Elegant Gathering in Yixing Mountain House by Yu Jun of the Qing dynasty (28.6
cm×62 cm). Source: Achieved in Changshu Museum

(2) Prelude to the Painting of the Stream of in the 3rd reign year (1877) of Emperor
the Big Dipper Poetry Contest Guangxu [Figure 8]. Zhao Liewen, Yang
From the end of the 3rd reign year (1877) of Yisun, Zeng Zhizhuan, Zeng Baozhang, Yang
Emperor Guangxu to February of the 4th Enhai, and so on, wrote postscripts and sang
reign year (1878) of Emperor Guangxu, Zhao in the garden for many times. Zhao Liewen
Liewen invited famous scholars from Haiyu wrote the Prelude to the Painting of the
to his garden to compose poems and make Stream of the Big Dipper Poetry Contest to
couplets, imitating Wang Wei’s Wangchuan summarize the conditions of his house and
atlas, and documenting the first garden. As the pavilion was completed in
reconstruction of the house and garden. midwinter and snow came, Zhao Liewen
Wu Guxiang (1848‒1903) painted the invited his friends to feast. His friends
Painting of the Stream of the Big Dipper composed poems to express congratulations.
Poetry Contest (Xi Beidou Shi Tu), and Zeng Junjing, one of his friends, thought that
presented it to Zhao Liewen to congratulate “there should be paintings for the party.” He
his new home. This painting was completed invited Wu Qiunong to do a painting. Zhao

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