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

Liewen lamented that “This painting, the “second prelude to the Painting of the
compete through poetry contest, poems do not Stream of the Big Dipper Poetry contest,”
have forms, but pavilions do. Then where the “third prelude to the Painting of the Stream of
pavilion is located, who live there, from the Big Dipper Poetry contest” and “fourth
which year it was built, these must be clear. prelude to the Painting of the Stream of the
As for the meaning of the name “Spring and Big Dipper Poetry contest” in an attempt to
Autumn Annals” came from the owner. It is document the spectacular events of that time.
better to line up the pavilion with dawn and Most of the atlases mentioned above remain
name it ‘The Painting of the Stream of the Big unknown and only two paintings survive till
[3]
Dipper Poetry contest’” . Following the first today.
prelude to the painting, Zhao Liewen wrote

Figure 8. Wu Guxiang’s Stream of the Big Dipper Poetry and Painting Contest (Frontispiece: 32.5 cm × 79.5cm,
painting: 40cm × 149 cm, postscript: 40cm ×1200cm). Source: Shanghai Arts and Crafts Exchange 2002 Autumn
Aution, China Calligraphy and Painting

In February of the 4th reign year (1878) the two Wus’ depictions to a large extent are
of Emperor Guangxu, Wu Dacheng travelled true to the real scenery, and have more truly
to the Yu Mountain and visited his friends documented the real situation of the Tranquil
Yang Yisun and Zeng Bowei. At that time, the Garden (Jing Yuan) at this stage. On February
first reconstruction of the “Tranquil Garden 2 in the 6th reign year (1880) of Emperor
(JingPu)” was just completed, Zhao Liewen Guangxu, Zhao Liewen documented in his
invited Wu Dacheng to tour around the lyrics “Eight Melodies of Ganzhou” (Basheng
garden. Wu Dacheng painted the Tranquil Ganzhou) that he invited his friends to
Stream Painting [Figure 9] to express thanks, appreciate lotus and emulate famous garden
with the three characters “静溪图” (Jing Xi feast, “Imitate famous garden feast and
Tu, or Tranquil Stream Painting) as the appreciate songs, suddenly the rain hits the
caption. The aforementioned two paintings new lotus. The tired guests who are pleased to
have many similarities to the remaining old abandon officialdom, and the old friends who
photos, which demonstrates sufficiently that have expressed their minds, have a happy
[3]
time together in the hideaway” .

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