On an ordinary day, about three or two friends walked on the street of a small town, stepping on clean and smooth pebbles all the way and casually walking towards the garden. There are so many gardens in Suzhou. People live in the city, but I am suspicious in the mountains. Stones surround the water, flowers are planted and trees are planted. Pavilions and pavilions are carefully arranged, as if they are handy. Look at a few randomly piled Taihu stones, enjoy the clear mountains and rivers and experience the quiet life. Are you tired from walking? Ok, let's go to a quiet teahouse facing the street and water, soak the fragrant green snow tea in a well-made teapot and taste delicious and refreshing snacks. The breeze blows gently, and the light sun floats gently. What a quiet and leisurely place, a natural place with pure heart.
It is Suzhou.
It is said that Suzhou people live in Suzhou.
Success is enough, find a secluded place and live a slightly drunk old age, and I don't want anything else. It is also conceivable that many people who go out from Suzhou dream of their hometown every day and every night. Or the imperial examination is successful, and the old man will return; Or the officialdom that made the suggestion was frustrated and retired; Or travel all over the mountains and rivers and return to the starting point, just like a dream yesterday. I came back today. What are you doing? Re-create a beautiful place for self-cultivation for evening entertainment, and then create a natural and quiet corner away from the hubbub to sit quietly and meditate. Most representative Suzhou gardens are created in this way. "Today's return is like yesterday's dream, I hoe the bright moon and plant plum blossoms", which is a couplet in Suzhou gardens. Cutting the moon means seclusion, so the pavilion is called Mo Yuexuan. Sitting in the hoe gallery enjoying the moon, a pot of green tea, three glasses of thin wine, one or two confidants, nothing else. There are many couplets in Suzhou gardens, such as "how wonderful it is to sit quietly, but it is light to suit my feelings", "The light shines without sleep, and the heart is fragrant and strange", "Sitting on the moon in the empty window at night" and so on. Most of them are talking about inner peace, standing aloof from the world, fully understanding and returning to nature. Returning to the natural state, there is no more deception, so the gardens in Suzhou are quiet and elegant, but they are less elegant. Is there no nature in the city? Just "make" a nature. Is there no leisure in this world? It creates a leisurely world.
So look at the location of the garden owner, how quiet and elegant it is, how far it is from downtown, and how deep the alley is. In the corner where horses and chariots can't reach, it is a "thoroughfare for distant friends". Let's say Humble Administrator's Garden, formerly the Old Garden Gate, opened at the narrowest part of a small street. From Laoyuanmen to Humble Administrator's Garden, you have to bypass a long, deep and endless passage before you can really get in. Another example is Ou Garden, which is in the corner of Suzhou City and surrounded by water on three sides. Up to now, the car can't drive to its door. "Cars have no lanes" is worthy of the name. Is your officialdom very lively? I don't care. I stay away from you. Is your officialdom dangerous? I'm not afraid anymore. I hid, and you couldn't find me. As Tao Yuanming said, "build a Jing grave in the daytime and think about it in an empty room." Your officialdom is busy and dangerous again. What can I do?
Really full of leisure. Stay away from this world and live a quiet life. As we all know, Suzhou people are gentle, so Suzhou has built many gardens and many good places for leisure.
Do Suzhou people really enjoy leisure all their lives? Do they really want to stop making progress and hate fame? If so, where did so many champions in Suzhou come from?
Suzhou people are famous all over the country for being the top scholar. Suzhou people are most proud of the large number of top scholars in Suzhou and their good exam results. In the Qing Dynasty, the number of top scholars in Suzhou accounted for nearly a quarter of the total number of top scholars in China and more than half of the province. Suzhou people once proudly regarded the No.1 scholar as a "local product" of Suzhou, saying that "Kyoto Ci Hall boasted and was amazing." Sure enough.
Where did so many champions come from? The world has fallen? No Grow it yourself? You have to have conditions to grow. In Suzhou, the conditions for being a top scholar are good. Land of plenty, rich economy and comfortable environment is also a rare place to attach importance to culture and advocate education. Suzhou people were martial at first, but after education, the atmosphere changed and became gentle. That is the so-called "Confucius' way gradually spread to Wu, and the customs of Wu changed greatly." Under the Millennium, scholars are public welfare, learning poetry and books at home, and learning etiquette and music at home. " Suzhou people also attach importance to running schools. For example, Fan Zhongyan bought a piece of land and originally planned to build his own house. Later, he heard from Feng Shui master that this land of geomantic omen was used to build a family house, and his descendants would be prosperous in the future. After listening to Mr. Feng Shui, Fan Zhongyan said that since this land is so good, it would be even more beneficial to run education here. So he stopped building his own house, gave the land to build a school and donated the school funds. As for Suzhou people, they still respect teachers and attach importance to family education and the atmosphere of reading. In a word, Suzhou is a good place to study. Suzhou can't produce so many champions. Can you call it another place?
The conditions are good, but without the efforts of scholars, it is no use having good conditions. Suzhou people are not necessarily born smarter than people in other places, and they are more likely to be the first in the exam. They earned their hard-earned money by studying hard, and they were made after ten years of cold window. What supported Suzhou people to study hard for ten years or even longer? It is the enterprising spirit of Suzhou people.
On the one hand, many Suzhou people who went out to be officials saw through the darkness of officialdom, quit and went home. "Three unique poems and paintings, one official return"; On the other hand, more Suzhou people are struggling to guard the cold window and study day and night. Why? To do well in the exam, for what? In order to be an official, in order to make the official bigger and bigger, go to the capital and go to the emperor. Carry forward the past and forge ahead into the future, a steady stream of Suzhou people got good grades and went out and came back. Many Suzhou people got good grades and went out and came back. It circulates endlessly and will never be blocked or rotted like running water. Suzhou people have made progress in this process.
Suzhou people should make progress, study hard, pursue careers, be officials, be big officials and be emperors. Suzhou people say that this is my original intention and my ideal, but now for various reasons, my ideal has left me, and I can't catch up with it. What shall we do? I won't chase it. Let it go, but it's gone. What should I do? * * * What? I have worked so hard since I was a child, suffered so much and read so many books. I ate a lot of ink. I have a lot of knowledge. I write well and draw well. I am a person who has learned everything from ancient times to the present. I'm good, but the emperors don't like me now. I have no talent. What should I do? My talent, my level, all make it disappear with the passage of time? I am not reconciled. Although I have no hope of progress in my official career, it does not mean that I have made no achievements in all aspects. I still have to use my talents, and I can still use them. For example, I write articles well. Originally, I wanted to write my article for the emperor, but the emperor didn't want me to write or read my article. He got angry when he read my article. If he wanted to demote me or even kill my head, I wouldn't write it for him, and I didn't show it to him after writing it. What are you doing? See for yourself, just for my like-minded friends. Or, I just concentrate on painting and draw some famous things from my paintings. If many people hang my paintings at home, everyone will be happy and proud because they can get my paintings, and depressed and sad because they can't get my paintings, and my self-esteem will be greatly satisfied. My painstaking career has not been in vain. Although I didn't do anything earth-shattering in officialdom, I changed my way and my interest. In another field, I succeeded. What does this mean? That means I'm here for business. I can do things, right?
It used to be called "hiding in art"
Besides writing poetry, writing and drawing, I can do many other great things. For example, look, what about the house I built for myself in my hometown? What makes us heroes proud is Suzhou Gardens.
In the past, Suzhou scholar-officials had many gardens, which not only had the wild interest of urban forests, but also had the functions of being feasible, promising, tourable and livable. So there was a world-famous Suzhou garden, which has been preserved to this day and made all Suzhou people proud. Suzhou Gardens are precious historical and cultural heritage of Suzhou people, China and the world.
The characteristics of Suzhou gardens are also highlighted here. They are more private gardens than other gardens. For example, unlike the palace, it does not pursue elegance. Suzhou gardens are quiet and elegant, or the elegance of Suzhou gardens is "exquisite". This "exquisiteness" is a purpose and a process, and this process is of course the process of gardening.
Who built Suzhou gardens? Suzhou people, of course. For example, Humble Administrator's Garden, one of the four famous gardens in China, was made in Suzhou. This man is Wang, an official of the Ming Dynasty. Around the emperor, it is inevitable to fight. Wang originally wanted to do something in North Korea, but he just fought and fought, but he couldn't compete with the dignitaries in North Korea. Some people say that he is an official, dares to resist powerful people, and even has the name of "strange man", which is even more intolerable to you. How dare you leaders offend the East Factory agents? Finally, he was framed and demoted. What if the officialdom is frustrated? There is a way. I don't live here, I have my own place; Or resign in anger, I quit; Or leave smartly. Bye. In short, it is better to go back to my hometown. A nest of gold and silver is better than one's own kennel. Besides, where is the kennel in my hometown? Very good. Although I came back depressed, I still have some money. Take some out and turn it into a garden. What are you doing? Do nothing, plant flowers, fish, stop and support the elderly. As for the garden, how to build it and what it looks like, Wang and his good friends discussed the design together. He is also a Suzhou native, a master of poetry, calligraphy and painting, and has the same interests as Wang Zhiqu, a handsome man and a well-versed poet. The two of them got together to discuss how to build a garden. I was overjoyed when I just chose the garden site. He took an article by Pan Yue and said, "If you dream of floating clouds, you can build a room and plant a tree, and you will be happy." The pond is enough for fishing, the tax is enough for farming, and the garden is irrigated for Japanese meals; Sheep and cheese, as long as Ralph costs. Filial piety is only filial piety, and friends are brothers. This is also the politics of the humble. "This probably means, forget it, since officialdom can't stay, don't stay; Since politics is never on, don't listen. Go back to your hometown, carve a place and build a garden, right here. Water the garden and plant some vegetables. Compared with the fighting in officialdom, it is much more leisurely here. Things that I didn't take care of when I was an official can be taken care of now, such as filial piety and feelings for my brothers. What's wrong with eating and playing all year round? It's good. Therefore, it is meaningless to throw away those insignificant ambitions like floating clouds. What about modest people? People like me should replace their political ambitions with a life of flowers, birds, fish and insects.
It sounds really open-minded, like enlightenment, like birth, but if you carefully distinguish the taste, it seems that there are other things in it. What is this? Is it helpless? If the officialdom is arrogant, you probably won't say that you are a dream; If there is victory in the struggle, I'm afraid I won't go home easily. Even if there is such a good place as Humble Administrator's Garden in my hometown, I seem unwilling. See through officialdom? See through politics? See through life? I can see through there, but I can't see through here. Can't serve the country. Full of political enthusiasm? Where to vote? If you let yourself out, you won't be reconciled. Think of the old adage and read Pan Yue. Once owned, it will be "hidden in art" I transferred my political ambition to "build" the garden and succeeded ... how to say, great. Exquisite, primitive and unique, it is really a good place to "create" a natural and quiet self-cultivation.
Among Suzhou garden masters, officialdom is the most relegated and retired. As the saying goes, "a master has no vulgar manners, and when he builds a garden, he can see the heart of literature." In the past, people praised the saying that "the character is not high, so you can't use ink", just as people today say that literature is like a man. Now people also believe that the genius of Suzhou gardens can't be pointed out by mediocre people, people who are uneasy can't build them, and people who can't see through fame and fortune can't build them. In a word, laymen cannot be associated with Suzhou gardens.
Is it vulgar to be an official? Is it elegant? Not exactly. Being an official is not a bad thing in itself. An official can make decisions for the people. Compared with a painter, a poet and a gardener in Suzhou, it may be more beneficial to the people. Perhaps this comparison is clumsy and ridiculous, but it is true.
It's not that the owners of Suzhou gardens we are involved in don't want to be the masters of the people and benefit them. It's just that they decided to live in seclusion after experiencing a sinister career. But even if they decide to live in seclusion, what is their heart?
We don't have much leisure to see Suzhou gardens one by one. Let's take a look at its gate first. We must find the gate of Suzhou garden in the depths of winding alleys. At this time, we can stand still and have a closer look at the gate.
Tall, you must hold your head high and look carefully, carved with fine bricks. How thin is the brick? Fine as powder. How fine is the carving? Carve a character and the character will live; Carve an animal, the animal is real; Carve a flower, this flower is bright; Carve a tree, this tree is alive. On the gatehouse, all kinds of legends are carved layer by layer, such as Wang Wen's visit to Xi 'an, Guo Ziyi's birthday wishes, the story of the Three Kingdoms, the Eight Immortals, carp yue longmen, Cowherd and Weaver Girl. Then there are various patterns symbolizing happiness, longevity and auspiciousness, such as bats, bergamot, Kirin, deer, peony, chrysanthemum and so on. ...
At this time, you can't help but admire, your head and neck are tired, and your eyes are a little sour. You might as well lower your tired head, relax your eyes and look at the ground. When you see this path into the garden, you carefully carve out various figures with beautiful pebbles or chic scattered stones, and you will suddenly find that when you walk into the garden in Suzhou, you will walk into a well-arranged world.
The garden gate and the road to the park, which are hidden in secluded places, are so attentive, so carved, so pursued, so ingenious and so indifferent. They embody the rich and colorful connotations of Wu culture everywhere.
The layout of pavilions, flowers and plants in the garden, the setting of mountains and rivers in the garden, a couplet in the garden, a series of plaques and bits and pieces in the garden are all masterpieces of Suzhou people. Imagine that a person is really "tired" and has no requirements for life. Can he create such a state?
Just tired of officialdom, not tired of life and beautiful things. Without the love of life and the pursuit of beauty, how can we create an unforgettable and beautiful Suzhou garden?
What they don't want is the fame and fortune they crave. For other things, such as art, they still want something or compete with others.
There is a garden in Suzhou called Banyuan, which means there is not enough content. This is good, just like the character of Suzhou people. Suzhou people all say that they dare not take down the emperor because they have money, and they don't want to take down the emperor. This is not unreasonable, but sure enough, Suzhou people have no ambition. Not exactly. Do Suzhou people only know how to drink tea, write poems and draw pictures in the garden? Not exactly. Suzhou people have never had any ambition. Don't they want to be bigger officials? Not exactly. We just can't do it for various reasons. What should we do, kill the current emperor? Of course not. Why kill the emperor, don't kill the emperor, don't be an official, I will live as usual, I can live well, as well as others, maybe even better than others, and I can find a garden to live in, and if I don't be an official, then I will quit. This is Suzhou people, contented and enjoying themselves.
Actually, not necessarily. You see, this is such a small half garden, said the host. I just want to "win more with less". Contentment is always happy, otherwise, why win? There is also Qu Yuan, which means "Qu Yuan is complete", and Qu Yuan is complete. After all, you still want a "complete". Just in the form of "qu", if you want to get a "complete" content and add a little appearance, you will win more and more. Now, it is farther away from "nothing", scaring the world unconscious and thinking that Suzhou people have really become Buddhas. One Buddha was born, and two Buddhas ascended to heaven. It is shameful to say that robbers in Jiangyin, thieves in Wuxi, turtles in Shanghai and buddhas in Suzhou.
It seems to be a flexible application of Sun Tzu's Art of War. If I can't beat you, I'll leave and go home and hide. What can you do? Why am I hiding at home? * * *, my level, my pursuit may be higher than your officialdom. I plant flowers, I paint, I write poems, and I can be more immortal than an official like you.
Therefore, we have to admit that Wang is successful, he has finally made a difference, and his concept of "taking this as politics" has been realized. As for the Humble Administrator's Garden, it was handed over by his son overnight, when Wang was already dead. If he has knowledge in the grave, his idea is another matter.
And Wang's best friend, of course, should be regarded as the person who knows Wang best. The man who helped him build the Humble Administrator's Garden said: Wang, you are in the Jianghu, and you are concerned about Wei Que. Where is the so-called "looking back at the Imperial Capital"? You can only see mountains and rivers by leaning on the railing. "
Suzhou is like this. It wants to show its origin, it wants to compete with the world, but at the same time it has great pursuit. But the pursuit of Suzhou is full of its own unique personality, Suzhou will be born, which will make Suzhou gardens quiet and elegant; Suzhou wants to pursue, and there are exquisite carvings of Suzhou gardens. So can we think that quietness and elegance are just external forms? Probably not the essence. If it is the essence, Suzhou gardens will die and Suzhou people will die.
Suzhou is alive after all.
Suzhou lives in every vivid era.