The Great Wave Pavilion located at 3 Cāng Làng Tíng Jie (沧浪亭 3) Suzhou

Suzhou

Suzhou , previously transliterated as Su-chou, Suchow, and Soochow, is a major city located in the southeast of Jiangsu Province in Eastern China, located adjacent to Shanghai Municipality. The city is situated on the lower reaches of the Yangtze River and on the shores of Taihu Lake and is a part...

 City, of Jiangsu

Jiangsu

' is a province of the People's Republic of China, located along the east coast of the country. The name comes from jiang, short for the city of Jiangning , and su, for the city of Suzhou. The abbreviation for this province is "苏" , the second character of its name...

 Province of China

China

Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...

. It is recognized with other classical Suzhou gardens as a UNESCO

UNESCO

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...

 World Heritage Site

World Heritage Site

A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...

.

History

The Great Wave Pavilion was built in 1044 CE by the Song Dynasty poet Su Shunqing (1008–1048), on the site of a pre-existing imperial flower garden c 960 CE. It is the oldest of the UNESCO

UNESCO

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...

 gardens in Suzhou, keeping its original Song Dynasty layout. The name is derived from a verse in the poem Fishermen

Yu Fu

Yu Fu is a poem attributed to Qu Yuan and published in the Chu Ci ....

 by Qu Yuan

Qu Yuan

Qu Yuan was a Chinese poet who lived during the Warring States Period in ancient China. He is famous for his contributions to the poetry collection known as the Chu-ci...

 (ca. 340 BCE-278 BCE), a poet from the southern state of Chu

Chu (state)

The State of Chu was a Zhou Dynasty vassal state in present-day central and southern China during the Spring and Autumn period and Warring States Period . Its ruling house had the surname Nai , and clan name Yan , later evolved to surname Mi , and clan name Xiong...

 during the Warring States Period

Warring States Period

The Warring States Period , also known as the Era of Warring States, or the Warring Kingdoms period, covers the Iron Age period from about 475 BC to the reunification of China under the Qin Dynasty in 221 BC...

, in his book Songs of the South

Chu Ci

Chu Ci , also known as Songs of the South or Songs of Chu, is an anthology of Chinese verse traditionally attributed to Qu Yuan and Song Yu from the Warring States Period, though about half of the poems seem to have been composed several centuries later, during the Han Dynasty...

, "If the Canglang River is dirty I wash my muddy feet; If the Canglang River is clean I wash my ribbon". This verse alludes to an honest official who removes himself from politics rather than act in a corrupt manner. Su Shunqing choose this to express his feelings after his removal from office.

After his death the garden passed through many owners and fell into disuse until 1696 CE when it was restored by Song Luo, governor of Jiangsu Province. In 1827 ownership was transferred to governor Tao Shu, and again in 1873 ownership was transferred to governor Zhang Shusheng. In 1955 the garden was opened to the public and in 2000 it was added to the UNESCO world cultural heritage monuments.

Design

The 1.6 ha garden is divided into two main sections. The garden is sited on a branch of the Fengxi Stream which forms a lotus pond. The garden has 108 leaky windows each one with a unique design.

Garden Design Elements with Description
	Elegant Bamboo House Named after a line by Su Shunqing, "Autumn darkens the reddish woods, the sunlight goes through he bamboo elegantly". This irregular building was used as a painting studio.
	Enlightenment Hall Named after a line by Su Shunqin, "He Who turns a blind eye and a deaf ear to what is evil will be enlightened" from A Record of the Great Wave Pavilion. This three bay building was the primary hall of the garden used as a lecture hall. It is attached to an enclosed courtyard with covered corridor on three sides. The side opposite this Hall is anchored by the Realm of Yaohua.
	Entry Hall
	Fish Watching Place Named after a famous dialectic conversation between Zhuang Zi about fish which. It is a square detached pavilion with a hipped gable roofline and flying eves. It is unique for being located outside the garden walls. It is connected to the garden by a double roofed corridor which runs above a rockery abstractly depicting the 500 Arhats.
	Great Wave Pavilion Named after the a line from songs of the south. It is the namesake of the garden. It was moved from its original location of the Fengxi Stream by Song Luo when he rebuilt the garden. It has a unique all stone construction, and uses flower brackets. It is square with a hipped gable roofline and flying eves, as well as a raised ridge. The ridge, gables, and eves are all richly decorated. A pillar couplet has been formed by one verse from Ouyang Xiu Ouyang Xiu Ouyang Xiu was a Chinese statesman, historian, essayist and poet of the Song Dynasty. He is also known by his courtesy name of Yongshu, and was also self nicknamed The Old Drunkard 醉翁, or Householder of the One of Six 六一居士 in his old age... 's The Canglang Pavilion, and Su Shunqin's (苏舜钦) Passing by Suzhou (过苏州), "The refreshing breeze and the bright moon are priceless; And water nearby and hills afar how beautifully they rate". This composite couplet was composed by governor Liang Zhangju, in honor of the garden.
	Imperial Stele Pavilion An attached pavilion at the western end of the main hill housing a stele inscribed with poems by Emperor Kangxi.
	Mountain-in-View Tower The name is meant to evoke the feeling of the view of looking from a high mountain. It is a boat building on top of a grotto with a cave called the Mutual Affinity Stone Chamber.
	Pavilion Fronting the Water Named after a line by Du Fu Du Fu Du Fu was a prominent Chinese poet of the Tang Dynasty.Along with Li Bai , he is frequently called the greatest of the Chinese poets. His greatest ambition was to serve his country as a successful civil servant, but he proved unable to make the necessary accommodations... , "All the pavilions front the water and old trees are weather beaten".
	Prunus mume Pavilion
	Pure Fragrance House Named from a line by Li Shangyin Li Shangyin Li Shangyin , courtesy name Yishan , was a Chinese poet of the late Tang Dynasty, born in Henei . Along with Li He, he was much admired and "rediscovered" in the 20th century by the young Chinese writers for the imagist quality of his poems... , "Keep Cassia (Osmanthus fragrans) under lock and key not letting its pure fragrance escape". The line was inspired by the 170 year old Cassia trees in front of this five bay hall.
	Realm of Yaohua Named after a line from Historical Record of Suzhou by Lu Xiong, which referred to the mythical Yaohua Cannabis sativa Cannabis sativa is an annual herbaceous plant in the Cannabaceae family. Humans have cultivated this herb throughout recorded history as a source of industrial fibre, seed oil, food, recreation, spiritual enlightenment and medicine...  flower. This flower was said to exist in the Chinese Garden of Eden, and had the quality of sweet smelling and jade like. The name alludes to the noble character of the owner, and was meant to visually evoke something from a fariyland.
	Recitation Pavilion An attached pavilion at the eastern end of the main hill. It houses a stele inscribed with the poetry of Emperor Qianlong.
	Reverence Pavilion An attached square pavilion with a stele portrait of Wen Zhenming.
	Smelling Prunus mume Pavilion Named after a line by Du Fu Du Fu Du Fu was a prominent Chinese poet of the Tang Dynasty.Along with Li Bai , he is frequently called the greatest of the Chinese poets. His greatest ambition was to serve his country as a successful civil servant, but he proved unable to make the necessary accommodations... , "By lamplight I couldn't sleep as the wonderful smell of Prunus mume purified my mind". Coordinated with the verse is a grove of Prunus mume in front of the hall.
	Temple of 500 Sages Built by governor Tao Shu in 1827 to house his collection of 584 engravings of famous sages from Suzhou from the Spring and Autumn period until the Qing Dynasty Qing Dynasty The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
	Water Pavilion of Lotus Blossoms

External links

• Classical Gardens of Suzhou, UNESCO
  UNESCO
  The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
  
  's official website on World Heritage site
  World Heritage Site
  A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
  
  .

• Surging Waves Pavilion (Canglangting) at Asian Historical Architecture.