Login

The Master-of-nets Garden

Smaller is Bigger

The Master of the Nets Garden in Suzhou is among the finest gardens in China. It is divided into three sections: the Residential Quarters, the Garden, and the Inner Garden. The Hall of Ten Thousand Scrolls in the eastern part of the garden is the main hall, the Garden is centered with the Rosy Cloud Pond, and the well-known small courtyard Late Spring Study is definitely a highlight of the garden.

The Master of the Nets Garden 网师园 is smaller than the Lingering Garden and many times smaller than the Humble Administrator’s Garden. However, the design of the garden was extremely elaborate, and the scenery in the garden is quite small but exquisite, which makes it a perfect example of the traditional Chinese Smaller-is-bigger philosophy.

After resigning from his post and returning to his hometown, Song Zongyuan, a former official in the Qing Dynasty, built a garden on the site of the Southern Song Dynasty’s Hall of Ten Thousand Scrolls, which he named “The Master of the Nets Garden” to compare himself to a fishing hermit. Although the garden is small in size, it is functional and can be divided into three parts: the eastern Main Hall, Hall of Ten Thousand Scrolls 万卷堂 is where the owner usually met his guests and handled his business, the Garden area in the middle as the core of the garden, and the Inner Garden on the west as a more private space.

Manywhere Tips:
A master’s degree in Network Engineering is not required if you want to visit The Master of the Nets Garden.

The garden area is centered with Rosy Cloud Pond, and the buildings on the water’s edge, such as the Moon and Breezes Pavilion 月到风来亭, the Tassel-washing Waterside Pavilion 濯缨水阁, and the Veranda of Bamboo 竹外一枝轩, serve as a counterpoint to each other, and you can even overlook the whole garden standing on the high platform of Yungang Terrace.

The western part of the Late Spring Study Small Courtyard has stones, trees, pavilions and corridors, where Zhang Daqian, a master of Chinese painting, lived. The well-known Astor Court (Ming hall), located in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, is a re-creation of a Ming Dynasty-style, Chinese garden courtyard based on Late Spring Study.

Manywhere Trivia:
When Zhang Daqian lived in the garden, he raised a real tiger as his son and even sent it out to become a monk.

To offer a different kind of classical Chinese garden experience, the Master of the Nets Garden also provides A Night Tour Service. It is a place where you can feel the beauty of ancient architecture and sit in the brightly lit halls and pavilions to enjoy Kunqu Opera, Pingtan Opera, dance, etc. The Special Local Performances in Suzhou will give you an unforgettable trip of a lifetime.