"Classical gardens of the Yangtze River Delta is peerless in the world, and that of Suzhou tops the entire delta"
This is a conclusion drawn by Chen Congzhou, a China's ancient architecture and garden expert
Chen Congzhou is equally renowned as the Chinese architect and scholar Liang Sicheng
They were known as "northern China Mr.Liang and southern China Mr.Chen"
He protected numerous classical Chinese gardens in Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Shanghai
The Japanese praised him as "the first person in Chinese garden"
And the Americans called him "the father of Chinese garden"
In 1918, Chen was born into a family of merchants in Hangzhou city of Zhejiang province
From primary school to university
He went to mission schools run by foreigners
He loved to wear traditional Chinese clothes though
I was admitted to Tongji University in 1956
And I learnt from Mr.Chen Congzhou
Mr.Chen had a background in liberal arts
And he studied architecture
By himself
In 1953
同濟大學成立了建築系 The Architecture Department of Tongji University was founded
And Mr.Chen Became a lecturer at Tongji University
He was passionate and talented
During the two years between 1954 and 1955
He sketched along with his students
All buildings and gardens in the classical gardens of Suzhou
And published the book “Suzhou Gardens”
Under each picture, a poetry of Ancient China was attached
It's more than just a building
It's a place where people spend their leisure time
Despite being known for his work in gardens
Chen studied calligraphy and painting as a child
And Zhang Daqian accepted him as an in-house student in 1946
That time we went to Yangzhou city together
And stayed at Yangzhou Hotel
One day he was painting
And a girl watching him said
Look, bamboos in just two brushes
This kind of painting can't worth a fortune
And Mr.Chen painted a picture of orchid
And stamped his name on it
He said, try sell it, see what it worth
A young man ran directly to an antique shop with the painting
And a while later he came back
With 50 yuan in his hands
Our monthly salary was 60 yuan
Mr. Chen was the first person to introduce Chinese garden to the world
In 1980, he built "The Astor Court" in The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York city
And it rocked the United States
The then US president and the secretary of state visited the site many times
The small garden speaks his gratitude for his teacher Zhang Daqian
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Purchased a collection of Ming Dynasty domestic furniture
And therefore planned for an exhibition room
Ming Dynasty furniture belongs in a Chinese-Style house
It was suggested
That they should consult Mr.Chen
Mr.Chen took a look
And said that the furniture was originally placed in a painting room
He brought guests from the US to the Master of the Nets Garden
And showed them to the Late Spring Studio courtyard (Dian Chun Yi)
There are parterres, ponds, artificial hills and pavilions
Zhang Daqian resided here
Having this courtyard as a prototype
You can create one at your museum
Chen Congzhou was friends with the Chinese American architect I. M. Pei
They would listen to Kun Opera and take walks in Suzhou gardens
Mr.Pei's design including The Fragrant Hill Hotel
And The Bank of China Tower Hong Kong
Both absorbed nutrients from Mr.Chen's concept
From 1983 to 1984
Chen Congzhou, in great pain from losing his wife and child
Was assigned to the task of residing over the reconstruction of east Yu Garden in Shanghai
Mr.Chen's house was behind mine
And every time he passed by, he would call me
Ruan Yisan, let's go
Let's go to Yu Garden and have some tea
And when we arrived at Yu Garden
He would look around, checking on the progress
And then ask me to buy a pack of cigarettes
And give out cigarettes to workers and chat with them
When they finished smoking, he said
Those cigarettes are not free
Let's get to work, move the rocks
The artificial hills were finished as such
Mr.Chen Congzhou was called home in 2000, at the age of 82
With his solid foundation and in-depth knowledge on literature and history
He elevated the art of Chinese garden to an unprecedented level
Without him, China will be a bit less beautiful