Shantang Carved Flower Building

Shantang Carved Flower Building

The Shantang Carved Flower Building is located at No. 250 Shantang Street. Originally named the Xu Residence, it was the home of Xu Hedan, a renowned physician in Suzhou during the Qing Dynasty. It once served as the headquarters of the Taiping Rebellion forces and is hailed as "the foremost residence outside Gusu City." Along with the Dongshan Carved Flower Building and the Xishan Carved Flower Building, it is known as one of the "Three Wonders of Gusu Carved Buildings." It is now listed as a "Controlled and Protected Historic Building" by the Suzhou Cultural Relics Bureau.

The Shantang Carved Flower Building faces south and covers an area of over 2,400 square meters, with a construction area of more than 1,500 square meters. The courtyards are interconnected, and the original structure had four sections: the first and second were the entrance hall and the sedan-chair hall, respectively; the third was the flower hall; and the fourth was the main hall (commonly known as the "Zouma Building"), which was once used as a chemical material warehouse. In May 2000, a fire destroyed the third and fourth sections, reducing them to rubble. Fortunately, firewalls and fireproof gate doors prevented the fire from spreading, and the first and second sections—the entrance hall and sedan-chair hall—were preserved. In 2001, businessman Mr. Zhou Bingzhong purchased the property at great expense and restored the entire building according to the principle of "restoring the old as it was." After more than two years of construction, the first phase of the project was completed in October 2004. The restored Carved Flower Building not only retained the original layout of the ancient residence but also revived the former splendor of the Xu Residence. The current structure has five sections: the first is the entrance hall along Shantang Street; the second is the sedan-chair hall, with a brick-carved gate tower in the courtyard in front; the newly reconstructed third and fourth sections form the Zouma Building. In front of the courtyard of the third section stands a decorative brick-carved gate tower. The fourth section, a tower hall, serves as a teahouse and faces the fifth section, a stage, across a distance. The fifth section stage has two levels: the upper level is carved with the complete opera "The Peony Pavilion," while the lower level features the full opera "The Palace of Eternal Life." Between the fourth and fifth sections is a lotus pond, connected on both sides by covered walkways.

The Shantang Carved Flower Building can truly be called a comprehensive museum of carving art. In terms of materials, the carvings are divided into three main categories: brick carvings, stone carvings, and wood carvings. Among them, the brick-carved gate tower behind the entrance hall was built earlier and has a simple, rustic charm, featuring scenes from "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" such as the "Three Heroes Battle Lu Bu," "Liu Bei’s Marriage Proposal at the Ganlu Temple," and "Three Visits to the Thatched Cottage." The stone well curbs in the courtyards and the stone drum bases under the beams and columns are at least two to three hundred years old. The wooden carvings are even more diverse, including the twelve zodiac animals, the Eight Beauties, the Eight Immortals, flowers of the four seasons, and symbols of fortune, prosperity, longevity, and happiness. In terms of carving techniques, the building showcases all four major methods: relief carving, openwork carving, bas-relief, and seal carving. For example, on the floor-length windows of the third section flower hall, relief carvings depict four ancient beauties—Xishi, Diao Chan, Yang Yuhuan, and Wang Zhaojun—and four heroic women—Hua Mulan, Fan Lihua, Mu Guiying, and Liang Hongyu—four literary and four martial figures, each exquisitely carved, evoking legends and stories that invite contemplation. The plum blossoms on the deer in the "Ten Scenes of Deer" brick carving, as well as the orchids and bamboo and calligraphy of Zheng Banqiao on the screen, are crafted using seal carving techniques, creating a profound artistic effect. Many carved components combine two or even three techniques; for instance, the floor-length screens on both sides of the flower hall are carved from whole ginkgo wood depicting pine, bamboo, and plum, with openwork techniques used to highlight the forms of the plants, creating a strong three-dimensional effect.

The carvings in the Shantang Carved Flower Building also feature profound cultural significance. On the east corridor of the first floor of the fourth section main hall (Zouma Building), the entire story of "The Butterfly Lovers" is carved, while the west corridor features the full tale of "The Romance of the Western Chamber." The upstairs corridor is adorned with the complete opera "Legend of the White Snake." Roughly estimated, the entire building comprises over 450 carved panels forming more than 1,200 designs, with not a single repetition. The sides of the traditional stage are carved with the full opera "The Peony Pavilion," while the area beneath the stage features the complete "The Palace of Eternal Life."

Further Reading:

· The Three Wonders of Gusu Carved Buildings