Garden of the Master of the Nets

Garden of the Master of the Nets

The Garden of the Master of the Nets is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

The Garden of the Master of the Nets is located near Sanyuanfang in the southern part of Suzhou City, Jiangsu Province.

Originally built during the Five Dynasties period as a private garden and pond for Sun Chengzi, a close relative of Qian Yuanguan, the King of Guangling of the Wuyue Kingdom and a military governor of Zhongwu, it was later purchased by the Song Dynasty scholar Su Shunqin for 40,000 strings of cash. He renovated the abandoned garden, constructing a pavilion by the water. Inspired by the line “Clear water of the Canglang River, where I can wash my hat tassels; muddy water of the Canglang River, where I can wash my feet,” he named it the “Garden of the Master of the Nets,” referred to himself as the “Old Man of the Canglang,” and wrote the “Record of the Garden of the Master of the Nets.” Ouyang Xiu was invited to compose a long poem about the garden, which included the verse “Breezes and moonlight are priceless, yet regrettably they were sold for only 40,000 coins.” Since then, the “Garden of the Master of the Nets” has become widely renowned. After the Su family, the garden fell into disuse several times. In the early Southern Song Dynasty (early 12th century), it served as the residence of the anti-Jin general Han Shizhong. In 1696, during the Qing Dynasty, Governor Song Luo rebuilt the garden, relocating the lakeside pavilion to the top of the hill, forming the layout foundation of the present-day garden, and inscribed the name “Garden of the Master of the Nets” in the clerical script of Wen Zhengming. It was reconstructed again in 1873 during the Qing Dynasty, taking on its current appearance. Although the garden has experienced rise and decline through dynastic changes and no longer resembles its Song Dynasty origins, its ancient trees remain lush and vibrant, preserving much of the charm and partially reflecting the style of Song Dynasty gardens.

The garden is dominated by rockeries and stones. Towering ancient trees grow on the hill, while a pond is dug at the foot. A winding covered walkway connects the landscape of water and rocks. The Garden of the Master of the Nets borders a clear pool, featuring curved railings, corridors, aged trees, and stacked lake stones. It is often said, “Throughout the ages, the Canglang waters spread over one edge; the Garden of the Master of the Nets is a garden of water.” The main scenic area centers around wooded hills, with surrounding architecture, pavilions, and undulating corridors along the hills skillfully using the water scenery outside the garden. Through the openwork panels of the corridor, the elements inside and outside the garden—mountains, water, artificial hills, and pavilions—are integrated into a harmonious whole. Inside the garden, stone paths wind around the hill, surrounded by lush ancient trees, bamboo groves, vines, wildflowers, offering a simple, natural, and serene landscape reminiscent of a genuine mountain forest.

The famous pavilion of the Master of the Nets is hidden atop the hill, featuring an elegant and classic structure that blends seamlessly with the garden’s overall ambiance. Around the pavilion stand five or six tall trees several hundred years old. The stone plaque above the pavilion, inscribed with “Garden of the Master of the Nets,” was written by Yu Yue. The stone pillars are engraved with a couplet: “Breezes and moonlight are priceless; nearby water and distant mountains are full of feeling.” The first line is from Ouyang Xiu’s poem “Garden of the Master of the Nets”: “Breezes and moonlight are priceless, yet regrettably they were sold for only 40,000 coins.” The second line is from Su Shunqin’s poem “Passing Suzhou”: “Green willows and egrets are carefree, nearby water and distant mountains are full of feeling.”

The garden features 108 different styles of openwork windows, with unique patterns and designs, none alike. These are exquisitely crafted, with 59 located around the hill, making them unique among Suzhou’s classical water courtyard gardens. The largest main structure in the garden is the “Mingdao Hall,” a three-bay building situated southeast of the rockery. Mingdao Hall derives its name from the phrase “When listening and viewing are free from bias, the Way becomes clear,” and served as a lecture hall for scholars during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Nestled among rockeries and ancient trees, the hall is spacious and solemn. On its walls hang three stone rubbings of Song Dynasty steles: an astronomical chart, a map of the Song Dynasty, and a map of the Yangtze River (map of Suzhou city). Legend has it that Emperor Qianlong summoned the famed Suzhou pingtan storyteller Wang Zhoushi, celebrated across Jiangsu and Zhejiang, to perform here during his southern inspection tours. To the south of the hall, several pavilions including the “Jade Splendor Realm,” “Seal Heart Stone Chamber,” and “Mountain-Viewing Tower” each offer distinctive charm. Turning northward, there is a three-bay structure called the “Verdant Elegance Pavilion,” surrounded by bamboo, named after the poetic line “Sunlight piercing through green bamboo creates delicate elegance.”

In the southwestern part of the garden lies a rockery cave named “Seal Heart Stone House.” A small tower on the hill, called the “Mountain-Viewing Tower,” offers views of the distant and nearby scenery of Suzhou. Other structures such as the “Admiration Pavilion” and “Imperial Stele Pavilion” complement the scene. There are also 34 stone carvings, totaling over 700 pieces.

In November 2000, five Suzhou gardens—Suzhou Yipu Garden, Couple’s Retreat Garden, Garden of the Master of the Nets, Lion Grove Garden, and Retreat & Reflection Garden—were approved for inclusion in the “World Heritage List” as extensions of Suzhou’s Classical Gardens. In 2006, the Garden of the Master of the Nets, as an ancient architectural site from the Yuan to Qing Dynasties, was listed by the State Council as part of the sixth group of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units.

Address: No. 3, Canglangting Street, Renmin Road, Canglang District, Suzhou City

Type: Garden / Historic Building / World Cultural Heritage

Recommended Visiting Time: About 1 hour

Phone: 0512-68123123

Opening Hours:

Peak Season (April 1 – May 31, July 1 – October 31): 7:30 – 17:30; Off-Peak Season (November 1 – March 31 of the following year, June 1 – June 30): 7:30 – 17:00.

Ticket Information:

Peak Season (April, May, July – October): 20 RMB per person; Off-Peak Season (June, November – March of the following year): 15 RMB per person.

Further Reading:

· Third Batch of Jiangsu Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units

· Sixth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units