Venice of the East – Zhouzhuang (Zhouzhuang). Artist Wang Yihua
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Venice of the East – Zhouzhuang (Zhouzhuang). Artist Wang Yihua
When faced with the paintings Wang Yihua, once it becomes obvious that the artist adept in the style of high realism. The artist was born in 1961 in Xi’an, Shaanxi Province, China. Art education in the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing. History, a sense of home, and just humanity …… pattern peaceful village frozen in time in a unique place.
One of the most beautiful towns in China Zhouzhuang Water (Zhouzhuang) more than 900 years. More than half of the buildings date back to the Ming and Qing dynasties. There are about a hundred yards of old classic, more than 60 brick arches, decorated with carvings, 14 ancient bridges. Instead of streets – the river, the passages between the houses are connected by bridges.
Zhouzhuang – the best place on earth
Zhouzhuang – you are the pearl of China
Nine years reflected bridges.
In the mirror of your channels …
Song flies over the surface of the channel, and takes her young lodochnitsa while deftly maneuvering between scurrying in all directions pleasure boats. Aware of this town, located in the heart of China, that has not changed in all the centuries. In China, as well as all over the world, appreciate the true antiquity, especially in urban areas. Zhouzhuang – a kind of a unique nature reserve of this antiquity, miraculously preserved, almost untouched by time.
They say that before this fragile world, lost in the rivers and lakes, which in former times could only be accessed through the water could not reach any enemy destroyers or fellow creators, eager to great change. Not entered into the city, the Japanese army occupied in his time nearby Shanghai, got to his Red Guards during the “cultural revolution”. But not only that, but also the beauty and uniqueness of this town on the water, rescued Zhouzhuang from all adversity. Or maybe the case in ancient temples, which were designed to protect the city from enemies. Its history goes back to the Buddhist temple Tsyuanfu “common prosperity”, completed in 1806. The first inhabitants of the city became a Buddhist monk. Over the past century, no water, no bright sun nor damp wind did not destroy the masterpieces of ancient Chinese architecture. Here is still coming architects from distant parts of the country not only in order to admire the creations of his predecessors, but also to smash his head on the secrets of these buildings standing without major repairs than one hundred years.
Buildings of the period of the Ming and Qing best preserved residences of families Zhang (Zhang) and Shen (Shen). Once through the town on their trading affairs sailed rich merchant from the southern province of Zhejiang surnamed Shen. He was so struck by the beauty of the temple on the water, that he decided to settle permanently in the city and built on one of the channels carved its towers. These buildings have survived and are called the owner – “House of Shen.” Here is located the local museum. Began to build their houses and other rich merchants and officials who come here for the beauty.
Shen family residence, built in 1742, is located in the Nanshi Jie (st. Nanshi). The house has more than one hundred Shen rooms: for the host, his wives, concubines, guests, servants. In addition to galleries, connecting all these facilities on both sides of the house, built another, secret gallery, on which you can discreetly leave any of the rooms. Why? As can be seen Shen house conceals not only architectural and construction secrets. This is the realm of harmony and good taste. Every detail of the interior: mahogany furniture, fine wood carvings, each character, carved in stone or written on silk scroll contains a deep philosophical meaning. In one of the rooms on the wall scrolls paired signs sage Confucius: “Learning without thought, then, to waste time. Meditate, but not to learn – just useless.” Here, all the evidence suggests that in this room preparing for the exam heir to the famous family. Chinese scrolls with sayings of the wise, porcelain vases fine workmanship, musical instruments, scenery of the rice paper, brushes, ink, tushnitsy …
At 6-foot brick arch in front of the main hall is placed horizontal plate with the inscription: “Always do more good.”
Another architectural masterpiece – Zhang house. Zhang family residence located south of Shuang Qiao, appeared earlier in the 1436-1449 biennium. In the house you can get without leaving the boat: the channel is in the inner chambers … This feature of his home host sung in verse:
“Let the good wind of hope
Fill your sails
And bring your vehicle
In the hall of my house … ”
On its territory there are six yards, more than 70 rooms. The main structure – Hall of Jade swallows (Yuyan). This is a big spacious room with impressive columns, a rare example of architecture of the Ming Dynasty. Under the hall is a river in the center of a pond created to turn boats. When you pass through the rooms of the rich and well-maintained home, it seems to happen even some miracle: silk drapes swing open, and the room will include one of the characters of the medieval classic novel “Dream of the Red Chamber” beauty Wang. According to ancient custom, it will be in the red wedding dresses, her face will be closed from prying eyes red veil, which she toss just after the wedding ceremony, and her fiance Bao Yu first saw this beautiful face …
Over the last 500 years, little has changed not only in the appearance of the city, but also the rhythm of life of citizens. Exactly at 12 am living in the city to a standstill. Comes the sacred in China during lunch. And the townspeople and the numerous tourists each year there are more than one million, spread out over restaurants and eateries. And still the main attraction of Zhouzhuang – artists who came from different parts of China. They are so much that they have since early morning to hold the most favorable place for creativity. The best position local artists. They can do without leaving home. But not only poets and artists inhabit this wonderful city. Local artisans make up a good half of the citizens, they work not only to earn money, but also for the history, preserving the traditions of the ancient masters. In December 1997, Zhouzhuang is included in the list of world cultural heritage by UNESCO.
text from the book of Vladimir Kulikov “Unknown China”
