Traditional architecture along the Qinhuai River

These two pictures were taken in Nanjing Fuzi Temple Scenic Area. The common theme they present is traditional architecture.

Traditional architecture along the Qinhuai River

It didn’t take me much time to take these two pictures, they were done almost in a flash. It was probably because the air was clear after the snow, and the photos turned out quite satisfying. This deepened my understanding of photography: a good environment is half the success of photography.

Qinhuai River is one of the most important attractions in the Fuzimiao Scenic Area. It used to be a place of love and sex in history, where many flirtatious gentry and talented women performed a scene of love stories. It is said that during the heyday of the Six Dynasties, a layer of grease was floated in the Qinhuai River.

With the help of photography we can only imagine, and through imagination to make up for those long-dusted historical details, so as to further restore those living human landscapes.

The pavilions in the picture still retain the traditional architectural style, but the things are long gone. To be precise, these buildings are only the result of renovation over the years. However, I don’t regret it. For photography, I have already gained a lot from these historical buildings.

 

The Beauty of Symmetry: China’s Buildings

The beauty of symmetry and balance is found in most traditional Chinese buildings. Especially for pavilions like this one with carved beams, the symmetry of the structure is emphasized. This is not only for aesthetic reasons, but also for comfort and safety, as a symmetrical structure is more balanced and safer. In a broader sense, Chinese philosophy and secular ethics are very much focused on the balance of yin and yang. One yin and one yang is called the “Tao”. “The Tao is the most general description of Chinese philosophy. Taoism is the most authoritative and systematic exposition of the Tao. The masterpiece in this regard is the widely circulated Tao Te Ching.

The Beauty of Symmetry: China's Buildings
The Beauty of Symmetry: China’s Buildings

This cultural tradition is also reflected in the construction of secular ethics. For example, the traditional Chinese description of the marriage relationship states that the male is the yang and the female is the yin, and the male is the master of the outside and the female of the inside. In layman’s terms, men are masculine and women are feminine. Men dominate the external affairs of the family, and women take care of the internal affairs of the family, each of them has its own role to play, and together they maintain the harmonious operation of the family. Of course, we cannot apply this theory to our real life. If the husband is not strong and timid, then the wife who is strong will have to take the lead. So there are no absolutes in everything.

So you can see that the influence of this cultural tradition in China is very broad and far-reaching. Chopsticks come in pairs, posting couplets should also be symmetrical, not to mention that the structure and appearance of buildings should also focus on symmetry.

Back to the composition of the picture. In order to better express the symmetrical beauty of the building, I intentionally turned the camera towards the roof and deliberately omitted the lower half. At the same time, this is also to let the blue sky into the lens and the building to form a visual contrast.

 

 

Changshu Shanghu Lake

Poets always sigh with the variability of the climate and weep over it. They are angels who have fallen into the world, with their sensitivity, kindness and innocence, feeling the joys and sorrows of the world.
 
Visit Shanghu Fushui Villa and feel the color and classical meaning of late autumn
 

The gift of nature makes life full of freedom, but it also gives life a tragic color. So the Chinese poet Li Shangyin finally wrote the famous line “Leave the remnant lotus to listen to the rain”. Look, how spectacular this lotus leaf is about to wither!

 

Visit Shanghu Fushui Villa and feel the color and classical meaning of late autumn

 

It was a twilight in late autumn, but the sunset had not yet subsided. The afterglow of the setting sun cast a ray of light into the grass, which seemed warm and full of reverie. On the right side of the screen is a shadow. And in the distance is the vast blue sky and patches of white clouds. You stop and stare, this situation seems familiar.

 

Visit Shanghu Fushui Villa and feel the color and classical meaning of late autumn

 

People are always accustomed to comparison. This is not only due to the weakness of human nature, but more importantly, there are deeper philosophical thinking behind it. People find that things are always in a universal connection, so people invent concepts as a tool to understand the world. More importantly, this relationship embodies such a characteristic: strengthening, weakening, inclusive, complementary, etc.

In my opinion, the pavilion and the blue sky in the picture reflect this subtle relationship: enhancement. But you may have different opinions. This is normal, because everyone sees things differently.

 

Visit Shanghu Fushui Villa and feel the color and classical meaning of late autumn

 

In the Chinese literary tradition, parting is a big poetic motif. Those sentimental poets always take the trouble to create poems about parting. The pavilions and white clouds are the most common images in these poems. It is true that literature is related to people’s production and life and nation, but more essential is related to universal human nature. Therefore, a dialogue about us is possible.

 

Visit Shanghu Fushui Villa and feel the color and classical meaning of late autumn

 

This is an artificial scenery arranged in Fushui Mountain. You may have different opinions about artificial scenery. For in-depth discussions on these topics, we can have a separate chapter for dialogue. But what I want to say is that this kind of artificial scenery is the most typical in Suzhou gardens. It can almost be said that they represent the aesthetic tendency of traditional Chinese gardens like Suzhou gardens.

 

Visit Shanghu Fushui Villa and feel the color and classical meaning of late autumn

 

The pavilion in the distance forms a perspective relationship with the stone in front of you, and the high-light area of ​​the sky and the shadow area under your feet form a contrast of light and dark, which increases the depth of the picture.

 

Visit Shanghu Fushui Villa and feel the color and classical meaning of late autumn

Fushui Villa is located in an area of ​​Shanghu Lake in Changshu and is an integral part of Suzhou gardens. On its periphery is a large landform composed of lakes and islands. The lake is vast and blue, becoming one with the deep blue sky.