Iconic Chinese landscape architect remembered

A series of activities were held on Sunday at Tongji University to mark the 100th birthday of late Chinese landscape architect Chen Congzhou.

Chen was born on November 27, 1918 in Hangzhou City of Zhejiang Province. He studied at Hangchow University between 1938 and 1942 and taught in several universities from 1950 and 1951.

He began investigating gardens in Suzhou City of Jiangsu Province in the 1950s, when other people were not fully aware of the importance of Chinese gardens, and published a book about them in 1956, establishing his status as an expert in ancient architecture and gardens.

He later published more books about old residences in Suzhou and gardens in Yangzhou City of Jiangsu, providing preferences for later research, restoration and reconstruction of historical gardens.

At the beginning of the reform and opening-up period, he published a series of articles about landscape architecture, which were published in more than 10 languages around the world.

He not only researched architecture, but also advocated protection and restoration, such as restoring Shanghai's famous Yuyuan Garden and Zhuozheng Garden in Suzhou, also known as the Humble Administrator’s Garden, as well as building a replica of a Ming Dynasty garden from Suzhou in New York city’s Metropolitan Museum of Art.

The activities include a commemoration meeting attended by government officials, administrators and professors from Tongji and other universities, operators of gardens and Chen’s family members and friends.

Cai Dafeng, Chen’s fist doctoral student and now vice chairman of the standing committee of the National People's Congress, said though Chen died 18 years ago, his influence has been spreading.

Fang Shouen, Party Secretary of Tongji, said Chen was proficient in traditional Chinese culture, especially in ancient architecture and landscape architecture, and he was an active advocate of protection and restoration.

Chen taught at Tongji for almost half a century.

Zheng Shiling, a professor at Tongji’s College of Architecture and Urban Planning, said he still remembers how Chen, as a teacher, climbed up a ladder with students while he was studying at Tongji and mapping an old house in Songjiang District.

“It was Mr. Chen that enlightened me to be fond of Chinese architectural history and dedicated to the research and protection of modern and contemporary architecture in Shanghai since 1990s,” he said.

Four books written by Chen about ancient gardens and residences in China, including Suzhou and Yangzhou, were republished by Tongji University Press to mark his 100th birthday.

Several other books about Chen’s achievements also debuted on Sunday.

These include one book on his work repairing three famous gardens: the Yuyuan Garden in Shanghai, the Nanyuan Garden in Anning City of Yunnan Province and the Shuihui Garden in Rugao City of Jiangsu.

Other books include a collection of Chen’s writings, his doctrines about ancient buildings, towers and bridges, plus his calligraphy and paintings.

Japanese architectural historian Masahiko Takamura donated to Tongji University more than 10 volumes of archives about Yuyuan Garden, which he collected between 1989 and 1991 when he studied in the university and was influenced by Chen.

An exhibition was also kicked off at Tongji University Museum to show Chen’s life, with exhibits including his furniture in his study, models of gardens and photos.