096 - The Humble Administrator's Garden of Suzhou

He was from the richest city in Ming China, or one of the richest, and after his checkered political career, he came home and planted a garden.  500 years later, we can still visit his garden and marvel at the humility of Wang Xianchen, the Humble Administrator. This episode is a pleasant diversion beforewe get back to the big stories.

And we'll have Suzhou "smoked" fish while we're here!

Sources:
Clunas, Craig. Fruitful Sites: Garden Culture in Ming Dynasty China
Lonely Planet China

 

Photograph CC4.0 by wikicommons user Another Believer