The Master of the (Fishing) Nets Garden in Suzhou, China was originally designed by Shi Zhengzhi, a 12th century official during the Southern Song Dynasty. He named the garden, Yu Yin, the Fisherman’s Retreat. Song Zonghuan, an 18th century court official renamed and restored the garden. It became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997. The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Astor Court in New York is a replica of one section of the Master of the Nets Garden.
Additional resources:
The classical gardens of Suzhou, UNESCO
Ron Henderson, The Gardens of Suzhou (Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 2020)
For the classroom
Take notes while watching the video, using the Master of the Nets Garden Video Activity.
Smarthistory images for teaching and learning:
