Research on the Restoration of the Eastern Part of Yuyuan Garden by Chen Congzhou in 1980s

Jiangnan private gardens are outstanding representatives of traditional Chinese garden art. However, they have faced significant challenges in their survival and appearance due to factors such as wars, dramatic lifestyle changes, and changes in ownership since the late Qing Dynasty. Yuyuan Garden, as an excellent cultural heritage preserved to this day but repeatedly damaged and reconstructed, is a typical example. The restoration work of Yuyuan Garden has become an important topic in the field of classical garden heritage conservation and inheritance. This paper focuses on the historical process of Chen Congzhou's supervision of the restoration of the eastern part of Yuyuan Garden in the 1980s. It explores how through practices such as historical research of Yuyuan Garden, restoration of historical appearance, and renewal and reconstruction, Chen Congzhou achieved the integration of scenery and sentiment in the restoration of the eastern part of Yuyuan Garden, as well as the reorganization of its functions and reconnection with the city. It analyzes Chen's research attitude towards historical issues of classical gardens, his rich garden design thoughts with cross-era characteristics and penetrative power, his interpretive understanding, and integration application of various traditional arts under the same cultural influence, and his profound recognition and adherence to a grand, comprehensive cultural perspective. The aim is to bring enlightenment to the discussion of historical issues in classical gardens and to promote research on contemporary classical garden restoration.