- the Beautiful Island -
featuring the capitol
Other Things Taipei
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Yu Youren's House, - the "Plum Garden"
Yu Youren is a famous character
in China's history. He was born in 1879 and thereby experienced the
turbulent years when the Qing dynasty fell.
He met Dr. Sun Yat Sen and
joined the revolution, and later in the Kuomintang years under Chiang Kai-shek
he held several high government positions.
He had many talents but today
his claim to fame is his unique skill as a calligrapher, - one of the best
in modern China -, and he also worked with ink paintings and stone carvings.
Hence Yu Youren was an all in one educator, scholar, artist, calligrapher
and politician.
When the communist conquered
China he fled to Taiwan, where Chiang Kai-shek, - as a token of gratitude
-, provided him with the house which today is a museum to his memory.
I did not know about Yu Youren
before Kit Yu told me about him. He happens to be one of her favorite
calligraphers, - and now when we stayed in Taipei it would be a great opportunity
to find his house and have a closer look into the life of this talented
person.
His house was not on the "tourist
trail", and therefore quite difficult to find, but by asking our way, the
cab driver finally found it.
The house is in Japanese style
and was used during the Japanese invasion as home for a high ranking Japanese
official.
It is called "Plum Garden",
- but the garden is somewhat neglected. However, - along the far
end of the garden runs a hot stream, which gives this garden some fantastic
opportunities for making some sort of hot bath arrangement.
2012-03-08.016
Yu Youren's house, - the "Plum
Garden".
(Photography © Karsten Petersen)
2012-03-08.019
Yu Youren's house, - the "Plum
Garden".
(Photography © Karsten Petersen)
2012-03-08.013
Yu Youren's house, - the "Plum
Garden".
(Photography © Karsten Petersen)
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Yu Youren's house.
(Photography © Karsten Petersen)
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Yu Youren's house, with calligraphy.
(Photography © Karsten Petersen)
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Yu Youren's calligraphy.
(Photography © Karsten Petersen)
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Yu Youren's calligraphy.
(Photography © Karsten Petersen)
2012-03-08.006
Yu Youren's house.
(Photography © Karsten Petersen)
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Yu Youren's calligraphy.
(Photography © Karsten Petersen)
2012-03-08.010
Yu Youren's house.
(Photography © Karsten Petersen)
2012-03-08.011
Yu Youren's house.
(Photography © Karsten Petersen)
2012-03-08.014
Yu Youren's house.
(Photography © Karsten Petersen)
2012-03-08.00
Yu Youren's house, - the "Plum
Garden".
(Photography © Karsten Petersen)
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Page initiated: Feb. 09. 2013