Song Zhiwen's discovery of the suburbs

A country house that would go on to even greater fame with Wang Wei

The Lantian Estate

Song Zhiwen

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I haven’t retired to a country sinecure quite yet,

But spending time here, I love the seclusion.

I’m watching the skies, I’m surveying the land,

Tend to my crops, plan my villa’s location.

In the morning, by the River Wang, I chop wood,

In the evening use Lan Creek for irrigation.

It’s just me and the old farmers of the old Qin Hills,

Where every spring is a celebration.

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Song Zhiwen (656-712) was a fairly successful official in the early-mid Tang. He bought a country estate outside Chang’an, following the same impulse that drives the creation of suburbs around major cities today (though it was too far away for a daily commute). This estate is much better known to us as the site for Wang Wei’s beautiful set of 20 poems, the Wang River Collection.

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宋之问  蓝田山庄

宦游非吏隐，心事好幽偏。

考室先依地，为农且用天。

辋川朝伐木，蓝水暮浇田。

独与秦山老，相欢春酒前。