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Mantuo Manor

Mantuo Manor

Mantuo Manor (simplified: 曼陀山庄, traditional: 曼陀山莊, pinyin: Màntuó Shānzhuāng) is a manor built by Li Qingluo (李青萝 – Lǐ Qīngluó), also known as Wang Furen (王夫人 – Wáng Fūrén), on the shores of Taihu Lake1 after she married into the Gusu Wang family. The manor is named for its extensive collection of camellia flowers, which were planted throughout the estate due to Li Qingluo’s love for these flowers.

History

Foundation by Li Qingluo

After marrying into the Gusu Wang family, Li Qingluo (李青萝 – Lǐ Qīngluó) built Mantuo Manor on the shores of Taihu Lake. The manor was designed around her passion for camellia flowers, with hundreds of varieties planted throughout the estate.

Duan Yu’s visit

Duan Yu visited the manor and engaged in detailed discussions with Wang Furen about various camellia varieties, including the “Eighteen Scholars” (十八学士 – Shíbā Xuéshì) and “Scarred Beauty’s Face” (抓破美人脸 – Zhuāpò Měirén Liǎn). His knowledge of camellia varieties impressed Wang Furen during his first visit to the manor.

Features

Camellia collection

The manor is renowned for its extensive collection of camellia flowers, with hundreds of varieties planted throughout the estate. The collection includes both real varieties and fictional ones created by Jin Yong, such as “Red Attire and White Wrapping” (红妆素裹 – Hóngzhuāng Sùguǒ) and “Full Moon” (满月 – Mǎnyuè).

Notable varieties

The manor’s collection includes famous varieties such as:

  • “Eighteen Scholars” (十八学士 – Shíbā Xuéshì)
  • “Scarred Beauty’s Face” (抓破美人脸 – Zhuāpò Měirén Liǎn)
  • “Three Heroes of the Wind and Dust” (风尘三侠 – Fēngchén Sānxiá)

Cultural significance

Literary representation

The manor represents Jin Yong’s integration of historical and fictional elements. The camellia collection reflects the historical significance of Dali as the “Hometown of Chinese Camellias,” while incorporating fictional varieties to enhance the narrative.

Real-world connections

The manor’s setting draws inspiration from real locations around Taihu Lake, particularly the natural landscapes that remain undeveloped in the region. The camellia varieties mentioned in the novel include both real existing varieties and fictional ones created for the story.

See also

Footnotes

  1. 太湖 – Tài Hú. Large lake in the Yangtze Delta region, spanning Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces. See Wikipedia.