The creators of Chinese gardens throughout the centuries have created the beautiful imperial gardens of Beijing as well as the gardens of Shanghai and Suzhou. Their artistic influence, infused with Chinese culture and history, and then later married with the aesthetics of the European Enlightenment, can also be seen in the contemporary landscape designs of today in China and abroad.

Professor Hu Jie, who studies, works, and teaches extensively in both China and the United States, and renowned for the much acclaimed Olympic Park in Beijing, surveys the celebrated classic and modern gardens of china in this new book for the Western landscape architect and the amateur gardener. The Splendid Chinese Garden examines the essential genres of gardens—the imperial garden, the mausoleum garden, the temple garden, the residence garden, the scenic spot garden, and the literati garden—in breathtaking pictorials and detailed descriptions of the artistic and historical influences that guided their designers. The careful explanations of such gardens give insight to Chinese garden building techniques in ancient times as well as an understanding of a culture’s philosophy and aesthetic.

Foreword

Map Chinese Gardens Accessible to Visitors

Introduction Chinese Gardens from a Western Perspestive

Chapter One The History and Genres of Chinese Gardens

1.    A Brief History

Budding Stage—Slave Society (1100BC-300BC)

Growing Stage—Qin and Han Dynasties (300BC-300)

Transformation Stage—The Era of Wei, Jin and the Northern and Southern Dynasties (220—589)

Bloom Stage—Sui and Tang Dynasties (581-907)

Mature Stage—Song, Liao, Jin and Yuan Dynasties (960-1368)

Latest Prime Stage—Ming and Qing Dynasties (1368-1911)

2.    Essential Generes

Imperial Garden

Imperial Mausoleum Garden

Temple Garden

Residence Garden

Scenic Spot Garden

Literati Garden

Chapeter Two Chinese Garden Culture

1.    Philosophy

The Classic of Changes

Taoism

Confucianism

2.    Painting and Poetry

Landscape Painting

Landscape Poetry

3.    Cultural Conceptions

Three Celestial Islands in One Pond

Unifying the Country and Domination All Life

Peach Blossom Spring and Pastoral Scenery

Floating Wine-Cup in Winding Channel

4.    Gardening Principles

Nature Priority

The Overall Principle

Site Choosing Principle

Pursuits for Artistic Conceptions

Chapter Three Art of Classical Garden Construction

1.    Layout

Static and Dynamic Layouts

Protagonist and Foil Views

Contrast and Harmony

2.    Waterscape

Water Surface

Bank

3.    Rockery

Types of Rockery

Layout of Rockery

Construction Technique

4.    Architecture

Architecture Type

Paving

Decoration, Furniture, and Furnishing

Inscription Board

Wall, Window and Door Opening

5.    Plant Arrangements

In Architectural Spaces

On Hill and Rockery

On Water Surface

Chapter Four Lving Examples of Chinese Gardens

1.    Gardens in Northern China

Summer Palace—Best Preserved Imperial Garden in China

Beihai Park and the Circular Wall—Most Exquisite Imperial Garden in the Capital

Jianxin Studio in the Forbidden City—Largest Existing and Best Preserved Classical Wooden Architectural Complex

Back Garden of Prince Gong’s Mansion—Garden of Ten Thousand Happiness

Tanzhe Temple—Earliest Buddhist Temple in Beijing

Mountain Resort—Largest-Scaled Imperial Garden in China

2.    Gandens in Southern China

Individual Garden—Example of Borrowing Seasonal Views

He Garden—The Supreme Garden Construction in the Late Qing Dynasty

Ontlook Garden—Best Garden in Jinling (Nanjing)

Jichang Garden—An Unfolded Landscape Painting

Humble Administrator’s Garden—Largest Ancient Garden in the Yangtze River Delta

Lingering Garden—Garden with the Richest Elements

Master of the Nets Garden—Model Work among Small-Scaled Gardens

Lion Grove Garden—A World of Rockeries

Garden of Cultivation—Exquisite Mini Garden Sheltered by Whitewashed Wall and Tree Shadow

Great Wave Pavilion—Longest Historical Classical Garden in Suzhou

Yu Garden—Most Unusually Charming Views among All the Gardens in the Yangtze River Delta

Guo’s Villa—Most Supreme Garden among All of West Lake

Garden of Abundant Shade—One of Four Greatest Gardens to the South of the Five Ridges

Appendices

Glossary of Chinese Garden

I.  Garden Types

II. Garden Elements

Overseas Chinese Gardens

Bibliography

Dynasties in Chinese History

Index