Chinese Gardens

• Introduction - The Chinese garden, also known as a

Chinese classical garden, recreates natural landscapes in
miniature.
• Classical Chinese garden also can be called traditional Chinese
garden. With its long history, rich cultural significance, special
characteristics, and charming artistic enchantment, it has
been regarded the most important and leading gardening
system among the three gardening systems in the world.
 Historical Background
• The art of Chinese garden has a history of more than 3,000
years. The Records of the Historian, tells that in the Shang
Dynasty, there were special places, called “You” ("For Your
Amusement“),，for the rulers to enjoy the beauty of nature.
• Earlier the gardens were built associated with palaces etc and
were only used by the royal families.
• In Han Dynasty, people begun to build private gardens. The
development of classical Chinese garden during the 400 years
in the Han Dynasty laid the foundation for the art of Chinese
gardens.
• In the Tang and Song Dynasties, the art of Chinese garden
matured. Private gardens in the Song Dynasty also developed
rapidly. The private gardens were mainly built with streams or
hills or all kinds of plants and flowers or halls and pavilions.
 Historical Background
• The Ming and Qing Dynasties were the golden
age of garden building.
• Chinese garden culture matured as a
comprehensive school of its own during the
this period of time, after the practice of many
preceding dynastic periods, and rose to
become one of three garden construction
schools along with Western Asia and Europe.
 Historical Background
•The earliest recorded Chinese gardens were created in the valley of the Yellow River,
during the Shang Dynasty (1600-1046 B.C). These gardens were large enclosed parks
where the kings and nobles hunted game, or where fruit and vegetables were grown.
•A famous royal garden of the late Shang Dynasty was the Terrace, Pond and Park of
the Spirit built by King Wen Wang west of his capital city, Yin
•Another early royal garden was Shaqui, or the Dunes of Sand, built by the last Shang
ruler, King Zhou of Shang. (1075-1046 B.C.). It was composed of an earth terrace, or
tai, which served as an observation platform in the center of a large square park.
•. According to the Records of the Grand Historian, one of the most famous features
of this garden was the Wine Pool and Meat Forest . A large pool, big enough for
several small boats, was constructed on the Palace grounds, with inner linings of
polished oval shaped stones from the sea shores. The pool was then filled with wine.
A small island was constructed in the middle of the pool, where trees were planted,
which had skewers of roasted meat hanging from their branches. Zhou and his friends
and concubines drifted in their boats, drinking the wine with their hands and eating
the roasted meat from the trees.
 Historical Background
The Legend of the Isle of the Immortals
An ancient Chinese legend played an important part in early garden design. In the
4th Century B.C. a tale in the Shan Hai Jing, or Classic of Mountains and Seas,
described a peak called Mount Penglai located on one of three islands at the
eastern end of the Bohai Sea, between China and Korea, which was the home of
the Eight Immortals. On this island were palaces of gold and platinum, with jewels
on the trees. There was no pain, no winter, wine glasses and rice bowls were always
full, and fruits, when eaten, granted eternal life.
In 221 B.C. Ying Zhen, the King of Qin, conquered his rivals and unified China into an
empire, which he ruled until 210 B.C.. He heard the legend of the islands and sent
emissaries to find the islands and bring back the elixir of immortal life, without
success. At his palace near his capital, Xianyang, he created a garden with a large
lake called the Lake of the Orchids. On an island in the lake he created a replica of
Mount Penglai, symbolizing his search for paradise. After his death, his empire fell in
206 B.C. and his capital city and garden were completely destroyed, but the legend
continued to inspire Chinese gardens. Many gardens have a group of islands or a
single island with an artificial mountain representing the island of the Eight
immortals.
 Features
• In a Chinese garden, all components complement each other (or at
least should be reflected in garden designs) without losing
individuality of each element such as rocks, water, plants,
architecture or literature.
• A Chinese garden was not meant to be seen all at once; the plan of
a classical Chinese garden presented the visitor with a series of
perfectly composed and framed glimpses of scenery; a view of a
pond, or of a rock, or a grove of bamboo, a blossoming tree, or a
view of a distant mountain peak or a pagoda.
• The creators of the Chinese garden were careful to preserve the
natural appearance of the landscape. Trimming and root pruning, if
done at all, tried to preserve the natural form. Dwarf trees that
were gnarled and ancient-looking were particularly prized in the
miniature landscapes of Chinese gardens.
 PRINCIPLES OF CHINESE GARDENS
• BORROWED SCENERY –
• This could mean using scenes outside the garden, such as a view
of distant mountains or the trees in the neighboring garden, to
create the illusion that garden was much bigger than it was.
• The most famous example was the mist-shrouded view of the
North Temple Pagoda in Suzhou, seen in the distance over the
pond of the Humble Administrator's Garden.

• CONCEALMENT AND SURPRISE –

• This means The garden was not meant to be seen all at once, it
was laid out to present a series of scenes. Visitors moved from
scene to scene either within enclosed galleries or by winding
paths which concealed the scenes until the last moment. The
scenes would suddenly appear at the turn of a path, through a
window, or hidden behind a screen of bamboo. They might be
revealed through round "moon doors" or through windows of
unusual shapes, or windows with elaborate lattices that broke
the view into pieces.
Elements of Chinese garden
- ROCKS
• Rocks - The artificial mountain
(jiashan) or rock garden is an integral
element of Chinese classical gardens.
• The mountain peak was a symbol of
virtue, stability and endurance
• A mountain peak on an island was also
a central part of the legend of the Isles
of the Immortals, and thus became a
central element in many classical
gardens.
Elements of Chinese garden - WATER
• Water - A pond or lake is the central element of a
Chinese garden.
• The main buildings are usually placed beside it,
and pavilions surround the lake to see it from
different points of view.
• The garden usually has a pond for lotus flowers,
with special pavilion for viewing them. There are
usually goldfish in the pond, with pavilions over
the water for viewing them.
• water represents lightness and communication.
• The shape of the garden pond often hides the
edges of the pond from viewers on the other
side, giving the illusion that the pond goes on to
infinity.
• The softness of the water contrasts with the
solidity of the rocks. The water reflects the sky,
and therefore is constantly changing.
 Elements of Chinese garden –
FLOWERS
• FLOWERS create contrast with the
straight lines of the architecture and the
permanence, sharp edges and immobility
of the rocks. peony
• They change continually with the
seasons, and provide both sounds (the
sound of rain on banana leaves or the
wind in the bamboo) and aromas to
please the visitor. Azalea
• Among the most popular flowers are
lotuses, peonies, chrysanthemums and
orchids. Special flowers are planted to
attract bees and butterflies.
plum
• The pine, cypress, plum and bamboo can
grow in harsh weather conditions and
rough terrain. lotuse
Elements of Chinese garden - FLOWER
• Each flower and tree in the garden had its own
symbolic meaning.
• The pine, bamboo and Chinese plum (Prunus
mume) were considered the "Three Friends of
Winter
• The bamboo, a hollow straw, represented a wise
man, modest and seeking knowledge, and was also
noted for being flexible in a storm without breaking.
• Plum trees were revered as the symbol of rebirth
after the winter and the arrival of spring.
• The peach tree symbolized longevity and
immortality.
• Pear trees were the symbol of justice and wisdom.
• The willow tree represented the friendship and the
pleasures of life. Guests were offered willow
branches as a symbol of friendship.
 Elements of Chinese garden
• Structures Among the most important structures of
garden ground are walkways, pavilions and bridges.
Timber frame construction plays a decisive role here.
• Pavilion-like houses have neither a harsh nor
dominant effect, but rather bend effortlessly into
their general surroundings.
• We can divide the structures in classical Chinese
gardens into the following :
Lobby, Corridor ,Parlour, Waterside Kiosk ,Storied Chamber,
Bridge ,Storied Pavilion, Pagoda, Kiosk , Wall .
• The arrangement of
buildings divides a Chinese
garden into smaller
sections that contain one
or more scenic views. The
buildings in a garden are
designed to accent the
garden with windows and
doorways that frame
scenic views in their
courtyards and beyond.
 Elements of Chinese garden
• PATHWAYS AND BRIDGES - The winding paths
and zig- zag galleries bridges that led visitors
from one garden scene to another also had a
message
WATER BODY,ROCK GOLD FISHES WALKWAYS BRIDGES
,STRUCTURE IN POND

WATER BODY GARDEN GATE PAVILION

Imperial Palace garden