Chinese Garden

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.
 Types of Chinese Garden

• Chinese gardens are generally divided into two

categories
➢Imperial gardens (northern gardens) and
➢Private gardens (southern gardens).
 Imperial gardens

• Imperial gardens are mostly found in north China, with those in Beijing being
most representative, displaying grandness and magnificence. - Imperial
gardens have been a pet project of many emperors and empresses
throughout China's long history.
• While gardens from the earliest dynasties have faded into history, many
Qing-Dynasty (1644– 1911) gardens remain.
• At one time, only members of the royal family and their guests or servants
were allowed to experience the beauty of these massive garden complexes.
 Private gardens

• Private gardens are mostly found in south China, especially in cities in the ‘south of
the Yangtze River area, such as Suzhou, Wuxi, Nanjing, and Hangzhou.
• Private gardens were designed and created as a place of retreat(shelter) for ancient
scholars to escape the chaos of the city and have private relaxation.
• Private gardens in China are more intimate than the grand imperial gardens, but their
simplicity offers a unique form of beauty.
• These gardens were often used for parties, such as those during the autumn moon
festival.
• One important characteristic of many private Chinese gardens is a rockery. (rock
work ).
 Elements of Chinese garden

➢Artificial mountains
➢Rock gardens
➢Water
➢Flowers ,
➢Plants & trees
➢ Structures – walkways , pavillions , bridges
 Rocks
• Decorative rocks, sometimes
termed Chinese scholar’s
rocks, are used both for
structural and sculptural
purposes.
• During the Song dynasty, they
were the most expensive
objects in the empire.
• In smaller classical gardens, a
single scholar rock represents a
mountain, or a row of rocks
represents a mountain range.
 Water
• Water is the blood of a
traditional Chinese garden.
• The most important element
of a garden is water, in any
form: ponds, lakes, streams,
rivers and water-falls.
• Gardens will have a single
lake with one or more
streams coming into the lake,
with bridges crossing the
streams.
 Plants and Trees

• Trees and flowers, especially in private

gardens, are carefully selected for the
overall layout of the gardens, because
of the limited space.
• Plants and flowers reflecting the beauty
of the four seasons are planted.
• They represent nature in its most vivid
form.
• The pine, bamboo and Chinese plum
(Prunus mume) were considered the
"Three Friends of Winter“
 Plant species

• Manchurian Apricot (Prunus mandshurica)

• Flowering Almond (Prunus triloba)
• Bamboo (Phyllostachys spp.)
• Peking Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster acutifolius)
• Manchurian Golden-bells (Forsythia
manshurica)
• Maidenhair Tree (Ginkgo biloba)
• Fragant Plantain Lily (Hosta plantaginea)
 Pavilion

• The principal pavilion (dating), for

the reception of guests.
• The pavilion facing the four
directions.
• This building has folding or
movable walls, for opening up a
panoramic view of the garden.
• The lotus pavilion built next to a
lotus pond, to see the flowers
bloom and appreciate their aroma
 Structures

• The most important structures of garden ground are walkways, pavilions and bridges.
• Timber frame construction plays a decisive role here.
• Chinese gardens are filled with architecture; halls, pavilions, temples, galleries, bridges, kiosks, and
towers, occupying a large part of the space.
• Gardens also often feature two-story towers, usually at the edge of the garden , which provided a
view from above of certain parts of the garden or the distant scenery.
• Bridges are another common feature of the Chinese garden.
• Bridges are often built from rough timber or stone-slab raised pathways.
• Gardens also often include small, austere houses for solitude and meditation, sometimes in the
form of rustic fishing huts
 Summer palace

• The Summer Palace Garden in Haidian District, northwest of central Beijing,

is the best preserved imperial garden in the world.
• The Summer Palace was initially built in 1750 by Emperor Qianglong.
• The architectural style of Summer Palace is to make others believe it is in
artificial.
• In 1860 and 1900 it was destroyed by invaders and in 1912
• it was rebuilt by the Government of Qing Dynasty.
• In 1924, it began to be open to tourists.
• The arched bridges, pretty
promenades, decorated
corridors, and ‘breezeways’ (a
hallway that allows the
passage of a breeze between
structures) lead visitors
through ever-changing views
and scenery.
• The Chinese call it Yihe Yuan
(Garden of Restful Peace),
and the landscaped gardens,
temples, and pavilions were
designed to achieve harmony
with nature.
 Humble Administrator's Garden

• Built in 1509 during the Ming Dynasty,

• Humble Administrator's Garden is the largest and most famous classical landscape
garden in Suzhou.
• Age: more than 500 years. • the garden is in the south region of Yangtze River and
considered as the mother of Chinese gardens.
• With its classical and gorgeous gardens, it has been a valuable cultural sign both in
China and world.
• Pools are built in the center with pavilions standing around, and wingding corridors
connecting with each other
• Pavilions, towers and terraces
are built around the central pool.
• It has well remained the garden
pattern of the Ming Dynasty,
which is ancient and bright.
• The Hall of Distant Fragrance is
the main building that is named
after a lotus pool nearby.
THANK YOU
BY
KANAGASABAPATHY