Help please re Chinese Gardens:

Submitted by pauline on Mon, 03/04/2013 - 20:32

Please can someone help me.  I am trying to establish exactly what is included in an authentic genuine Chinese Garden.  For instance,  does it have high walls all around,  how big are they,  do they have walkways and Tea Pavilions etc. ?

Any facts and figures i.e.  height,  dimensions,  plants grown (I assume that they have plants?) would be much appreciated.

Many thanks,

Pauline.

Hi David,

Thank you for the link, I am aware of the wikipedia information but I've been told that there is a lot more to them, the Gardens,  than one can glean from there but I don't know as I've never been to China.  Just hoped that there might be someone who would know more on Gwulo as I really need to discover the height of the walls and how much ground one could be expected to cover.

Good to hear from you though. I will post a few more photos soon.

Regards,  Pauline.

 

 

 

 

Hi Pauline,

Generally speaking Chinese philosophy is sort of fuzzy.  It is usually having unclear definitions.  Architecture is more or less the same.  On the other hand, peasants does not usually have a garden of their own as they did not own any land.

Those so called gardens found in Hong Kong are sort of a hybrid, with severe western influence, so I beleve they should not be counted at traditional Chinese gardens.

Unfortunately I am not aware of any traditioal Chinese gardens here.  Maybe the Chi Lin Nunnary could count as one as it imitates Tang Dynasty architecture.  However I am really uncertain about the walls.  There is just nothing old enough in town to show.

Best Regards,

T

Hi once again T,

Thank you so much for that link, it really is very helpful.  I can see that that sort of architecture would need very high walls to enclose it.  Someone who has seen the public Chinese Gardens in China told me that the walls were high with dragons on top!!  I'm not sure exactly where that was.  It's a shame that there isn't one in HK  I guess,  but I thought that was probably the case as I have never heard of one.  I think they have Tea Pavilions and raised walkways,  big rocks and ponds with goldfish but I would love confirmation of that.  From the link that you have sent me it would seem quite likely.

Best regards, Pauline.

Hi Pauline,

Just my two cents: the place in China that is most famous for its traditional gardens is of course the old town of Suzhou, an hour or so from Shanghai by car.  Try googling that place for images and information. 

breskvar

Hi breskvar,

That's really helpful too, thank you.  It even gives dimensions when you click on to maps.  The classical Gardens,  if I read it correctly,  reproduce scenery in minature and are very skilful in a way beyond the skills of most English people.  A very Chinese concept in all respects, and  beautiful in a calm static kind of way.

Regards, 

Pauline.

 

I have two books about Chinese Gardens that I could receommend if you have not already seen them:

Gardens in China by Peter Valder(Timber Press, Portland Oregon) 2002

The Chinese Garden History, Art and Architecture byMaggie Keswick (Harvard University Press, Cambridge Mass) 2003

Hope this helps.

Best,

Jennifer Lang, Architectural Historian

Thank you Jennifer,

I have given my son the titles of the two books as this interest stems from a project that he is involved with.  I have to say that I have become fascinated too as there seems to be so much history attached to the gardens,  and they are so impressive.  We went in for Chinoiserie here in England in the 18th century I believe but this just meant a Chinese feature in an English landscaped garden,  it is obvious that one pagoda or tea pavilion does not a Chinese Garden make!!