Basic Characteristics of Classical Gardens in China

When it comes to architectural art, we can't ignore the modeling of gardens, especially the classical gardens in China. The gardens in China are known as "the mother of world gardens", and the construction of gardens is the crystallization of the wisdom of the working people of ancient Han nationality. China has a long history and cultural heritage, which makes China's garden architecture unique and poetic. The connotation of garden is just a treasure house. Dig it and you will appreciate another style.

China has had gardens for a long time, and our ancestors started gardening activities as early as the Shang and Zhou Dynasties. This garden originally appeared in the form of a cave, only for emperors and nobles to hunt and enjoy. With the development of history, gardens are constantly improving and progressing. During the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, there were groups of landscapes, including earth mountains, ponds or terraces. The elements of the garden have been basically possessed by this period, which is different from the original garden.

Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties is a turning point in the development of gardens in China. The introduction of Buddhism and the popularization of Laozi and Zhuangzi's philosophy have turned gardens into advocating nature. Classical gardens in China originated from nature, which is higher than nature, with the theme of expressing the natural landscape and free layout of nature; Shanzhai mountain pond is natural, which fully embodies the national cultural characteristics of "harmony between man and nature" and shows a harmony between man and nature.

Harmonious and unified world outlook. Gardens reached a mature stage in the Tang and Song Dynasties. Bureaucrats and literati build their own gardens or participate in gardening, and integrate poetry and painting into the layout and landscaping of gardens, making garden architecture not only a masterpiece of craftsmen, but also a masterpiece of literati, and making the humanistic landscape of gardens stand out.

Everything has certain elements, and the gardens in China are no exception. Generally speaking, the classical gardens in China are composed of six elements: mountain building, pond management, plants, animals, architecture, plaques, couplets and stone carvings. In order to express nature, mountain building is one of the most important factors in gardening. In Qin and Han Dynasties, Shanglinyuan used the earth dug by Taiye Pool to build an island, symbolizing the sacred mountain in the East China Sea, which was the first man-made mountain. The existing Humble Administrator's Garden in Suzhou, Yan Garden in Changshu and Yu Garden in Shanghai are all famous gardens in Ming and Qing Dynasties.

No matter what kind of flower garden, water is the most vital factor, and you can't live without water. So the garden must dig a pool to divert water. There are three ways to control water in ancient gardens: cover, partition and break. Covering is to cover the winding pool shore with buildings and greening. The partition is to build a dam on the water, or to have a floating promenade to cross, or to build a tortuous stone bridge, or to wade through the stones. As "Garden Governance" said, "If there is no end, the bridge will be broken". When the water surface is very small, (such as a clear spring pool) can be supported by rocks, with fine bamboo and rattan and crested ibis. Although it is a pool, it can make people feel the wind in Shan Ye.

Plants are another important factor. Flowers and trees are like the hair of a mountain, and there is no beauty in a waterscape without flowers and trees. Natural gardens deliberately express natural beauty, and the selection criteria of flowers and trees are also very strict. When it comes to graceful posture, crown shape, branch density and bark texture, they all pursue natural beauty. Second, talk about color beauty, red maple leaves, green bamboo leaves, mottled wolf elm, magnolia, crape myrtle and so on. Strive to maintain the natural color of the park all year round; Third, the taste is fragrant, which requires the plants to be elegant and quiet, not too strong and delicate; Don't be too light, it is difficult to do it intentionally. Four stresses on the realm, the contrast effect of flowers and trees on the landscape of garden rocks is often related to the spiritual realm of the garden owner. For example, bamboo symbolizes purity of character, pine and cypress symbolizes strength and longevity, lotus symbolizes cleanliness and flawless, orchid symbolizes seclusion and hermit, pomegranate symbolizes many children and grandchildren, and Wei Zi symbolizes high officials and rich people.

Ancient gardens in China used various methods to separate the space, so as to achieve the effect of winding paths leading to secluded places. The main method is to use various buildings. For example, the use of leaky windows makes the space neither endless nor hinders the visual fluency. Looking through the leaky window, it is beautifully carved.

Flower ornaments, with colorful patterns, have strong national flavor and aesthetic value; Through the leaking window, bamboos are blurred and swaying, pavilions are hidden from time to time, and clouds fly far away, creating a profound and broad space realm and interest. Garden buildings often have halls, corridors, pavilions, buildings and platforms. Artificial caves and stone steps all show natural beauty. All buildings are in harmony with the natural environment such as heaven and earth, and all parts of the garden are interrelated, so that the garden embodies natural, indifferent, quiet and implicit artistic characteristics, and receives the ornamental effect of changing scenery, getting better and better, and seeing the big from the small. Learn from nature, blend in with nature, conform to nature and express nature-this is the place where China ancient gardens embody the national culture of "harmony between man and nature", which is the biggest feature independent of the world forest and the fundamental reason for the eternal vitality of art. The existing classical gardens in China include the Summer Palace, chengde mountain resort, Humble Administrator's Garden and Canglang Garden. They are all representatives of gardens, and their superb technical level and immortal artistic value fully show the wisdom and strength of the ancient Han working people. Through them, you can truly feel the charm of gardens and discover the profound meaning of China's classical culture.