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Chinese garden design

The idea of designing a garden was almost a global trend whereby different cultures would have a

different interpretation of what a garden would look like and translates a certain spirituality form or

function to express something of importance to a community .

The research here would solely be focusing on Chinese garden and landscape design principles as

well as its functional meaning behind them . The research essay would start off with an

understanding of a saying

if you want to be happy for three days , get married ; if you want to be happy forever , make a

garden . Chinese proverb

Interpretation of thesaying may vary throughout the society as well as people , culture as well as

minds . the question is why ? and what makes it ask when it is not asking . the idea it gave gives even

more ideas after .

The Chinese garden design and interpretation is no stranger to this paradox . Centuries have passed

with the different minds toying upon the paradox creating philosophes and approaches throughout

the centuries . Never a perfect design subjected upon the constant change of never ending time .

Today remnant of the gardens remains , upon modern minds to recreate what is it to express from

these works of the past .

Ancient Chinese gardens were created in the same way as a combination of landscape and paintings

together with poems a poetic garden .The design of Chinese gardens was to provide a spiritualheaven for one to connect with nature, to come back to one's inner heart, to come back to ancient

idealism. Chinese gardens are a spiritual shelter for people, a place far away from their real social

lives, being close to the ancient way of life, their true selves, and nature. An escape from the

frustration and disappointment of the political problems in Ancient China.

In a Chinese garden often Plants are used as characters . Bamboo was used in every traditional

Chinese garden. This is because bamboo represents a strong but resilient character.Other plants

such as pine is often used to represent longevity, persistence, tenacity and dignity. The lotus is used

to symbolize purity. The flowering plum is one of the most important aspects of a Chinese garden, as

it represents renewal and strength of will. Flowering peaches are grown for spring colour, and sweet

olive as well. The chrysanthemum is used to symbolize splendour and "the courage to make

sacrifices for a natural life". Peonies symbolize wealth and banana trees are used simply for the

sound they make in the breeze.

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A Chinese garden is confusing and dense, dominated by huge rock-piles and a great number of

buildings all squeezed into innumerable, often very small spaces'.

Her explanation is that 'Chinese gardens are cosmic diagrams, revealing a profound and ancient view

of the world and of man's place in it'. Yet they have also been:

y the background for a civilisationy places where great poets and painters have met and workedy full of laughter and jokes and the scenes of ribald parties, amorous assignations, and the

status-seeking efforts of countless nouveaux riches

y settings for peaceful contemplationy settings for family festivals and elaborate dramatics

a domain for 'a woman with bound feat... to steal away at night and slip into oblivion under the

glassy surface of a garden pond

Dream of the Red Chamber was written by Ts'ao Chan (171563) and describes the life of a rich

merchant. The garden he brings to life belongs to the scholar garden tradition which itself derives

from the Buddhist tradition. Red stands for luck in Chinese culture.

It should be noted that much confusion about 'Chinese gardens' results from a failure to distinguish

three types of space. In western terms they can be called landscape parks domestic courtyards

sacred gardens