Gardener's Manual—A Study of the Oldest Famous Book on Landscape Architecture in the World

Author: Zhang Jiaji wrote
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2002-08-01
Features: This book systematically discusses the artistic thoughts of landscape design, the craftsmanship of scenic conception, the overall planning of gardens, the design of individual structures, and the structural frames to detailed decorations. It covers all aspects of landscape creation. It is an essential classic for those engaged in designing traditional Chinese garden styles, researching Chinese landscape architecture, and related fields! Gardens and Temples (Yuan Ye) was written by the 17th-century Chinese landscape architect Ji Cheng. It is the earliest masterpiece in Chinese history dedicated to the art of landscape design and also one of the oldest renowned works on landscape architecture in the world. It systematically discusses the artistic thoughts of landscape design, the craftsmanship of scenic conception, the overall planning of gardens, the design of individual structures, and the structural frames to detailed decorations. It covers all aspects of landscape creation, making it a must-read for appreciating classical Chinese gardens, researching Chinese landscape architecture, and designing traditional Chinese garden styles. However, Gardens and Temples is written in parallel prose and heavily uses classical allusions, making it difficult to understand, let alone interpret and apply correctly. The annotator of this book, after completing two major works, History of Chinese Landscape Architecture and Landscape Architecture Theory of China, has gained a comprehensive and systematic understanding of Gardens and Temples. Drawing on the experience and lessons of previous scholars in annotating Gardens and Temples, and with the backdrop of the history of traditional Chinese culture, the annotator grasps the philosophical thoughts of traditional landscape architecture. By holistically connecting the intentions and spirit expressed in the text of Gardens and Temples, the annotator provides precise annotations, fluent translations, thorough analyses, and insightful comments throughout the book. The annotations are accurate, the translations are smooth, the analyses are insightful, and the writing is elegant, making this a book that blends academic rigor with literary excellence.