The Art of Survival

Author: Yu Kongjian
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2007-07-01
Features: Globalization and urbanization have brought numerous challenges and opportunities to landscape architecture. Environmental and ecological crises, cultural identity crises, and the lack of spiritual belief demand that contemporary landscape architecture take on the responsibility of rebuilding the Peach Blossom Spring and restoring the harmony between heaven, earth, humans, and gods. In the face of such a monumental task, landscape architecture must return to the survival art of land design and stewardship, venturing into vast, authentic, and ordinary lands to seek the spirit of Yu the Great and absorb the techniques and arts of survival on the land. Landscape architecture is not a product or continuation of garden art; it originates from the "survival art" accumulated by our ancestors in the process of making a living. This art form has long been overshadowed by what is termed "garden design" within the upper culture, both in China and around the world. The problems of China are also the problems of the world. Solving China's problems, in a certain sense, will help solve the world's problems. Therefore, Chinese landscape architecture will inevitably become global landscape architecture.