Chinese Gardens: A Symbol of Rich Culture & Unique Landscapes - Essay Sample

Introduction

Traditional Chinese gardens are rich in culture and have natural but unique landscapes. The gardens are exceptional and contain aesthetic ideas that are exceptional and unique only to the Chinese people. One of the features that make the Chinese gardens good is symbolism and imagery. They have an image outside what is expressed in the landscape. To better understand the culture of the Chinese people and how it is presented through the architecture, it is important to look at different types of gardens.

Shaqui Garden

Shaqui Chinese garden that was used as a habitat for chine emperors and their family. Former government officials created the garden, soldiers, and merchants, and they formed the garden to use as a reflection of what the Chinese leaders wanted and protecting the leaders from the outside world (Moulton). The features of the garden included flowers and vegetation that was idealized miniature to make the royal family happy while living in the garden. The garden reflected the harmony between nature and the emperor's family. The other feature of the Shaqui garden is that the wall was made of rock t prevent intruders' flowers from making the garden beautiful (Moulton). The pavilions in the garden were connected by winding paths that showered the beauty of the garden.

The garden symbolized the stature of the emperor who lived in the garden by portraying the emperor to be the most important person in the chine community. There were no similar gardens in the community (Moulton). China was ruled by dynasties, and the garden symbolized the form of governance found in china. The garden also symbolizes the wealth of the community, where the community is seen to have the potential to create wealth for the people. The emperor used to give guidelines of what was to be done for the success of the community.

The main function of the Shaquil garden was to act as a residence for the emperor. The emperor and the extended family lived in the garden (Moulton). The garden also acted as an office for the emperor, where the emperor used as an office to execute their roles. The Shaqui garden was also used as a meeting point and other leaders during consultations and other events uniting the people.

The Terrace Gardens

The Terrace was also a Chinese garden in the Shang dynasty where the emperor of the dynasty used to stay at the time. The garden was very popular among the people and was used as the unifying factor among the people (Xu et al.). The Terrace garden was built by Wenwang, who was the king at the time. The features of the garden include a huge fence with trees planted around the garden. The trees were of different varieties, including plants with fruits. The other feature of the garden is that it was heavily guided to protect the emperor and the family members of the emperor.

The symbolism of the garden is that it represents the unity of the people where all the people get the opportunity to get services and solve conflicts that might arise. The trees and vegetation surrounding the empire symbolize the fertility of the land that the people used to produce farm products (Xu et al.). The design of the garden symbolized the Chinese tradition, where people take care of the environment surrounding their houses and homes. The garden also symbolized the culture of the Chinese people in designing unique architecture.

Terrace gardens acted as the cultural center where special cultural rites were conducted in the garden (Xu et al.). The Chinese have annual cultural practices; hence they used the garden as the venue. The garden was also used as the official residence of the emperor at the time. The garden was also used as the official residence of the emperor.

Humble Administrator's Garden

Humble Administrator's Garden is one of the remarkable gardens in China. This garden is located in Suzhou and is considered to be the most spectacular garden in the region of Southern China. The garden is approximately 12.8 acres, and one-third of the garden is covered by water. Some of the features that make the garden famous include well laid out pools, bamboo grove, pavilions, pines, rockeries as well as corridors (Shi-yang). The first Humble Administrator's Garden was constructed in a site of a poet who was known as Tang; it was later rebuilt during the Yuan dynasty as a temple. The garden was completed by Wang Xiancheng, who had retired from his career.

The garden took 16 years to complete, and the painter designed it with features of poetry as well as traditional paintings of Chinese origin. He considered himself humble hence the reason why he chose to be a gardener rather than venture in businesses related to the affairs of the government. The garden was in the hands of the owner until when he died, and his son inherited it. He, however, lost it to the Xu family as he used in gambling. The garden has been improved during different dynasties, but significant improvements took place during the Qing dynasty when it was developed into Western Garden, Eastern Garden, and the Central Garden(Shi-yang). The garden has 48 structures consisting of a residence, a number of halls which are used as family gatherings as well as entertainment. There are eighteen pavilions which are essential in viewing in the garden.

Yuyuan Garden

Yuyuan Garden was built during the Ming Dynasty approximately 400 years ago. The garden is located in shanghai, and it has beautiful scenery which is suited for everyone. The garden consists of six areas, namely Wanhua Chamber, Dianchun Hall, Huijing Hall, Sansui Hall, Inner Garden, as well as Yuhua Hall (Yu et al.). Some of the classical features of the garden include carvings, sculptures, and Yuyuan bazaar. The garden has zigzag bridges, decorated walls, glittering pools, as well as rockeries. The Garden has a Nine-Turn Bridge, which is a symbol of auspiciousness. The Chinese people believe crossing the bridge brings good luck. The uniqueness of the garden lies in the carvings and scriptures rather than in the buildings.

The garden's bazaar is another feature that is essential in the Yuyuan garden as it is next to it. The bazaar has several restaurants and shops where one can get snacks of Chinese cuisine (Yu et al.). Some of these snacks include chop rice cakes, stuffed buns, Yangchun noodles as well as fried cakes. For those who love Chinese commodities, Yuyuan Old Street offers silk, handicrafts, arts, antiques, craftworks as well as jewels. The garden also stands out due to proximity to other nearby attractions. Some of these attractions include City God Temple, the band, and the Nanjing Road.

Works Cited

Moulton, Sunday. "Chinese Gardens: History & Symbolism." Study.com. N.p., 2019. Web. 7 Feb. 2020.

Shi-yang, Hu. "Characteristics and Artistic Charm of Literati Garden--Viewpoints of Artistic Beauty of Literati Garden through Humble Administrators Garden [J]." Journal of Wuhu Vocational Institute of Technology 3 (2009).

Xu, Yiwen, et al. A cluster analysis comparison of classical Chinese gardens with modern Chinese gardens. Michigan State University. Environmental Design, 2015.

Yu, Rongrong, et al. "Wayfinding in traditional Chinese private gardens: a spatial analysis of the Yuyuan garden." (2015).