On Chinese Gardens

This book is a classic of theoretical writing on Chinese gardens by Tongji University Professor Chen Zongzhou, a well-known authority on Chinese gardens. Here, the author sets forth new and novel concepts in garden design and propounds a set of distinctive and penetrating ideas on the subject, including the arrangement of scenes, “in-motion” and “in-position” types of gardens, the handling of hills and water, the planning of buildings, and the laying out of flowers and trees. It elucidates the arrangement of gardens and shows how these relate to human sentiments, and how what is tangible in the garden relates to the intangible. With its unique style this book is not only a theoretical work of garden design, but also a work of rare literary value. This book is published both in Chinese and English. The Chinese version is first written in exquisite handwriting, using the traditional writing brush, then reproduced in photocopy. Included here are photographs of Suzhou Gardens and 32 plates of ancient Chinese garden designs which vividly complement the literature. The book will acquaint the reader with the art of Chinese garden design and will serve as a reference for modern garden designers and tourists. Text in English and Chinese.