Chinese Gardens: Imperial

The grand imperial palaces and their gardens tended to be built during times of peace and prosperity in the centres of political power. Summer palaces were also built, often some distance from the main imperial palace, for the emperor and the court to escape the worst of the summer heat.

Imperial gardens are a fascinating and varied blend of controlled design and subdued planting. To this author's western eyes, they appear more masculine than their European counterparts.

Chinese Imperial gardens are in two styles:

the large park, usually with a lake and islands
the smaller more intimate garden closer to the palace buildings.

The Forbidden City with Coal Hill in background

The origin of imperial gardens can be traced back 3000 years to the hunting grounds of the Shang dynasty.

The huge garden of Shanlin Yuan ("yuan" is chinese for "garden") occupied over 1000 km² in 100B.C.and contained more than 300 palaces.

This lineage of design can be traced through to the large parks of the Qing dynasty such as the summer palace at Chengde, 200 km northeast of Beijing

Rocks are widely used in Chinese gardens (see more examples) and their use in imperial parks is on a grand scale. Torso-shaped rocks are particularly highly prized. The rock work pictured here completely obscured a large two-storey building - the Pavilion of Literary Delights - which once housed an enormous set of books believed to be the first example of printing using repositionable metal type.



	Although the central avenue of courtyards in Beijing's Forbidden City are usually crowded with tourists, the areas to the side contain some gems of gardens which are not in the grand park-like setting, but more private, contemplative areas.

a facinating blend of architectural proportion and detail

In the southeast corner of the Forbidden City is a garden with great appeal: Qian Long Yuan.

These Shi Sun rocks in Yu Hua Yuan are a popular style often found in both imperial and scholar gardens

Shi Sun rocks are usually associated with bamboo

Huan shi rocks are smooth, coloured rocks which are rarely found in imperial gardens - this example is in a modern garden in Beijing

This style of eroded rock is Taihu, here see on display in Yihe Yuan (Garden of the Preservation of Harmony) Beijing

	Yihe Yuan (Garden of the Preservation of Harmony) was rebuilt in 1888 by the Dowager Empress Cixi. She is said to have used money intended for strengthening the Chinese navy, so presumably the marble boat is a measure of her sense of humour. (The Chinese navy was subsequently defeated in battle).


	Yuanming Yuan (Round Bright Garden or Garden of Perfect Brightness) in Beijing was first built in 1709 and developed in chinese style. In the mid 18th century a European style garden was included at the northern end. In 1860 an Anglo-French expeditionary force looted and destroyed the entire garden in a shameful attempt to ratify the Convention of Peking. the European style area has been left in ruins.
	Other areas of the garden have been restored, one splendid feature being a stone maze.

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These notes and graphics have been compiled from a number of sources and are © Malcolm Raggett, 1999.
Thanks to Liang Hsiung Porter for the calligraphy.