The Study Of Lingnan Classical Garden Styles

The study of Lingnan classical garden styles is an interdisciplinary scientific researchsubject. Currently the most outstanding problems in such national study are that the existingwritten information on gardening is scarce while scattered articles and construction sciencepublications are plentiful on the one hand, studies on interdisciplinary and systematicscientific application methods for the layout of the three major components, like rockformation, water bodies and plants are rather inadequate. On the other hand, the old and newgeneration scholars have come up with numerous standpoints successively regarding the stylecharacteristics of Lingnan classical garden, but the views are quite different. Therefore, bymeans of the systemic analysis of the characteristics and presentation of Lingnan classicalgarden styles, this text is aimed at setting up a systematic study framework of Lingnan’sclassical garden styles, demonstrating its great academic value and guiding significance.Buildings, Rockeries, Water bodies and Plants are the four keynote presentations ofLingnan classical gardens, which embody the unity of the dual nature, i.e.‘simple andcompact’ and ‘colorful and diversified’. In Chapter2, by means of the comparative study ofLingnan gardens built in Ming and Qing dynasties and the western design arts at the sameperiod, including Baroque, Rococo, Industrial Art Movement and Art Nouveau Movement,along with the three historic stages that Lingnan gardens style’s development experienced: i.e.Nanyue Dynasty, Nanhan Dynasty, Ming and Qing Dynasties, this text states that Lingnanclassical gardens style is influenced by the warm wet climate of the subtropical zone and thelocal economy and commercial concept. The whole garden looks simple and compact, thedecoration is scientific and practical. Being influenced by folk handcrafts and foreign cultures,it is not limited to one type but diversified. The garden spatial arrangement is quite reasonable,the fa ade modeling diversified, and the decoration rich and colorful.In Chapter3, by comparing Lingnan gardens with the structures and sizes of therockeries, the grottos as well as the major gardens in the north of China and the lower reachesof Changjiang River, and by means of the analysis of the adopted technological process,stones and man-made rocks used in Lingnan gardens, this text states that the utilization ofrockeries in Lingnan gardens and the structure principle are more scientific, in favor ofcreating a harmonious living space. By virtue of its beautiful emblazonry, unique property ofYing stone (a kind of stone produced in Yingde County in Guangdong Province), plus the excellent inlay technique and foreign culture influences, Lingnan gardens demonstrates itsunique style characteristics.In Chapter4, by comparing the water bodies of Lingnan classical gardens with the scales,the forms and principles, the relationship between water bodies and rockeries, the cultureinfluence and so on in the north of China and the lower reaches of Changjiang River, the textstates that Lingnan classical gardens have a perfect geometrical shape fitting the boundariesand floor space. The whole garden is surrounded by water that is used to cool down the air inthe garden, and perfectly matching with the buildings around. It emphasizes the importance ofwater activities, waterside plants landscaping, highlighting the characteristics of WaterCulture in southern ChinaIn chapter5, by comparing the plants of Lingnan classical gardens with the plants andculture in the north of China and the lower reaches of Changjiang River, the text states that onthe one hand, Lingnan classical gardens plant local trees and flowers, following thepragmatist method, on the other hand, in the gardens, exotic trees, palms, tropical andsubtropical trees are also planted.In Chapter6, in conclusion, Lingnan classical gardens built in Ming and Qing Dynastiescontend with Royal gardens in the north of China and private gardens in the lower reaches ofChangjiang River, representing one of the three major styles in China. At macro level, theformation of Lingna classical garden style is influenced by the nature, society and culturalenvironment. The three cultural systems and four cultural characteristics in Lingnan areademonstrate the unity of dual nature. At the micro level, the style of Lingnan classical gardenswas shaped in Ming and Qing dynasties, it stresses the entertainment function of the gardens.The study of the four famous Lingnan classical gardens reveals that differing from Royalgardens and gardens in the lower reaches of Changjiang River, Lingnan classical gardensfully embody the looking for truth and art concept, demonstrating the unity of dual nature,which are inseparable and united.