A Study Of Traditional Techniques And Appreciation Of Taihu Rockery

Chinese rockery building is an essential part in the classical Chinese gardens, one of the distillate in Chinese culture. Taihu rockery is the most widely used elements in the South classical gardens with high level of craftsmanship and mature construction techniques. Taihu rockery in Suzhou traditional gardens, in particular, represented consummate skills of rockery building with a great number of masterpieces. The thesis studies Suzhou Taihu rockery, based on direct observation on site, interviews with rockery craftsmen, and study of several representative cases of local rockery design. By reference to historical documents, the thesis systematically studies Suzhou Taihu rockeries in its fundamental theories, structures and traditional craftsmanship, artistic styles and appreciation of masterpieces.