The structure, concept and identity of traditional Chinese gardens

Kamyab Kiani and Mehdi Khakzand

Landscape History, 2024, vol. 45, issue 2, 101-120

Abstract: Traditional Chinese Gardens (TCG) are renowned for their unique designs and deep cultural significance. While many researchers have studied various elements of TCG, this paper presents a new approach to understanding the conceptual structure and its components. Using content analysis and a review of 118 research studies identifies five main categories for examining and understanding TCG: hard and soft landscapes, tangible and intangible elements, spatial and temporal dimensions, subjective and objective aspects, and natural and designed features. What makes TCG so distinctive is the interweaving of these different elements, which creates a harmonious and meaningful environment. This analysis provides insights into the cultural and philosophical values underlying TCG design. By understanding the rich meanings and concepts behind TCG, designers and researchers could gain a deeper understanding of its significance and develop new ways of approaching garden design. Furthermore, this article provides a new perspective on TCG and their place in Chinese culture. By exploring the structural and conceptual framework of these gardens, it provides valuable insights for anyone interested in garden design, landscape architecture, or cultural studies. Finally, it is shown that the objective and subjective points of view are the most important perspectives for understanding Traditional Chinese Gardens, followed by the hard and soft perspectives and the spatial and temporal dimensions. Therefore, understanding the objective and subjective dimensions of the Chinese Garden is very important to understand the dimensions of structure, concept and identity.

Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1080/01433768.2024.2407194

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