Cheng, Ji / Hardie, Alison (translator) / Ming, Zhong (photographs).

The Craft of Gardens.

New Haven and London, Yale University Press, 1988. 25.5 cm x 27.5 cm. 144 pages. Original hardcover with original dustjacket in protective Mylar. Excellent condition with only very minor signs of external wear.

Includes for example the following essays: Foreword by Zheng Yuanxun / On the ‘Craft’ by Ruan Dacheng / Sites among Mountain Forests / Urban Sites / Sites beside a Mansion House / The Great Hall / Towers / Studies / Pavilions / Covered Walkways /Artificial Mountains / Gate Towers / Lodgings / Terraces / Belvederes / Pavilions / Gazebos / Penthouses / Seven-pillared Structures / The Main Rafter / Moulded Roof Corners / Shutters / Balustrades / Paving / Selection of Rocks / Making Use of Natural Scenery etc.

The book is based on Ji Cheng’s notes and experiences from his career as a garden designer, which he discusses at some length in his introduction. Since architecture is an integral part of the Chinese garden, much of the book is taken up with the design of different types of buildings and the integration of architecture with nature in the garden. Ji Cheng explains the religious and aesthetic principles underlying garden design and the appropriate emotional response to various effects. He then offers a down-to-earth series of instructions about the requirements of different types of sites, building layouts, architectural features, paving, the construction of artificial mountains, selection of rocks, and the use of natural scenery.

″This delightful book provides not only insights into Chinese gardening but also a unique perspective on Chinese culture and society in the late Ming dynasty. Full notes by the translator explain the obscure points and introduce relevant aspects of Chinese culture to the layman, while an introduction by Maggie Keswick sets the book firmly in its historical context. Illustrations include not only Ji Cheng’s original diagrams but also historical painting and contemporary photographs of a number of outstanding gardens in the part of East China where Ji Cheng lived and worked.” (Paragon Book Gallery)

• Keywords: Garden Collection – Ann Geneva · Garden Design – Collection · Garden Design – Rare · Library & Collection Building
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0300041829
• Inventory Number: 72352AB