The Chinese Garden: History, Art and Architecture, Third Edition

About this book

Dense with winding paths dominated by huge rock piles and buildings squeezed into small spaces the characteristic Chinese garden is for many foreigners so unlike anything else as to be incomprehensible. Only on closer acquaintance does it offer up its mysteries; and such is the achievement of Maggie Keswicks celebrated classic that it affords us--adventurers armchair travelers and garden buffs alike--the intimate pleasures of the Chinese garden. In these richly illustrated pages Chinese gardens unfold as cosmic diagrams revealing a profound and ancient view of the world and of humanitys place in it. First sensuous impressions give way to more cerebral delights and forms conjure unending increasingly esoteric and mystical layers of meaning for the initiate. Keswick conducts us through the art and architecture the principles and techniques of Chinese gardens showing us their long history as the background for a civilization--the settings for Chinas great poets and painters the scenes of ribald parties and peaceful contemplation political intrigues and family festivals. Updated and expanded in this third edition with an introduction by Alison Hardie many new illustrations and an updated list of gardens in China accessible to visitors Keswicks engaging work remains unparalleled as an introduction to the Chinese garden.