Contents
List of Images
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Chapter 1: Experiencing the Garden of Perfect Brightness (Yuanming
Yuan)
Chapter 2: Qianlong’s Garden of Everlasting Spring (Changchun
Yuan)
Chapter 3: The Garden of the Clear Ripples (Qingyi Yuan) on
Longevity Hill
(Shou Shan)
Chapter 4: The Garden of Tranquil Luminescence (Jingming Yuan) on
Jade
Spring Hill (Yuquan Shan)
Chapter 5: The Garden of Quiet Delight (Jinyi Yuan) on Fragrant
Hill (Xiang Shan)
Afterword
Glossary
Bibliography
Index
Victoria M. Siu (1935-2010), a member of the Religious of the Sacred Heart, U.S. province (RSCJ), held a Ph.D. from Georgetown University where her dissertation was on U.S.-Chinese relations.
China's most illustrious and ambitious garden-lover was the
18th-century emperor Qianlong. He furthered the efforts of two
generations of emperors before him, and this book chronicles the
cultural history of his efforts and their significance. The
author's father's original studies of the imperial gardens around
Beijing and their mid-19th century destruction laid the groundwork
for the book. Siu (deceased; formerly, Religious of the Sacred
Heart; PhD, US-Chinese relations) analyzes and describes the
importance, on many levels, of these extensive parks and gardens in
which, for the most part, Qianlong lived and ruled his empire. One
main garden and four satellite gardens constitute Qianlong's
'Garden of Perfect Brightness,' the most elaborate imperial garden
in its heyday in the 18th century. China's long tradition of
relating architectural elements with water and mountains is the
basis for the development of these huge gardens. Ceremonies and
rituals were regularly performed in them, and surviving records,
discussed by the author, document the details of the emperor's
activities. Unfortunately, the reproductions both in black and
white and color are often out of focus or lack sharpness;
nevertheless, this book should be useful to historians interested
in the Qing dynasty. Summing Up: Recommended. Asian history and
garden/botanical history collections serving graduate students and
researchers/faculty.
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