China & Japan

landscape design in China & Japan

Unlike other chapters, this chapter consolidates a long history of garden design within two countries that subsequently influenced western landscape design. This list is by no means complete, but it certainly is a start for research projects. The people listed here may be garden designers, political leaders, and/or scholars of significance. Unknown information means our text does not specifically identify individuals or locations; therefore, it would be up to the researcher to explore additional sources for verification.

key places of interest

Gardens of China

Shanglin Park: Chang'an (Xi'an): Qin Shihuangdi

Wangchuan Villa: Chang'an (Xi'an): Wang Wei

Orchid Pavilion: Shaoxing: Wang Xizhi

Pavillion of Ceremonial Purification: Beijing: Unknown

Northern Song Gardens

Pleasure Park of Genyue: Kaifeng: Emperor Huizong

Feng Shui and professional geomancers

The Garden of Green Water: Unknown location: Zhu Mian

Southern Song Gardens

Xi Hu: Hongzhou: Unknown

Private Gardens: Hongzhou: Unknown

Literature & Literary Gardens

Yuan Ye: Ji Cheng (b. 1582)

Example Garden:

Zhuo Zheng Yuan (拙政园): Suzhou: Unknown

Liu Yuan: Suzhou: Xu Tai

The Story of the Stone (The Dream of the Red Chamber): Cao Xeuqin (c. 1724-1764)

Grand View Garden: Location in novel listed above: Horticultural Hu

Wang Shi Yuan: Suzhou: Song Zongyuan

Imperial Beijing

Early City Planning: Jin Dynasty

Early City Planning: Khubilai Khan

Early City Planning: Ming Dynasty

The Forbidden City: Emperor Yongle

Yuan Ming Yuan: Qianlong Emperor

Yi He Yuan: Qianlong Emperor

Gardens of Japan

Shinto Sanctuaries

Ise Shrine: Ise: Unknown

Nara & Heian Courts

Nara Planned City: Era of Prince Shotoku

Heian-kyō (Kyoto): Emperor Kammu

The Tale of Genji: Murasaki Shikibu

Byōdō-in: Uji: Kampaku Fujiwara Yorimichi

Gardens of Kyoto

Kamakura Gardens

Ryōan-ji: Possibly Matsumoto or Sōami

Tenryū-ji: Early era unknown designer (later, Musō Soseki, aka Musō Kokushi)

Saijō-ji: Musō Soseki

Muromachi Gardens

Hana no Gosho: Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu

Kitayama-dono (Kinkaku-ji): Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu

Jisho-ji (Ginkaku-ji): Yoshimasa

Daisen-in: Kogaku, possibly with assistance by Sōami

Ryoan-ji: Possibly Hosokawa Katsumoto

Hideyoshi & Sen no Rikyū

Sambō-in: Kampaku Toyotomi Hedeyoshi (also Yoshirō)

Daigo-ji: Kampaku Toyotomi Hideyoshi (completed by Abbot Gien)

Influence of Japanese Tea Ceramonies to Gardens: Sen no Rikyū

Edo Period

Katsura Rikyū Imperial Gardens: Imperial Prince Toshihito (later, Kobori Enshū)