Landscape Gardens ............................................... 5
Hunting and Communion with the Spirits ....................... 8
The Symbol of a Unified State ................................ 9
Enjoying the Beauty of Nature ............................... 13
Pleasure Gardens in Prosperous Times ........................ 18
A World in a Gourd 22 A Vision of Heaven and Earth .......... 25
Private Gardens of the Ming and Qing Dynasties ................. 29
Southern Gardens ............................................ 30
Northern Gardens ............................................ 50
Construction of Private Gardens ............................. 60
Magnificent Imperial Gardens ................................... 79
Imperial Gardens of the Ming and Qing Dynasties: General
Introduction ................................................ 81
The Garden Zone in the Northwest Outskirts of Beijing ....... 87
A Selection of Well-Known Gardens ........................... 91
Imperial Gardens and Private Gardens Compared .............. 126
Masters of Garden Design and Theories of Garden Creation ...... 133
Beauty and Symbolism in Chinese Gardens ....................... 139
The Creation of Gardens' Artistic Conception ............... 140
Symbolism and Allegories ................................... 140
Poetic Mood and Artistic Realm ............................. 143
Incorporation of Famous Scenes and Historical Sites ........ 148
Temples, Streets and Taverns ............................... 151
Garden Vistas .............................................. 152
Decline and Revival of Famous Gardens ......................... 159
Appendix: Chronological Table of the Chinese Dynasties ........ 167
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