Landscape without theory? An analysis of the methods of the transmission of knowledge surrounding Chinese classic gardens

In the long history of Chinese classic garden design, there is only one book Yuan

Ye, first published in 1634, extant today that addresses the topic. This is striking given

that in other Chinese scholarly artistic fields such as poetry, calligraphy and painting

theoretical writings are plentiful. This thesis attempts to explain this curious omission.

Without written reference books how did the Chinese tradition of garden design persist

for 3000 years? This thesis examines the role that Chinese traditional painting and

painting theories played in communicating the knowledge of the garden. In doing so, this

thesis argues that relationships between the natural world and humanity, the attitudes

towards philosophy, literature and aesthetics that existed within Chinese gardens, were

adapted from discoveries made and recorded in Chinese painting.

This thesis argues that Chinese painting, with its history as old as Chinese garden

design, was the vehicle through which garden knowledge was transmitted. In this, one

can understand the Chinese saying that “To be a good garden designer, one must first

become a good painter.”