Gardens of a Chinese emperor : imperial creations of the Qianlong Era, 1736-1796 / Victoria M. Cha-Tsu Siu ; with the posthumous assistance of Kathleen L. Lodwick.
Includes bibliographical references (pages 251-259) and index.

Experiencing the garden of perfect brightness (Yuanming Yuan) -- Qianlong's garden of everlasting spring (Changchun Yuan) -- The garden of the clear ripples (Qingyi Yuan) on longevity hill (Shou Shan) -- The garden of tranquil luminescence (Jingming Yuan) on Jade Spring Hill (Yuquan Shan) -- The garden of quiet delight (Jinyi Yuan) on fragrant hill (Xiang Shan).

"The Garden of Perfect Brightness (Yuanming Yuan) in the western suburbs of the Qing capital, Beijing, was begun by the great Kangxi (r. 1661-1722) and expanded by his son, Yongzheng (r. 1722-1735) and brought to its greatest glory by his grandson, Qianlong (r. 1736-1796). A lover of literature and art, Qinglong sought an earthly reflection of his greatness in his Yuanming Yuan. For many years he designed and directed an elaborate program of garden arrangements. Representing two generations of painstaking research, this book follows the emperor as he ruled his empire from within his garden. In a landscape of lush plants, artificial mountains and lakes, and colorful buildings, he sought to represent his wealth and power to his diverse subjects and to the world at large. Having been looted and burned in the mid-nineteenth century by western forces, it now lies mostly in ruins, but it was the world's most elaborate garden in the eighteenth century. The garden suggested a whole set of concepts-religious, philosophical, political, artistic, and popular-represented in landscape and architecture. Just as bonsai portrays a garden in miniature, the imperial Yuanming Yuan at the height of its splendor represented the Qing Empire in microcosm."--back cover.

A theoretical and historical introduction to the Chinese garden -- The Chinese garden and the concept of the virtue of round brightness -- The Chinese garden and the concept of the vision of jing -- The Chinese gGarden and the Western linear perspective -- The Chinese garden and the concept of the line-method -- Conclusion -- Appendix 1: Kangxi's record of the Garden of Uninhibited Spring -- Appendix 2: Kangxi's record of the Mountain Hamlet for Summer Coolness -- Appendix 3: Qianlong's later record of the Mountain Hamlet for Summer Coolness -- Appendix 4: Qianlong's record of the Village of Ten-Thousand Springs -- Appendix 5: Qianlong's record of Kunming Lake by Longevity Hill -- Appendix 6: Qianlong's record of the Garden of Clear Ripples on Longevity Hill -- Appendix 7: Qianlong's record of the Best Spring of China on Jade-Spring Hill -- Appendix 8: Qianlong's record of the Garden of Tranquil Pleasure.