Book I. 



GARDENING IN CHINA. 



103 



of caprice and whim ; and when we reflect on their buildings, presents no image but 

 that of unsubstantial tawdriness." 



474. Lord Macartney s remarks on these gardens show, that at least picturesque 

 scenes are seen from them. " The view," he says, " from one of the imperial gardens 

 mi^ht be compared to that from the terrace at Lowther Castle." This view is 

 altogether wild and romantic, and bounded by high uncultivated mountains, with no 

 other buildings than one or two native cottages. In what degree of estimation such a 

 view is there held does not, however, appear ; it would be too much to conclude that, 

 because it existed in that situation, it had been created or left on purpose, or was con- 

 sidered as eminently beautiful or desirable. " It is our excellence," observes his 

 lordship, " to improve nature ; that of a Chinese gardener to conquer her : his aim is to 

 change every thing from what he found it. A waste he adorns with trees ; a desert he 

 waters with a river or a lake ; and on a smooth flat are raised hills, hollowed out valleys, 

 and placed all sorts of buildings." 



475. The description of the gardens of Woo-yuen in Ellis's Journal of the late 

 Embassy to China, 1818, is as follows : " We stopped opposite the gardens of Woo-yuen, 

 which, after a little hesitation on the part of the mandarins, we were allowed to visit. 

 Although now much neglected, they were interesting as a specimen of Chinese garden- 

 ing. The Chinese are certainly good imitators of nature, and their piles of rocks are 

 not liable to the same ridicule as some modern Gothic ruins in England; indeed they 

 are works of art on so great a scale, that they may well bear a rivalship with the original : 

 the buildings are spread over the ground without any attention to effect being produced 

 by their exterior, unconnected with the scenery ; the object seems to be to furnish pre- 

 texts for excursions within the enclosure, which is so disposed as to appear more 

 extensive than it really is. Much labor has been expended upon the walks, which, in 

 places, resemble mosaic work. These gardens were a favorite resort of Kien-long, 

 whose dining-room and study were shown to us ; in the latter was a black marble slab, 

 with a poem inscribed upon it, composed by his majesty, in praise of the garden. The 

 characters were particularly well executed. The trees in the garden were chiefly the 

 olea fragrans and some planes." 

 (Vol. i. p. 433.) 



476. The villa ofPuanke-qua, belonging 

 to one of the principal hong merchants 

 of Canton, is interesting as a specimen 

 of Chinese taste in laying out grounds ; 

 the great object is to produce as much 

 variety as possible within a small 

 space." (Vol. ii. p. 186.) 



477. The Fatee gardens at Canton, be- 

 longing to rich individuals, and the resort 

 of the fashionables, " consist of straight 

 walks lined with flower-pots, contain, 

 ing the curious and beautiful plants of 

 the country." (Vol. ii. p. 186.) 



478. A plan of a Chinese gar- 

 den and dwelling, executed at 

 forty-five leagues from the city 

 of Pekin, was taken by Stern- 

 berg, a gardener, who was se- 

 veral years in that country, and 

 is given by Kraft in his Plans, 

 (Plans, &c, partie 2. pi. 95.) 

 If this plan (fig. 37.) is really 

 correct, it seems to counte- 

 nance the idea of the modern 

 style being taken from that of 

 the Chinese. The house of the 

 mandarin, its proprietor, con- 

 tains an entrance under a tri- 

 umphal arch (a), barracks or 

 offices (b), fountains (c), en- 

 trance-gate for dignified persons 

 (d), vases of odors (e), officers' 

 dwellings (f ), residences of those 

 in waiting (g), fountains (h), 

 residence of the proprietor (i), 

 apartments for mandarin ladies 

 (k), triumphal arch (I), bagnio 

 and room for sports (m), a pa- 



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