592 GARDENS OF VARIOUS NATIONS. 



fountain-head whence our knowledge of this style was derived, for the 

 first idea of it is by some attributed to Milton, by others to Tasso. 

 Others, again, assert that it was in this manner that Nero caused his 

 garden at Rome to be laid out, and which he is said to have imi- 

 tated from the Persian paradises ; whilst many suppose that the 

 Chinese first gave us the idea to copy in our gardens the various 

 beauties of natural scenery. 



Certainly the Chinese are particularly skilful in producing various 

 scenic effects in their gardens. One of their ancient writers, Lieu- 

 tschen, says, "The art of laying out gardens consists in an endeavour 

 to combine cheerfulness of aspect, luxuriance of growth, shade, solitude, 

 and repose, in such a manner, that the senses may be deluded by an 

 imitation of rural nature. Diversity, which is the main advantage of 

 free landscape, must, therefore, be sought in a judicious choice of soil, 

 an alternation of chains of hills and valleys, gorges, brooks, and lakes 

 covered with aquatic plants. Symmetry is wearying, and ennui and 

 disgust will soon be excited in a garden where every part betrays 

 constraint and art." And this is a good description of the gardens 

 of China, so that in the immediate vicinity of the main habitation 

 the grounds are made to coincide with the formality of it, and are 

 therefore geometrically laid out ; the Chinese considering that in such 

 a position wild scenery would be as unapt as a diamond set in lead ; 

 whereas rustic buildings are invariably placed amidst a wild and 

 ruggedly-formed country. Besides this, the Chinese are adepts in 

 magnifying the seeming dimensions of any piece of land which they 

 lay out, making thereby their gardens appear even considerably 

 larger than they are in reality : this is the case, for instance, in the 

 Imperial garden in the vicinity of Pekin, which has been computed 

 to be no less than twelve miles in circuit. These grounds are very 

 beautifully arranged, and they quite deserve the name of Yuen-ming- 

 yuen, or " the garden of perpetual brightness." Of considerable extent 

 are also the Imperial grounds of Zhe-hol, or "the garden of innu- 

 merable trees." Here are lakes, miniature mountains, rocks, and 

 choice cultivated spots, amongst which are interspersed numerous 



