Comments on: Safety for sustainable green cyclists in London

By: Christine

Christine — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 05:33:10 +0000

Perhaps there may be more information on the Buddhist influence of gardens of this period in the Chinese garden book by poet Li Gefei.[ http://www.flickr.com/photos/18611212@N00/95716404 ] Li Gefei also painted a picture in the Song Dynasty of 24 noted Royal Gardens in Louyang.

By: Tom Turner

Tom Turner — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 08:05:29 +0000

The famous gardens of Luoyang are interesting. They were Buddhist gardens and the histories of Chinese gardens I have seen make a great mistake in not considering Buddhist influences. It is like trying to understand the design of cloisters without considering Christianity, or Islamic gardens without considering Islam. Garden design begins with ideas and falls apart when they are forgotten (usually by practical garden builders and practical gardeners).

By: Poppy

Poppy — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 06:47:33 +0000

Many thanks Christine!!

By: Christine

Christine — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 05:01:15 +0000

See what might be possible from exploring a number of sources?

The first step is possibly to explore the aesthetics of a particular era, for example the Song dynasty.
[ http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/nsong/hd_nsong.htm#slideshow1 ]

Perhaps you may be able to find this book to begin your reading?
[ http://www.amazon.com/Problem-Beauty-Aesthetic-Pursuits-Monographs/dp/0674022645 ]

I have included a book review of ‘The Problem of Beauty’. Perhaps it may point you to reading the botanical treatises in particular?
[ http://www.muse.uq.edu.au/journals/journal_of_song_yuan_studies/v039/39.yugen.pdf ]

The famous gardens of Luoyang seem a good place to start. I don’t know if they are anything like their 1095 description? The gardens are in Henan province.
[ http://www.bangkokpost.com/travel/travelnews/16661/cradle-of-culture ]

Perhaps the paintings by Zhang Zeduan can give a sense of Song buildings and gardens as united composition? [ http://www.absolutechinatours.com/china-travel/China-Painting.html ]

By: Tom Turner

Tom Turner — Sat, 25 Sep 2010 18:04:28 +0000

Poppy, see the category link in the right column for context sensitive design. Style is important but it is not the only important thing: materials, climate, construction details, social habits, local plants etc are all aspects of context-sensitivity. And with regard to Chinese urban design here is a blog post about what I think should not be done: 二十一世纪中国园林景观设计思想枯竭了吗？（二十一世纪中国园林及景观发展的方向是什么）

By: Poppy

Poppy — Sat, 25 Sep 2010 16:37:31 +0000

Christine, I am very glad that you like Chinese painting.
It is true that ” there is much much much left of Chinese landscape architecture that is worthy of exploring, evolving and continuing now…” as you said.
But the problem is: how to continue the traditional thinking? For example, the Chinese painting showed is like a ideal landscape for living,however,we cannot find this kind of space now,due to the population increase and industrial development.

By: Poppy

Poppy — Sat, 25 Sep 2010 16:14:32 +0000

Christine, yes, I am willing to do a comparative study.

By: Christine

Christine — Sat, 25 Sep 2010 03:26:05 +0000

Oh, I was thinking of Ying’s research. Is she planning to do a comparative study?

By: Tom Turner

Tom Turner — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 05:13:43 +0000

I look forward to the day when Indian and Chinese historians give more time to the histories of each other’s countries, and to their similarities and differences.
The early Hindu social system was based on four classes:
The first class was the Brahmins (teachers, scholars and priests),
The second class was Kshatriyas (kings and warriors),
The third class was Vaishyas (agriculturists and traders),
The fourth class was Shudras (service providers, laborers).
I think that, for understandable reasons, there were more similarities between India and China then between India and Europe or China and Europe. Though I suppose you could categorize medieval European society as Priests, Knights, Merchants and Agriculturalists.

By: Christine

Christine — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 04:34:49 +0000

The ancient Confucian Chinese social system was based on four approximate classes:

The first class was the Shi – the class of scholars (of warrior origin). Legal scholars were very highly regarded and known as Confucians.

The second class was the Nong – the class of peasants. They were landholders who paid land tax and were considered the breadwinners of China.

The third class was the Gong – the artists and architects. They did not own land but formed their own enterprises or were self-employed with assistance from the government. Skills were handed down from father to son.

The fourth class was the Shang – the merchants and traders. Despite their importance in establishing the silk route they were not held in high social esteem. They were perceived as being greedy and immoral.