Chinese garden
Pagoda and pond
A Chinese garden is a landscaped space following traditional Chinese design principles—asymmetrical layouts, water features, scholar's rocks, pavilions, and carefully framed views that create scenes meant to evoke natural landscapes and philosophical contemplation.
Unlike formal European gardens with geometric patterns, Chinese gardens aim for harmonious irregularity: We wandered through the Chinese garden's moon gates and zigzag bridges.
Landscaped stone arrangement
- koi pondDecorative basin for carp
- moon gateCircular passage in wall
- pagodaTiered Asian temple tower
- lotus pondPool growing sacred flowers
bamboo grove · pine · willow · stepping stones · courtyard · waterfall · lake · terrace
Cutting vegetation for health
- chrysanthemumOrnamental daisy relative
- peonyFragrant, many-petaled ornamental
- lotusSacred aquatic flower
- bambooTall woody grass
plum blossom · orchid · wisteria · pine · camellia · magnolia · cultivation · potted plants
Open recreational structure
- pagodaTiered Asian temple tower
- teahouseCafé serving steeped beverages
- gazeboRoofed outdoor shelter
- stone bridgeRock structure spanning water
study hall · tile roof · veranda · balustrade
Chinese duality symbol
- harmonyAgreement or musical blend
- balanceSteadiness or amount owed
- qiVital life energy
- TaoismPhilosophy of the Way
feng shui · five elements · symbolism · auspiciousness · longevity · seclusion · microcosm · emptiness
Undisturbed peacefulness
- meditationFocused attention practice
- contemplationSustained reflective attention
- stillnessComplete lack of motion
- peacefulnessState of quiet tranquility
quietude · repose · soothing · relaxation · silence · calm · restfulness · refuge
Absence of balanced form
- naturalismWorldview excluding the supernatural
- miniaturizationReducing physical scale significantly
- framingStructural or contextual shaping
- layeringForming successive strata
contrast · texture · proportion · picturesque · poetic · artistic · seasonal change · light and shadow
rockery
Landscaped stone arrangement
lotus pond · bamboo grove · pine · willow · stepping stones · courtyard · waterfall · lake · terrace · covered walkway
pruning
Cutting vegetation for health
- chrysanthemumOrnamental daisy relative
- peonyFragrant, many-petaled ornamental
- lotusSacred aquatic flower
bamboo · plum blossom · orchid · wisteria · pine · camellia · magnolia · cultivation · potted plants · moss
pavilion
Open recreational structure
stone bridge · study hall · tile roof · veranda · balustrade
yin-yang
Chinese duality symbol
Taoism · feng shui · five elements · symbolism · auspiciousness · longevity · seclusion · microcosm · emptiness · naturalness
tranquility
Undisturbed peacefulness
- meditationFocused attention practice
- contemplationSustained reflective attention
- stillnessComplete lack of motion
peacefulness · quietude · repose · soothing · relaxation · silence · calm · restfulness · refuge · escape
asymmetry
Absence of balanced form
- naturalismWorldview excluding the supernatural
- miniaturizationReducing physical scale significantly
- framingStructural or contextual shaping
layering · contrast · texture · proportion · picturesque · poetic · artistic · seasonal change · light and shadow · concealment
- gardensflowerbeds, vegetable patch, flower beds, flower bed, xeriscape
- Asian gardensbonsai, stone lantern, koi pond, tea house, bamboo grove
Chinese gardenparterre
Patterned ornamental garden beds
Japanese garden · topiary garden · maze garden · Persian garden
Chinese gardenconcrete jungle
Dense cityscape, few parks
urban blight · city · factory floor · noisy · crowded
garden, gardening, gardener, China, Chinese, gardeners, Chinatown