In these richly illustrated pages, Chinese gardens unfold as cosmic diagrams, revealing a profound and ancient view of the world and of humanity's place in it. First sensuous impressions give way to more cerebral delights, and forms conjure unending, increasingly esoteric and mystical layers of meaning for the initiate. Keswick conducts us through the art and architecture, the principles and techniques of Chinese gardens, showing us their long history as the background for a civilization--the settings for China's great poets and painters, the scenes of ribald parties and peaceful contemplation, political intrigues and family festivals.
Updated and expanded in this third edition, with an introduction by Alison Hardie, many new illustrations, and an updated list of gardens in China accessible to visitors, Keswick's engaging work remains unparalleled as an introduction to the Chinese garden.
>is a helpful tourguide take you a preview.
Acutely Perceptive, Informative, Profound.......2003-05-05
A superb study that is as engrossing as it is elegantly written and lavishly illustrated, and a sensitive inquiry into the aesthetics, the history and the philosophy that underpin an ancient and majestic civilization's view of mankinds's place within the cosmos. Both unique and profound. An essential work.
Book Description
Gardens are sites that can be at one and the same time admired works of art and valuable pieces of real estate. As the first account in English to be wholly based on contemporary Chinese sources, this innovative, beautifully illustrated book grounds the practices of garden-making in Ming dynasty China (1368–1644) firmly in the social and cultural history of the day.
Who owned Ming gardens? Who visited them? How were they represented in words, in paintings, and in visual culture generally, and what meanings did these representations hold at different levels of Chinese society? How did the discourse of gardens intersect with other discourses such as those of aesthetics, agronomy, geomancy, and botany? By examining the gardens of the city of Suzhou from a number of different angles, Craig Clunas provides a rich picture of a complex cultural phenomenonâone that was of crucial importance to the self-fashioning of the Ming elite.
Drawing on a wide range of recent work in cultural theory, the author provides for the first time a historical and materialist account of Chinese garden culture, and replaces broad generalizations and orientalist fantasy with a convincing picture of the garden’s role in social life. Fruitful Sites will appeal to all students of China’s cultural history, to students of garden history from any part of the world, to art historians, and to readers engaged in Asian and cultural studies.
Book Description
Originally published as Volume 2 of The Tao of Painting, this is the first English translation of the famous Chinese handbook, the "Chieh Tzu Yüan Hua Chuan" (original, 1679-1701). Mai-mai Sze has translated and annotated the texts of instructions, discussions of the fundamentals of painting, notes on the preparation of colors, and chief editorial prefaces.
Customer Reviews:
Wonderful resource.......2007-03-08
I am a student of Chinese painting and this book was recommended by our teacher as the most reliable reference book for Chinese painting. I am very pleased with this purchase since it is everything that I expected.
Essential textbook for sumi-e and Chinese brush painters.......2005-09-27
This manual has been used for centuries in China and Japan and illustrates all the basics needed to paint in oriental style, with helpful written pointers. Be aware that the black ink illustrations were originally wood-block prints so grey tones do not translate. Particularly useful for compositional study and models of outlline figures, animals and architectural elements. For more up-to-date and in-depth instruction in the Four Gentlemen, including stroke-by-stroke illustrations, try the "Book of Bamboo", "Book of Plum", "Book of Orchid" and "Book of Chrysanthemum" by Prof I-Hsiung Ju.
The Mustard Seed Garden Manual of Painting.......2005-08-16
Excellent book to understand how to work with Sumi brush.
A must.......2005-02-01
Thanks to the Amazon:" look inside this book" I purchased the The Mustard Seed Garden Manual Of Painting. It is amazing how didatic and philosophical can be a text written three hundred years ago ! I could not stop reading since opened the first page: for those who paints or admires chinese pictures (or even calligraphy ) - it is really a must. I recommend to read carefully the : "look inside" because when you receive the book it will surprise you: it is much, much more than that. And, being a 640 pages book and in an almost squared form, it is also delightful to hold those messages that came from the past and is still valid today. Buy now, because if it goes out of print, for sure , you will repent to miss a Classic.
Great reference.......2004-01-02
The illustrations are a wonderful source of reference and inspiration for the beginning and intermediate painter. There are plenty of examples to get you started if you're thinking of trying something new and aren't quite sure how to approach it. The sections I find myself using all the time are trees and human elements.
I learned from a teacher when I was living in Japan, so the bad translation doesn't bother me. I use this book for the images, which is what you really should buy it for. If you want something more of step-by-step instruction for the very beginner, this book isn't it.
Average customer rating:
- The Essential Guide to The Chinese Garden
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The Chinese Garden: History, Art & Architecture
Maggie Keswick
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0312133839 |
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The Essential Guide to The Chinese Garden.......2000-04-02
Rarely do we have a Westerner who can explain the intricacies and beauty of the Chinese Garden, which certainly played an important role in the lives of the Emperors and Empresses, and the Chinese literati. Maggie Keswick, by virtue of her education in Shanghai and her travels in China, has written a unique and lovely book to explain the philosophy behind the Chinese Garden. She has both depth and width in a subject that is scholarly, yet explained so well that the ordinary reader can appreciate. Ancient Chinese gardens gave inspiration to bonsai and miniature landscape art as well as the Zen gardens of Japan. Keswick's use of pictures and stories make the book indeed fulfilling.
Book Description
Urban refuge and large-scale work of art, the Chinese garden is both a setting for the good life and a medium for its creators artistic expression. As a place for relaxation, the garden brings elements of nature into the home's extended `living-room'. As a vehicle for personal expression, it relies on a sophisticated language of design and literary allusion to provide the visitor with a complete cultural and sensory experience. The Chinese Garden draws on a wide range of literary and artistic sources to present the fundamentals of Chinese garden design. Illustrated with photographs showing detailed views of sites in Suzhou and Yangzhou, Shanghai and Beijing, it explains the aesthetic principles and practical concerns of the designer. The `reading' of a Chinese garden that it offers is enriched by a greater understanding of the literary and artistic conventions involved in the gardens construction. Whether built for imperial use or for the enjoyment of a private scholar and his family, the garden is a centrepiece of classical Chinese culture. First-time visitors and long-time devotees will all find this introduction a useful companion as they experience the joys of the Chinese garden.
Customer Reviews:
A fine, short book........2003-05-16
If you are contemplating the construction of a Chinese garden, or are just interested in their history or development, this is an excellent, concise introduction to the topic. It presents the history, philosophy, and guidlines for construction in a clear way. It condenses a large number of references down to a readable form. The bibliography of related works in Chinese and English is worth the price of the book.
Average customer rating:
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Ancient Chinese Architecture Series, Imperial Gardens
Cheng Liyao
Manufacturer: Springer
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 321182992X |
Book Description
The imperial gardens were elegant resorts for all forms of entertainment. Rapid developments in Chinese society, the economy and the arts lent great impetus to the construction of elaborate and elegant imperial parks. The technical virtuosity of the waterways and a preference for exotically formed rockeries produced enchanting and constantly changing man-made worlds. The genre reached its zenith with the Yuanmingyuan garden, generally accepted as one of the finest of its kind ever created in China.
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China and Gardens of Europe of the Eighteenth Century (Dumbarton Oaks Reprints in Landscape Architechture)
Osvald Siren
Manufacturer: Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0884021904 |
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Chinese Houses and Gardens
Henry Inn
Manufacturer: Kegan Paul
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Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 071030689X |
Book Description
The book when it first appeared was also well received by House and Garden Architecture Forum and Landscape Architecture. "The handsome book will be a joy to possess for those who love beauty in architecture and cultivated nature," so wrote Pearl S. Buck. In 1940 Henry Inn of Honolulu, art collector, designer, and photographer, produced a collection of Chinese architectural pictures that is extraordinary.
Although probably the only record of its kind, many of the photographs were taken as recently as 1936. Of those locations very few remain if any. A veteran traveller to his ancestral homeland, Henry In had an extraordinarily wide set of acquaintances which gave him an entrance into some of the choicest homes and gardens throughout China. This combination of artistic shell and unusual opportunity are unique.
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The Craft of Gardens
Ji Cheng
Manufacturer: Yale University Press
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ASIN: 0300041829 |
Book Description
Eight colorful, innovative, easy-to-follow projects show the beginner how to create a range of mosaics, from a colourful table top and crazy-paving flower pots to a beautiful clock embellished with beads and stunning bathroom panels. Each project is accompanied by a design template, and clear step-by-step photographs. A selection of striking mosaic items are included to inspire readers to create their own original decorative objects, three dimensional forms and panels. This book offers a rich source of practical advice and inspiration—and all the information you need to get started!
Customer Reviews:
Beautiful projects, clear instructions.......2004-06-22
This is a very clear book with clear instructions for beginning mosaicists. Projects are beautiful and very inviting, more complex than a beginner might expect. (Look at fish on the cover, with wavy background lines). My only complaint is that they tend to be very large - wall panels rather than trays.
Good Introductory Book.......2002-01-24
The authors do an excellent job introducing mosaic to the beginner. They explain the different techniques and have a lot of good visual aid. The projects start simple and progressively get more complex as the beginner becomes more adept at cutting and shaping the tiles. Excellent starter book.
Book Description
New in Paper
Craft stunning mosaic projects--even if you've never tried this classic art form. As you enjoy the creative work, you'll gradually master a range of striking techniques and styles. Start with a trivet that uses standard-size tiles in a limited palette, and then cut your own tiles for an eye-catching picture frame. Experiment with the "reverse method," and incorporating found objects into a design. The highlight are the final projects which may seem complicated at first, but are actually quite simple--such as casting slabs for garden stepping-stones.
"Sets the stage for beginners by fully investigating the materials and tools needed for this craft, then showcasing most of the techniques...a fine sensibility to good contemporary design. All feature good instructions and color photography."--Booklist
Product Description
Heidi Borchers' simplified approach to the mosaic art form will quickly have you creating lovely tile and glass inlays. Projects range from small gift items to enchanting garden enhancements. Use an array of materials to transform a variety of surfaces with the time-honored skill of mosaic crafting, made easy!
29 Projects: Rocks (Ladybug, Gecko, Cat, Red Heart, Patriotic Heart), Bricks (Love, Reflective Heart, Cat, Chicken), Tiles (Heart, Star, Rose), Canisters (Love, Love & Laugh, I Love You, Mother), I Love You Bottle, Moon & Stars Stepping Stone, Sunburst Plaque, Artful Annie, Play Cube, Love Cube, Teapot & Teacup, Teacup Mosaic, Dream Your Passion Mirror, Canvas Shadow Box, Mosaic Cross, Cinder Block Planter, and Dancing Girl
Books:
- The Codes Guidebook for Interiors
- The Details of Modern Architecture: Volume 2: 1928 to 1988 (Details of Modern Architecture)
- The Limits of Criminal Sanction
- The New American House 2: Innovations in Residential Design and Construction: 30 Case Studies (New American Architecture)
- The New American House 3
- The New American House 4: Innovations in Residential Design and Construction (New American)
- The New Bungalow Kitchen
- The Not So Big House: A Blueprint for the Way We Really Live
- The Scandal of the State: Women, Law, and Citizenship in Postcolonial India (Next Wave: New Directions in Womens Studies)
- The Smart Culture: Society, Intelligence, and Law (Critical America Series)
Books Index
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Gardens in China
Chinese Houses: The Architectural Heritage Of A Nation
The Chinese Garden (Images of Asia)
Chinese Architecture: A Pictorial History (Dover Books on Architecture)
Chinese Architecture
