xi, [3], 225 pp. Illustrated with 49 plates from photographs including a color frontispiece. Index, bibliography. 9½x6¾, red cloth, gilt-lettered black cloth spine and cover labels, pictorial jacket. First Edition.
An important text on garden design, landscape, planning, symbolism, which is organized by dynastic periods and deals critically with well-known gardens of the time. Covers gardens of the sovereigns, Emperor Wu, peony terraces of Loyang, Hanchow Monastery and pleasure gardens, Ming variations, cult flower gardens, Soochow gardens and the Dream of the Red Chamber. Also, Ch'ing gardens: Forbidden City, sea palaces, Bright Mirror Garden, Gardens of the Princes, monasteries of the Western Hills, and the Summer Palace. Plus more modern gardens in Peking, gardening customs, search for hidden gardens, and a list of Chinese gardens.
Condition:
Jacket rubbed, price clipped, tears and chips to edges, verso darkened; very light shelf wear to volume; otherwise a fine copy in a good to very good jacket.