Exploring the Distribution of Gardens in Suzhou City in the Qianlong Period through a Space Syntax Approach

Jiayan Yun,Wenbo Yu,Hao Wang

doi:10.3390/land10060659

Abstract

This study explored the spatial distribution of Suzhou gardens in the Qianlong period (AD 1736–1796) through an innovative method combining spatial syntax and historical textual analysis. Through a spatial syntax approach, a street axis model analysis suggested that the greater the degree of integration and prosperity of a street, the denser the distribution of gardens surrounding it. A canal axis model analysis indicated that more gardens were built around canals that were less integrated and had less traffic. The accuracy and reliability of the axis model analysis results were validated using historical documents and images. The following was observed: (1) Gardens were densely distributed in the prosperous commercial areas at the northern and southern ends of Suzhou City. The more prosperous the location of a garden, the greater the influence on its popularity. (2) Gardens were concentrated in residential areas with booming businesses. (3) Large numbers of gardens were built along canals with poor traffic functions. Building gardens by diverting water into them reflected the complementary relationship between urban geographical characteristics and garden-building techniques. (4) Gardens promoted commercial development, and commerce drove the preservation and continuation of gardens. The findings revealed the complementary relationship between garden preservation and commercial development.

Highlights

Since the late Ming Dynasty (AD 1368–1644), Suzhou City, the national cultural and trade centre at that time [1,2,3,4], had become a commercially prosperous and densely populated [5] city with high land prices [6,7,8]
There were more than 80 recorded gardens in existence in the Ming Dynasty, and more than 100 by the time of the Qing Dynasty (AD 1644–1912) [13], a majority of which were built during the reign of Emperor Qianlong [14]
Street axis model analysis showed that denser gardens were distributed around streets with a higher degree of integration and more frequent commercial activities, whereas fewer gardens were built around streets with a lower degree of integration

Summary

Introduction

Since the late Ming Dynasty (AD 1368–1644), Suzhou City, the national cultural and trade centre at that time [1,2,3,4], had become a commercially prosperous and densely populated [5] city with high land prices [6,7,8]. There were more than 80 recorded gardens in existence in the Ming Dynasty, and more than 100 by the time of the Qing Dynasty (AD 1644–1912) [13], a majority of which were built during the reign of Emperor Qianlong [14]. The reign of Emperor Qianlong was another period of large-scale construction of Suzhou gardens after the late Ming Dynasty. The locations, scale, water sources and artistic merits of Suzhou gardens were deeply affected by urban development in the Qing Dynasty [15]. The intrinsic association between gardens and the city was an important part of urban landscape and life in Suzhou City [16]

Results

Discussion

Conclusion