The Functions and Aesthetic Meaning of Water Scenes in Chinese Temple Gardens

Abstract

The temple garden is one of the three major types of Chinese classical gardens, and has played a significant role in the development of Chinese gardens. The term mainly refers to the gardens of Buddhist and Taoist temples, including the gardening environment of the temple interior and the surrounding areas. Based on the social background and the characteristics of the temple gardens’ waterscapes, this paper divided its history into four periods: Early Landscaping, Localization, Tending to Gardening, and Dissemination of Secularization. According to the popularity of waterscapes in various temples, temple waterscapes mainly includes four types: waterfalls, streams, ponds (artificial), and ancient wells. By investigating and analyzing the waterscapes of Tiantai Guoqing Temple, Hangzhou Lingying Temple, Suzhou Hanshan Temple, and Beijing Azure Clouds Temple, this paper reviewed the main functions of temple water: daily use of water, spreading Buddhist ideas, and constructing landscapes. Temple garden waterscapes are not only natural landscapes with various types and functions, but also cultural landscapes with long history and profound aesthetic significance.