Research On Fuzhou Ancient Private Gardens

During the process of consulting historical materials, the author finds that, the study of ancient gardens in Fuzhou mostly remains at the basic level. The materials are scattered and lack instruction of specialized theory. This paper conducts the following research aiming at perfecting the ancient local garden design and theory in our country, and clarifying the significance of ancient gardens and their important effect on the development of city. And make full use of ancient gardens resources while protecting them.First, make a study of the environment of the city where these ancient gardens located. The author analyzes the mountain and water elements of ancient Fuzhou city, summarizes four characteristics of Fuzhou city landscape environment, and then indicates that Fuzhou is a "scenery city" with ancient Chinese landscape culture. During the post time, Fuzhou seldom suffered wars, and was prosperous. Many talents gathered there. What have an important effect on the creation and development of ancient gardens in Fuzhou are pursuit of harmony between human beings and nature, the unique landscape characteristics of city, urban landscape space and cultural interest background. Ancient Fuzhou people built a lot of gardens.The ancient private gardens in Fuzhou are divided into three types in this paper: public gardens, temple gardens and private gardens. The paper focuses on private gardens. The feudal government gardens and ancestral hall gardens, etc., have the same content and style as private gardens. Relatively they are privately owned, for only government's officials and their families or one certain clan was permitted to go sightseeing. So these gardens are studied as well in this paper.Some information about private gardens in Fuzhou are also grasped by looking up a large amount of historical data, carrying out on-the-spot investigations, taking photos, drawing and visiting descendants of gardens owners and the senior who have managed gardens in Fuzhou. According to the relationship between gardens and main residential buildings, ancient private gardens in Fuzhou can be divided into four categories: residential gardens, villa gardens, strolling gardens and others. In line with the layout of gardens and residential buildings, residential garden can be classified into two types: "backyard gardens" and "sideyard gardens". "Sideyard gardens" can be divided into north gardens, west gardens and east gardens. The study of these private gardens is made on the basis of the above classification. The paper sums up seven characteristics of private gardens in Fuzhou from the following aspects: address selection, layout, residential buildings, garden buildings, rockery, water, plants, and artistic conception and so on.The study uses foreign and domestic theory and practice as a reference in order to protect and excavate ancient garden resources in Fuzhou and make use of them better. The following measures are put forward according to the above study: people should adhere to the principles such as protecting them while restoring, excavating, integrating, systematizing and sustaining. Relative rules are to be established at the same time. People should take protecting and using into consideration when they develop economy and plan out construction for the purposes that protecting and using can supplement and complement each other; environment of city development will be more harmonious; both historical environment and scenes and sights of cultural interest of the city will last; ancient private gardens in Fuzhou will develop continuously with more significant value.By means of the above research, the author hopes to perfect historical files of ancient gardens in Fuzhou, and to provide some reflections to both the protection and study of these gardens and some issues of the same kind as well.