• Journal of the Korean Institute of Traditional Landscape Architecture
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.137-148
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• 2018

Li Yu's Xian Qing Ou Ji was written during the late Ming and early Qing Dynasty when material culture flourished due to the development of the commercial economy. Xian Qing Ou Ji is considered a retrospective work that reflects the rich material society at that time. This study focuses on his gardening theories through the interpretation and analysis of these two texts of 'Jushibu(居室部)' and 'Zhongzhibu(種植部)' in Xian Qing Ou Ji. The results are summarized as follows. First, he explained the method of garden configuration and orientation according to the topography utilizing the theory of 'suiting one's measures to local conditions(因地制宜)'. He emphasized the detailed understanding of topography as the starting point for all the gardening theories. It stated that he tried to adjust the height of the terrain artificially to create an ideal form of 'anterior high and posterior low(前低後高)'. The successful arrangement of houses, pavilions, rockery and waterways et al. was able to be achieved because of his accurate understanding of topography. Second, 'borrowing scenery(取景在借)' means 'borrowing the outside scenery to the inside'. He applied this theory by 'viewing in motion(動觀)' and 'viewing in repose(靜觀)'. 'Viewing in motion' is seen as a positive methodology for landscape enjoyment. For example, the view through a window changes with movements of the boat, and it can portray thousands of landscape paintings which can be seen through the windows. In the case of 'viewing in repose', the window is regarded as a means of attracting outside garden views to the inside. Third, he emphasized 'the firmness of objects(制體宜堅)', where the design of windows and railings must be considered ahead of others. Fourth, he interpreted the contents of 'the pursuit of novelty(創異標新)'. This generalizes the characteristics of his gardening theory. The contents included 'hall wall(廳壁)', 'variable sun visor(活?)', 'hanging boards and couplets(聯?)' and 'method of supporting vines with bamboo screen(竹屛扶植法)'.