Gardens and Confucianism, Taoism and Chan Buddhism (2)

In addition to the social, political, and educational beliefs, Confucianism, borrowing some ideas from Taoism, improved its view towards the relationship between human beings and nature. It contends that human beings and nature should co-exist harmoniously. Therefore, "the unity between human beings and nature" became an uncompromising principle in Chinese garden design. CanglangPavilioninSuzhouin East China'sJiangsu Provincebest conveys the idea that its owner regards himself a part of nature.

Confucianism tends to compare men's virtues with natural scenery. Plants such as bamboo, pine, plum, orchid, chrysanthemum, and lotus, as well as spectacular mountains and rocks, were always considered to symbolize certain virtues. Therefore, one of the most common ways to make a Chinese garden more elegant is to incorporate plants, rocks, and garden buildings together. Take bamboo for instance. As bamboo does not die in the winter but remains upright and evergreen even in very cold days, it has come to be known as a sign meaning perseverance and long friendship.

Taoism and Chinese Garden

Taoism, along with Buddhism and Confucianism, is one of the three great philosophies in ancient China. Tao (pronounced "Dow") can be roughly translated into English as path, or the way. It is basically indefinable. It has to be experienced.

Tao is the first-cause of the universe. It is a force that flows through all life. It "refers to a power which envelops, surrounds and flows through all things, living and non-living. The Tao regulates natural processes and nourishes balance in the Universe. It embodies the harmony of opposites (i.e. there would be no love without hate, no light without dark, no male without female.)"

On one hand, garden design in China has been to a large extent influenced by the Daoist principles of wanting to be alone, of humbleness, and the eradication of desire.