Influence of Taoism on Gardens

Based on interpretation of Dao De Jing(a book written by LAO Zi),the connotation ofTaohad been analyzed and it emphasized that Taoism is the most basic and eternal universal law transcending physical existence and the origin of all changes.It pointed out that garden art was integrated art of time and space,Taoism had made profound effect on Chinese garden art,and its philosophical thought was the important theoretical support for garden artistic creation.On this basis,it laid stress on great influence on artistic creation of Chinese garden produced by Taoist dialectical thoughts and Taoist thoughts such asTaoism following nature,unity between heaven and human,andimmortal belief;and found ideological source for Chinese garden art to pursue artistic spirit of natural beauty,uphold designing principle of harmonious coexistence between human and nature,and take supernatural being and fairyland legend as the design version.It also analyzed that Taoist philosophical thought happened to coincide with contrast methods of garden art involving tangibility and intangibility,falsehood and reality,internality and externality,bigness and smallness,high and low,rising and falling,sparseness and denseness,exposedness and unexposedness,and so on.It highlighted artistic charm ofprospect generating beyond imagesas the core connotation of Chinese classical garden art;emphasized frequently-used methods for garden spatial organization,spatial guidance and indication,layout pattern,arrangement of scenic spots and disposition of landscaping plants which were produced under the influence of Taoism,making Chinese garden be of more implicitness,interestingness and orient glamour.