After last time, Baoyu visited the garden with his father and other guests. We can follow their footsteps to see what the Grand View Garden is like?
While standing at the gate, Jia Zheng ordered people to close the gate and look at the whole thing from the outside first. At this time, we can see what the Grand View Garden looks like. Take a look at the original text: Jia Zheng first acted as a gatekeeper. I saw only five rooms at the main entrance. The barrels and tiles above were made of mud ridges, and the door rails and windows were all carefully carved with fresh patterns without vermilion paint. The walls were polished with the same color, and the white stone platform below was chiselled into passion flower patterns. Looking to the left and right, there are snow-white powder walls, with tiger-skin stones underneath, which are built according to the trend. It does not fall into the trappings of luxury and clichés, so I am very happy.
In Eastern architecture, the concept of "symmetry" is very important. Therefore, when Jia Zheng admired the gate of the Grand View Garden, he stood in the middle and looked at it. Therefore, there is a gate in front of him, and there are two gates on both sides of the gate, for a total of five gates. Confucianism pays attention to "squareness", and a person must be "upright and upright". "Foundness" is also a characteristic of oriental architecture!
And what does it look like to open the door and go in? Original text: Then he ordered to open the door, only to see green mountains blocking the front. All the Qing guests said: "What a mountain, what a mountain!" Jia Zheng said: "If it weren't for this mountain, as soon as you enter the garden and see all the scenery, what fun would it be?" Everyone said, "It's very true. It's not what you have in your mind." There are so many ravines, how can I think of this?" After saying that, I looked forward and saw the white rocks standing vertically and horizontally, like ghosts or beasts, covered with moss and covered with vines, with a small trail of sheep's intestines exposed in them. Jia Zheng said: "We will swim from this path, and when we come back, we can go out from that side to see everything."
It can be seen that there is a rockery behind the square gate. The entire rockery has a unique and changing shape, with white stones standing vertically and horizontally. The white rocks are covered with green plants, including moss and wisteria. The green plants also grow very densely, and a narrow trail is vaguely exposed.
Every time I read this paragraph, I feel particularly picturesque. The creativity of this scene is also very characteristic of oriental architecture! In Eastern architectural design, usually behind the main door, that is, once the door is opened, we cannot directly see what is inside. Because, in the culture of our ancestors, it would be boring to see everything as soon as the door is opened, which is too direct. From the perspective of Feng Shui, there is also the concept of "hiding". Generally, the main entrance door will have a slightly "blocking" design, otherwise, the family's luck will simply disappear! This is completely different from the design concept in foreign countries where the door can be used to see the inside. And the "winding path" is the finishing touch, immediately leading you to understand the artistic conception of winding paths leading to seclusion!
As they walked further inside through this "Sheep Farm Trail", the scene inside was suddenly enlightening and unique. Look at the original text: Saying that, enter the cave. I saw lush green trees, gleaming exotic flowers, and a clear stream that zigzagged from the depths of the flowers and trees into the crevices of the rocks. A few steps further, gradually towards the north, it becomes flat and wide, with flying buildings on both sides and carved embroidered sills, all hidden among the trees in the mountain col. Looking down, you can see the clear stream pouring snow, stone steps piercing the clouds, white stones as railings, surrounding the edge of the pool, stone bridges and three harbors, and beasts holding vomit in their faces. There is a pavilion on the bridge.
In Chinese garden design, there is not only buildings and plants, but also water in the landscape. The flowing water not only adds vitality to the scenery as mentioned in Feng Shui, but also makes the entire scenery appear to be a combination of movement and stillness. In some places, the water flow is designed to flow straight down, which is impressive. And in some places, it flows slowly and eloquently! Just like a piece of music, it has a soft prelude and a high-pitched and exciting grandeur! I think the design of the ancients was very wise, which is rarely seen in foreign architecture. In foreign buildings, many water designs are only reflected in a fountain. And a design like this that embeds water in the entire scene and changes with the changes of the scene is just in line with the trend.
In Chinese gardens, the design of the pavilion is also a classic! "Ting" means "stop". Often times, pavilions are designed in places where we need to stop to see the scenery. Often this scenic spot requires us to stop and rest, while resting and feeling. Use a quiet state to feel the experience the entire environment brings to you!
Everyone continued to follow this road, admiring the beautiful scenery and passing every room in the Grand View Garden. Tomorrow, I will continue this conversation. But the focus tomorrow is not on the scenery, but on inscribing and naming these pavilions and every residence that passes by.
This is also the focus of this time, because this time is also a test for Baoyu by Dad. Jia Zheng would ask Baoyu to name every place that needed to be named. Baoyu's trip this time was very painful! Chat tomorrow!