明清地方志中的园林书写——以杭州地区为例

Garden Writing in Ming and Qing Local Records: Taking Hangzhou Area as an Example

关键词:  风景园林  地方志  明清时期  园林  书写  杭州

Key words:  landscape architecture  local records  Ming and Qing Dynasties  garden  writing  Hangzhou

摘要:

通过剖析地方志中的园林书写，旨在明晰其内在的叙述逻辑，更好地挖掘地方志在园林史研究中的完整价值。选取方志数量较多、园林发展较好的明清杭 州地区为研究对象，通过对地方志中园林书写体例及内容的梳理、研读，发现地方志中的园林书写已呈现出广泛存在且具有一定体例规范的现象，并主要集中于“山 川”“古迹”“名胜”等门类中，此外，地方志中的插图亦蕴含园林信息。地方志中园林书写表现出涵盖园林类型多样、园林书写体例相对固定、所载园林信息具有 权威性、历代方志记载内容具有连续性、园林书写详尽程度存在时期差异性等特点，同时也存在一定局限性。通过梳理地方志中园林书写逻辑对于今人快速、准确、 全面地查找和利用方志中的园林信息具有指导意义。

Abstract:

This study aims to clarify the internal narrative logic of garden writing in local records and further explore the comprehensive value of these records in garden history research by conducting a detailed analysis of such writings. Focusing on the Hangzhou area during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, with its high preservation rate of local records and advanced level of garden development, this research meticulously examines the stylistic conventions, thematic distribution, and specific content of garden-related entries within these historical documents. The research finds that garden writing in Ming and Qing local records is not only widespread but also adheres to certain established stylistic norms. This information is primarily concentrated within standardized categories such as "Mountains and Rivers", "Historical Relics", and "Scenic Spots". Additionally, the study finds that illustrations included in local records serve as valuable repositories of garden-related information, offering visual complements to the textual accounts. The garden writing in these Hangzhou local records exhibits several distinct characteristics: it encompasses a diverse range of garden types, including imperial, private, monastic, administrative, and academy gardens; it follows relatively fixed writing conventions and formats; the recorded information carries a high degree of authority due to the official nature of fangzhi compilation; the content demonstrates significant continuity across successive generations of local records, allowing for the tracking of changes over time; and the level of detail in these entries varies across different historical periods, influenced by socio-economic factors and imperial patronage. Concurrently, the study also identifies certain limitations, such as the relatively sparse documentation of contemporary private gardens and a general lack of detailed descriptions regarding specific layout, landscaping techniques, or plant compositions. Methodologically, this study begins by contextualizing its inquiry within the history of Chinese local records. It traces the evolution of their compilation systems from the Song Dynasty, when their style became largely fixed, through the Ming and Qing periods. It outlines the primary types of Ming and Qing local records such as Tongzhi, Fuzhi and Xianzhi which corresponded to the administrative hierarchy at that time. The research then delves into a comparative analysis of the garden writing styles prescribed or evidenced in Ming and Qing local records for Hangzhou. This includes examining the differences in compilation norms between the two dynasties. For instance, the Ming Dynasty issued unified official regulations like the Rules for Compiling Local Records (Zuan Xiu Zhi Shu Fan li), which explicitly guided the recording of elements like gardens, parks, and scenic spots within categories like "Historical Relics". In contrast, the Qing Dynasty largely followed the stylistic traditions of previous dynasties without promulgating a unified nationwide system, though local compilers continued to organize garden information under similar categorical headings. Furthermore, the study systematically organizes and analyzes the substantive content of garden writing found in these records. This encompasses several key aspects: the recording of garden names and their changes, which often reflects historical changes; detailed geographical locations, often referenced against city gates, streets, or natural features; descriptions of garden scenery and structures, such as pavilions, terraces, rockeries and caves, found within both the "Mountains and Rivers" and "Historical Relics" categories; related literary works like poems and essays composed by notable figures or emperors, which are frequently appended to garden entries and supplement the landscape description; and visual records, including maps and print, which offer valuable information on spatial layout, architectural features, and overall landscape composition. Through in-depth analysis and comparison of various extant Ming and Qing local records from Hangzhou, this study concludes that Fuzhi and Xianzhi generally contain more detailed and diverse garden information compared to Tongzhi, making them more suitable as foundational historical materials for in-depth garden research. The distribution of garden writing is primarily concentrated within the "Historical Relics" category, with significant additional information located in "Scenic Spots" and "Mountains and Rivers". Textual records predominantly provide information on name evolution, geographical location, garden scenery, and associated poems and essays, while image records serve as crucial supplementary sources for understanding spatial relationships and visual characteristics. This comprehensive research on garden writing in Ming and Qing local records of Hangzhou not only provides a methodological guide for modern scholars to efficiently, accurately, and comprehensively search for and utilize garden information within fangzhi but also reinforces the significant status of local records as continuous historical sources in the field of landscape architecture history and theory. It contributes to a deeper understanding of the intrinsic connections between regional documentation practices and the trajectory of garden development in ancient China. However, this study acknowledges its own limitations, primarily its geographical focus on the Hangzhou area. The findings and patterns identified may not be universally applicable to other regions with distinct historical, cultural, and administrative contexts. Future research should expand its scope to incorporate local records from other key garden regions in China to facilitate comparative analysis.