Schematic Layout Recovery and Analysis of Lejiao Yuan of Taicang in Late Ming and Early Qing Dynasty

In the period of the late Ming and the early Qing, Lejiao Yuan of Taicang was regarded as the most famed garden in the Jiangnan area. However, the contemporary studies on this garden are not matched with its historical role because of both limited historical material and research method. In this paper, several kinds of material are closely compared and judged so that the layout recovery of the garden is carried out and schematic plans are made. Furthermore, the basic features of the garden, such as layout configuration, various views and construction process are discussed tentatively. In this way, this garden with great historical value can be further understood with a new solid foundation.