Reality and Fantasy: Research on Lady Ni Renji’s Garden Design in Early Qing Dynasty Based on Mirror Image Theory

As a new focus of researches of garden history research, the existing researches place more emphasis on the analysis of the real or fictional feminine spaces, which fail to reveal the similarities and differences between them. The Xiangcao Garden and the imaginary Palace Garden designed by Ni Renji of the early Qing Dynasty made it possible to compare the real and fictional female spaces in gardens. Based on the mirror image theory, this research discusses the similarities and differences between the real garden and the fantasy garden in terms of the functions of gardens, landscape planting techniques, and garden design concepts. It is found that, the activity space for women in Xiangcao Garden is arranged with less constraint, while that in the Palace Garden is arranged in a more sheltered way. The Xiangcao Garden inherited the traditional landscaping method and incorporated an innovative design in the color matching of the plants. The Palace Garden was compatible with the landscaping techniques recommended by both literati and merchants. The Xiangcao Garden was built from the female perspective, while the Palace Garden was built from the male perspective. The mirror image reflected her design concept from the female perspective and, having embedded it into the early Qing Dynasty society, revealed the concept from the universal male perspective, and finally presented a multiple landscape for female with a dual gender ideology. It disclosed rich feminine landscape designs covered up in the stylized construction in the early Qing Dynasty.