Download or read book Gardens of a Chinese Emperor written by Victoria M. Siu and published by Lehigh University Press. This book was released on 2013-06-12 with total page 302 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Qianlong’s Yuanming Yuan (Garden of Perfect Brightness) was a microcosm of his world, with lush plants, artificial mountains and lakes, and colorful buildings. From within these precincts, the emperor ruled his lands, performed imperial rituals, and observed various religious ceremonies of his people. Destroyed and looted in 1860 by Western forces, it is today only partially restored. Using images, maps, and color-plates, this book reveals the philosophical, political, and artistic concepts that the gardens represented.