The Daoist Philosophical Practice in the Spatial Construction of Suzhou Gardens, China

Suzhou gardens, renowned as the pinnacle of Chinese classical garden art, embody a spatial practice of emptiness rooted in Daoist philosophy. This study reveals that architectural elements—such as pavilions, corridors, and windows—employ framing and borrowing techniques to transform ephemeral phenomena like skylight and cloud shadows into central motifs, creating a visual regime of 'capturing being through non-being.' Through paradigmatic cases including the Garden of the Master of the Nets, the Humble Administrator’s Garden, and the Lingering Garden, the research demonstrates how meandering structures, such as winding corridors and the Little Flying Rainbow bridge, enact the Daoist principle that 'the greatest utility resides in uselessness.' This approach departs from conventional garden scholarship by focusing on spatial narrative rather than formal analysis or cultural symbolism.

Dai, S. (2025). The Daoist Philosophical Practice in the Spatial Construction of Suzhou Gardens, China. International Journal of Asian Social Science Research, 2(4), 41–49. https://doi.org/10.70267/ijassr.250203.4149