Objective The formation of local characteristics in Lingnan garden landscapes is intricately linked to structural relationships with agricultural production, prominently demonstrated through garden water arrangement. Beginning in Song Dynasty and flourishing during Ming and Qing dynasties, the systematic reclamation and cultivation of land not only addressed agricultural demands but also catalyzed the development of highly integrated agricultural systems and the expansion of commercial agriculture in Lingnan. This process further facilitated early urbanization and external trade, thereby establishing the foundational framework for the emergence of Lingnan garden culture during Ming and Qing dynasties. Focusing on the interplay between water arrangement, agricultural practices, and garden aesthetics, this research examines how Lingnan gardens were shaped by these factors during Ming and Qing dynasties.
Methods Through historical research and literature review in combination with textual analysis, images, and existing garden landscapes, this research analyzes the natural water network characteristics and land reclamation patterns in Lingnan water towns during Ming and Qing periods.
Results With the support of two key elements, namely manpower and technology, the Lingnan region developed effective water conservancy facilities to prevent and control flooding in the Pearl River Delta, such as earth and stone embankment techniques, as well as techniques to regulate water resources and prevent flooding in an integrated manner, including stone holes, stone dams and intermediate foundations. To comprehensively develop the large quantity of farmlands reclaimed, an agro-ecosystem modelled on the Kei Wai Fishpond was developed in Lingnan during Ming and Qing dynasties, and as a result, a unique landscape for agricultural production was created. Some of the reclaimed farmlands were utilized as various types of construction sites during the urbanization course during Ming and Qing dynasties, becoming natural substrates for garden construction. In the long-term development of Lingnan gardens, the construction techniques for water gardens have been formed by relying on natural water systems and combing them with water gardens through diversion and shaping. Among such techniques, garden pool dredging and water level control have drawn on the experience of water arrangement in dike areas. Facilities such as sluice gates, water gates and sinuses, as well as experience in water arrangement, are also used to finely manage the quality of water bodies in gardens. The embankment with the function of water shaping and enclosure undertook various functions such as traffic and decoration, which created the linear landscape characteristics of Lingnan gardens in the late Qing Dynasty. During Ming and Qing dynasties, the agricultural production landscape in Lingnan region clearly influenced the aesthetic concepts and technical models of water arrangement in Lingnan gardens, the most significant feature of which is the square pool wall bank. To a certain extent, the water arrangement of Lingnan gardens is a cultural legacy and a result of change, and in terms of construction, it is a miniaturized product of stone dykes and enclosures, involving the similarity of function and material, and the inheritance relationship between structure and form.
Conclusion Various aspects of garden water arrangement in Lingnan region during Ming and Qing dynasties show close associations with contemporary agricultural reclamation endeavors. Agricultural expansions during this period propelled advancements in field water arrangement systems, facilitating the transition from natural farmlands to productive agricultural landscapes, in which the cultural influence of literati and scholars in Lingnan region during Ming and Qing dynasties, played a pivotal role by expressing empathy and poetic acclaim for agricultural production landscapes. Traditional Lingnan agricultural practices, such as mulberry-based fishponds and lotus-based fishponds, fostered technological progress and accumulated experience in the Pearl River Delta region, accelerating the formation and privatization of agricultural irrigation landscapes. This phenomenon sparked significant developments in garden water arrangement practices related to landscaping techniques such as stone arrangement and bridge construction. The historical mechanisms of agricultural expansion in Lingnan imply novel perspectives on traditional gardens. Diverging from mainstream Chinese classical gardens such as imperial or scholar gardens typically evolving from the top down under elite patronage or scholarly influence, the foundational logic behind Lingnan gardens during Ming and Qing dynasties stemmed from waves of migration since Tang and Song dynasties, as well as agricultural reclamation efforts, and capital accumulation driven by commercial agriculture. This underscores a bottom-up approach to garden development, presenting an alternative manifestation of Chinese classical gardens that embodies their richness and diversity.
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