Abstract

In the traditional Chinese concept of “image“ (xíng xiàng), “form” (xíng) and “phenomenon” (xiàng) are viewed distinctly. “Form” refers to the objective, self-sufficient, and fixed material existence, whereas “phenomenon” encompasses subjective emotions and experiences constructed within the mind. The material form of Chinese classical gardens, on one hand, conveys the owners’ personal thoughts and emotions; on the other, it generates new cultural and historical connotations through repeated representations in later literature and painting, which vary according to the subjectivity of the interpreter. This lecture examines representative images in the garden of solitary joy by analyzing garden paintings, textual records, and poetry, exploring both the interplay of xíng and xiàng and the methodological potential of the xíng xiàng concept as paradigm, thereby constructing a broader, historically contextualized discussion.

Speaker Bio

Xiao YANG is a Harvard FAS CAMLab Visiting Student and Ph.D. candidate at Tsinghua University. Her research interests include Chinese traditional gardens, spatial narratives, and image interpretation.

Event Information

• Free and open to the public
• July 11th (Friday)
• 12:00 – 13:30 PM ET
• This is an in-person event.

Please note

Advanced RSVP required.
The event will be conducted in Mandarin Chinese.