Design This is the fourth in a series about how to create a garden that is a unified work of art. There are two main traditions in garden design. The Western tradition arose out of the gardens of ancient Egypt, the Eastern tradition is descended from the gardens of China. Both traditions use line to unify their gardens, but in different ways.
Chinese painting is closely related to the art of calligraphy.
This sensibility permeates the Eastern tradition of garden design, both in China and Japan. When looking at these gardens, you'll see how strong a role line plays in their design. As in calligraphy, the lines may be broad and sweeping or broken up and strung together in short strokes. The uncluttered shores of some Japanese pond gardens demonstrate the broad sweeping stroke. All of the pond s shores are not so simple, but the shore closest to the main building often is.