An Explanatory Discourse by Tan Chet-qua of Quang-chew-fu, Gent.

An Explanatory Discourse by Tan Chet-qua of Quang-chew-fu, Gent. by William Chambers is a philosophical discussion that explores the world of landscape gardening through an 18th-century lens. The narrative unfolds as dialogue, where Tan Chet-qua, embodying Eastern viewpoints, offers a counterpoint to Western gardening approaches. As readers explore these pages, they'll discover a reflection on landscape ideals championed earlier by Sir William Chambers, and through the character of Chet-qua, it presents a compelling critique and enhancement of Western aesthetic understanding in connecting with nature. This volume is a dance of ideas around garden design, viewed through Chinese traditions, as Chet-qua passionately supports a style that stirs a range of feelings and a deep exchange with nature. By challenging how English gardens were typically designed at the time, he argues for richer garden diversity, leading to sensory experiences, nudging others to push boundaries while embracing the natural setting, and inviting us to reconsider our relationship with nature.