China and Northern Europe: Horticultural and Botanical Connections
Carmel Smickersgill, Tours & Activities Editor
Hosted by the Manchester China Institute and Manchester Museum, China and Northern Europe: Horticultural and Botanical Connections is an online talk that dives into where Europe gained its knowledge of Chinese garden craft. Key architectural figures such as Sir William Chambers and Charles Cameron relied on the help of botanists like Carl von Linné and plant hunter George Forrest, to bring Chinese design and horticulture into their ornate gardens. Through all their work, a deeper understanding and appreciation led to further Chinese influence in landscape architecture in Europe, which still continues today. What is more impressive, is that this cultural exchange of knowledge was initiated by Scottish and Swedish scientists, two countries that would have been relatively small at the time.
this is an area of passionate interest rather than curiosity
The talk will be led by Alison Hardie, an Honorary Research Fellow who is now retired from the University of Leeds as the Senior Lecturer in Chinese Studies. Her main area of interest and research is in the social and cultural history of early modern China. She has previously translated Ji Cheng’s 17th century garden manual, as well as revising and editing other writings on chinese garden craft as well as writing extensively on the subject herself. For Alison, this is an area of passionate interest rather than curiosity. In China and Northern Europe: Horticultural and Botanical Connections, she will share all of that enthusiasm and insight for the subject with you.
Manchester Museum is continuing to support and create online content during this lockdown. Whether through collaboration with other institutions or from their own collections and curators. Check out their other content through their website and periscope channel. For more China inspired talks, The Manchester China Institute is holding a second talk in February, on international and interpersonal relationships between China and Russia. Check their Eventbrite page for more details.
