甲、南蓮池圍建園概述Nan Lian Garden: A General Introduction
子目
一、設計理念及建造 From Design to Construction
1. 園池簡介 The Garden: An Introduction
2. 建造緣起 The Garden: Its Origin
3. 設計理念 The Garden: Design Principles and Conceptes
4. 園池功能 The Garden: Functions
二、園池概論 The Garden: General Information
1. 園池稱謂 Naming of the Garden
2. 模仿與創新 Modelling and Innovation
3. 唐絳守居園池 The Tang Jiangshouju Garden: A Brief
4. 南蓮園池碑記 Nan Lian Garden Monument
三、園池建造過程 Construction Process
（按：有圖無文）
一、設計理念及建造 From Design to Construction
1. 南蓮園池簡介
Nan Lian Garden: A General Introduction
南蓮園池座落於九龍鑽石山，北面是宏偉端莊的志蓮淨苑，背靠鬱郁的獅子山、慈雲山、飛鵝山等山嶺，西鄰荷里活廣場，毗連地鐵站，南界龍翔道，東臨斧山道；座北朝南，遠迎東九龍一帶。
Nan Lian Garden is situated at Diamond Hill of Kowloon, taking in the full view of southeast Kowloon. The Garden and the Chi Lin Nunnery to its north together back into the sprawling northern mountain range. Hammer Hill Road borders the Garden on the east, Lung Cheung Road on the south, and Hollywood Plaza, a large shopping mall, on its west. The Garden opens to the west. An MTR station is just opposite the Main Gate.
南蓮園池是受遊樂場地規例〔香港法例第132章〕規管的公園，面積三萬五千平方米，政府委託志蓮淨苑設計及監督建造。建造工程由2003年開始，2006年完成；政府亦委託志蓮淨苑管理。公園於2006年11月開放，供公眾免費享用。
The Garden is a designated public park, with an area of 35,000 square metres. It was designed and built by the Chi Lin Nunnery, entrusted by the Government, and is opened to the public in November 2006. It is currently managed by the Chi Lin Nunnery, also entrusted by the Government.
南蓮園池是一座唐式園林，山、水、林木、建築和小品，建設佈局都依唐代規模制式。唐代（公元618至907年）園林屬自然山水型。
南蓮園池以始建於隋代、確立於唐代的的山西省絳守居園池為藍本，按唐宋八大家之一柳宗元提出的「逸其人、因其地、全其天」的原則，融唐代園林佈置和建築的特色，將自適快樂和明麗畫意寫入園林，建立城中古園，為市民於煩囂喧鬧城市建設之中，建造一個不可多得的靜態舒閒休憩場地；亦希望藉發思古之幽情，增加對中國傳統歷史和文化的認識，也提高對中國傳統歷史和文化的興趣。
The Garden is a Tang garden built in modern times, its architecture and landscaping reminiscent of nature and conducive towards a sense of serenity and tranquility, an ambience in which visitors may enjoy a moment of leisure and peace of mind, whilst reflecting on the profound richness of classical Chinese culture, right in the midst of the urban city hustle and bustle. It is hoped this will help promote the knowledge of and interest in classical Chinese culture.
2. 南蓮園池建造緣起
Nan Lian Garden: The Origin, Planning and Management
南蓮園池位於九龍鑽石山，面積約三萬五千平方米。香港政府在80年代末期重整鑽石山區，改善居民生活與環境。按城市規劃，園池所在地段劃為緑化地，闢作休憩公園。
The Nan Lian Garden is situated on a 35,000 square metre piece of land at the foot of Diamond Hill in Kowloon, south of the North Kowloon mountain range. In late 1980s, the Government contemplated a new town plan for the Diamond Hill district. The site where the Garden now sits is zoned green for the designation of a park.
政府的委託信任
The Trust and entrustment of Government
i) 工程委託Planning and Construction
公園用地在志蓮淨苑之南，以鳳德道相隔，與志蓮共以獅子山、慈雲山、飛鵝嶺等山嶺為屏障，政府認為可連成一體，作出整體規劃，以期地盡其用，獲得更大成效。基於對中國園林與古建築建造的經驗，志蓮向政府提交公園總體設計藍圖，供政府參考。公園藍圖以唐代園林為設計目標，與志蓮淨苑佛寺建築群、蓮池公園等形成一組展示唐朝文化特色的設施。 志蓮的公園設計構思以唐朝絳守居園池為藍本。絳守居園池乃中國唯一有地可考，有史可證的古隋唐園林，地形地貌與公園地段十分相似，實在是難得的契機。
Since the site of the Garden was just south of, and adjacent to the scenic Tang style monastic complex of the Chi Lin Nunnery, and the whole area has for a backdrop the Lion Rock range, the Government considered that the park could serve more useful purposes if it could be designed to take account of the total environment. Chi Lin Nunnery submitted an overall design for the park for Government's consideration proposing a Tang style landscape garden, in harmony with the monastery cluster to showcase the distinctive features of Tang Dynasty culture. The proposed overall layout is based on the Jiangshouju Garden, which, situated in what is now Shanxi Province, is the only Tang garden the layout of which can be placed and traced today. Its area and relief also share a similarity with the proposed garden site.
公園設計，因應附近環境，如西面的高架公路，四周的高樓大廈，堆山纍石，引水築池，廣植樹木，佈置亭台，而建成城中古園，鬧市綠洲：又阻隔噪音廢氣，自成一角清幽：又因地借景，把北面山脈最佳景觀攝入園中。整體而言，園雖不大但景貌寬宏、規模完備，是園林精品。
The proposed design accommodates the special features of the site, the surrounding buildings and the encircling flyovers, using waters, hillocks and rocks as the main features, complemented by plants and architectural structures. These elements combine and integrate as one, weaved and connected by wriggling paths and delicate bridges, merging into the undulating mountain range of north Kowloon to create a picturesque scenery of nature. Polluted air and noises are shielded, and a serene corner is built: it is an ancient garden within the city hustle, an oasis amidst the city bustle. The garden may be modest in dimensions, but the vista it affords would far transcend its actual size. Within its limited confines, it would embody the multifarious concepts the ancients thought desirable in an ideal landscape garden.
特區政府於回歸後致力推廣中國文化，近年公園的設計構思，如寨城公園及荔枝角公園，都採納中國園林傳統設計，表現中國文化歷史特色。政府認同志蓮的設計構想和方向，又鑑於志蓮對中國古建築和園林有豐富的認識和經驗，與志蓮在2003年1月簽署正式委託合約，由志蓮負責公園設計、招標建造以及監督工程。公園的主要基本建設由政府撥款1億7千7百萬建造；公園中的唐式園林、木構大作及小品建築、古樹、古石與景點置石等建築及設置費用，則由志蓮負責籌募。公園建造工程由政府有關部門及獨立人士組成的技術及指導委員會(Project Co-ordination Committee)負責監察。工程如期於2006年中完成。於2006年11月開放予公眾享用。
Since the return of Hong Kong's sovereignty to China, the HKSAR Government has made a plausible effort to promote Chinese culture. In recent years, many parks – like the Kowloon Walled City Park and the Lai Chi Kok Park – have adopted a traditional Chinese design. The concept of a Tang garden met with government's encouraging endorsement. Since the Chi Lin Nunnery was already well experienced working with Tang architecture and landscaping, Chi Lin was entrusted to "design and build" the park. An agreement was signed in January 2003 between the government and the Chi Lin Nunnery. The government would fund the infrastructure and construction work at an estimated cost of $177 million; the balance on superstructures, plants, primeval rocks and others would be funded by Chi Lin, as a contribution to the community. The work was supervised by the Project Co-ordination Committee comprising government representatives and independent professionals. The Garden was completed as planned by mid 2006, and was opened to the public on 15 November 2006.
ii) 管理委託Management of the Garden
志蓮自1998年佛寺建成，至蓮園、西蓮園之建造，以至南蓮園池之策劃，已累積多年對唐風園林管理的知識和經驗；而園內的建築物建材特別，各種水景，大小置石，珍貴樹種、古樹、盆景等，均需專家保養。特別是樹木，需長時間適應新環境，才能重聚生息生長。而政府建設南蓮園池，有祟高致遠的使命，以推廣宏揚中華文化、園林藝術為目的；志蓮淨苑希望憑已有經驗，執行公園管理，並為未來的管理模式訂立方法規範。政府最後以1元的象徵式費用，為期5年，委託志蓮淨苑承擔南蓮園池的管理和保育責任。
As work on the Garden was nearing completion, it was clear that knowledge and expertise for the management and maintenance of ancient style timber structures, primeval rocks, trees and other things required specialist knowledge and experience. Chi Lin, having accumulated experience in these areas through its building and maintenance of the Chi Lin monastic complex, its adjacent gardens as well as in the planning and building of the Nan Lian Garden, agreed to manage the garden, and in the course of which, to establish a management and maintenance model for the future at a nominal fee of $1 for five years.
iii) 志蓮的承擔Chi Lin's Commitment
志蓮淨苑在鑽石山區自1934年紥根七十餘載，一向在區內推廣發展宗教、文化、教育、福利服務。文化活動方面，自80年代籌備佛教志蓮圖書館，至90年代成立文化部，開設專上夜書院，出版書籍，又與國內外大學、政府合辦展覽、學術講座、研討會等，致力中華與佛教文化推廣。建造園林是佛寺傳統之一；對中華民族文化、古典建築、繪畫雕塑等藝術文化，以至哲學思想的承傳，以及前人文化建設的延續，佛寺也一向有貢獻和承担。
The Chi Lin Nunnery was established in the Diamond Hill district in as early as 1934, and has, for over seventy years, been contributing to the community in the promotion of religion, culture, education as well as in social welfare. The Chi Lin Buddhist Library was established in the 1980s to promote Buddhism and Chinese culture. The cultural division was set up and a post-secondary evening institute was established in the 1990s, under the auspices of which Buddhist literature, cultural exhibitions, academic seminars and lectures were published and organized, jointly with government departments and/or universities on the Chinese Mainland and abroad. It has always been the commitment of Buddhist monasteries to promote and contribute to the arts and humanities in the many fields of architecture, painting, sculpture and philosophy. To landscape gardening as well, since it is a harmonious dialogue between nature and nurture, and an embodiment of philosophic contemplation of life in an aesthetic form.
志蓮近年來因佛寺重建和園林的建造，對中國古建築文化有深入研究與探討，現在有機會為南蓮園池的建造投放心力與資源，獲得政府信任，得以建成符合整體城市規劃，並與周遭環境統一和諧的精美園林，為推廣宏揚中國園林藝術、發揚中國文化，及為建立中外文化交流平台盡一分力，對志蓮而言，是一項圓滿的事功。
When Chi Lin embarked on the plan to redevelop its monastery in recent years, it also embarked on in-depth research on related ancient architecture and landscaping. Chi Lin is pleased to be entrusted with the task of contributing in various ways to the making of the Nan Lian Garden, to relish the support of the government and to work with the government to realize a viable and harmonious city planning project. Chi Lin is pleased to create a beautiful landscape garden to demonstrate the classical Chinese art of Tang to the people of Hong Kong and to visitors from outside Hong Kong. For Chi Lin, the task is an enormously fulfilling reward.
3. 南蓮園池設計理念
Design Concepts of Nan Lian Garden
公園是市區中的緑化地，應保護、改善生態環境，因地制宜，為市民創造良好的休憩空間。 公園也是民族文化的一個重要組成部分。在中國傳統文化中，園林與古建築關係密切。南蓮園池的造園手法，小中見大，憑藉小品建築、樹木、山石、池水之營造，借景等方法，將山河大地融攝其中，營造唐代古文大家柳宗元「天人合一」的意境，於有限的空間呈現無限的自然真趣。南蓮園池除了為市民於鬧市中提供一個悠閒的休憩公園，更希望可以展現唐代園林風貌和建築藝術，提倡中國歷史文化，藉以宏揚中華傳統文化，進而成為中外藝術文化溝通的平台。同樣重要的，是形成城市設計新概念，在鬧市中重現古典文化、民族色彩之餘，得以建成符合整體城市規劃、與環境統一和諧的精美庭園。
Public parks are the greenbelts of the urban environment. They should be built in a way that blends into the urbanscape and provide the public with a space of repose and enjoyment. Public parks are also a key component of ethnic culture. In the Chinese tradition, gardens are closely tied to ancient architecture. They are built to create an impression of vastness in space: expansive landscapes of mountains and rivers are reproduced within the garden using trees, rocks, ponds and streams, petite architecture and borrowed scenery in such a way as to create a sense of being "one with the universe". Such a garden may be limited in space, but provide the visitor with infinite pleasures of the nature. The Nan Lian Garden is built not only to provide a space for public leisure in the midst of the urban bustle, but also to showcase Tang garden landscaping and architectural art and to bring to the public the history and cultural tradition of the Chinese. The Garden will become a platform of art and cultural exchange between China and the world. Equally significant is the new town planning concept that the Garden forges. Besides bringing to life classic culture and ethnic colour in the urban bustle, the Garden aligns with overall urban planning vision and is in harmony with the surrounding environment.
市民大眾的公園A Garden for the Public
南蓮園池為市民提供靜態的休憩地方和古文化的呼吸空間，是屬於市民大眾的。南蓮園池以獨特材料建造，古建築、小品、山石、樹木等均為長存物質，極需市民大眾的珍惜和愛護；而公園以推廣宏揚中華文化、園林藝術和建立中外文化交流平台為目的，亦極需市民大眾的協力支持。
Nan Lian Garden offers a quiet space for repose and for an experience of the culture of ancient China. The garden is for the enjoyment of all. It is built of very special material. The timber architecture, the rocks and the trees are meant to last, and need the long term care of experts familiar with Chinese culture, and methods and experience of preservation and maintenance. In that it is different from many other public parks, and requires the protection and care from the general visiting public. It is meant to serve as a platform to bring Chinese culture, her art of gardens to the world. The support and cooperation of the public is essential for the garden to serve its function well.
4. 南蓮園池功能
The Functions of Nan Lian Garden
一) 為市民提供一個唐式園林建築的靜態休憩場所，以古典優美的環境，建設鬧市中的綠州，供市民鑑賞享受之餘，亦加強對中國文化的認識和愛護。
二) 在香港重現一座唐古建園林，並以此為基礎，利用園內古建及現代設施，對內及對外推廣宏揚中國文化，以及推動中外文化藝術及學術交流：
(1) 藉各類文化藝術交流、展覽及鑑賞活動，作為推廣中國文化之基地；
(2) 協助香港突顯中華優秀文化，吸引中外學人，加強香港國際地位；
(3) 為香港教育界提供認識中華傳統文化之實物教材；
(4) 促進市民對中國傳統古園林藝術價值之認知，加深了解環境對社會人生之影響，加強對環境的愛護和重視。
1. To provide a Tang Dynasty style landscape garden for the repose and enjoyment of the public, and through the provision of a pleasant and tranquil environment in the midst of the urban bustle, enhance the public's awareness of the Chinese cultural heritage.
2. To recreate a Tang style landscape garden, and through the introduction of its traditional cultural elements to a wider public locally and abroad, to set up a platform of academic and cultural exchange and dialogue:-
a. To promote Chinese culture through the exchange of culture and art, and through activities like exhibitions;
b. To enhance the international position of Hong Kong through promoting international scholarship on the Chinese cultural heritage;
c. To provide a living example as teaching material on traditional Chinese culture for the education sector;
d. To enhance public awareness of the aesthetic value of traditional Chinese landscape gardens, the influence of the environment on the quality of life and the importance of care and protection of the environment.
二、園池概論 The Garden: General Information
1. 南蓮園池稱謂
Naming of the Garden
歷史上園的稱謂很多，撇開庭、苑、囿不談，單以園來說有園、園林、園庭、園亭、園池、林泉、林園、山池、別業、山莊、草堂等眾多稱謂。唐代對園的稱謂就更多了，其中反映了造園手法的差異。南蓮園池以水為構圖中心，或天光雲影，有碧波蕩漾的姿采；或花木蔥蘢、收四時之爛漫；或曲折迴環，或深邃藏幽，無不表現水的靈性、水的風姿。所以稱為園池。
In ancient China, landscape gardens could be called in a number of ways, either because of the way a garden was formed, or because of its special features or sometimes due to a specific iconic feature.
The art of garden design and landscaping flourished in the Tang Dynasty. By the middle of the Tang Dynasty, around the ninth century, garden landscaping developed from natural landscaping into one which embodying the designer's thoughts, feelings and visions. Designers endeavored to express their vision into the landscaping of a garden sharing it with the observers or to inspire observers. This was a time when the literati had developed a sophisticated understanding of the principles of design and composition in natural scenery, and landscape painting had developed into a recognized genre, while poetry on Nature had become an integral part of leisure culture. The literati looked up on the ponds and streams, the rocks and the bamboos in the garden, as having something to impart to them for the refinement of their inner selves; while their activities in the garden, like writing poetry, calligraphy, drinking, playing the lute helped to cultivate their character. For them, the garden though born of Nature, became more than nature.
The Nan Lian Garden is built in the style of a Tang Garden. It was designed on the blueprint of the Jiangshouju Garden (絳守居園池), a garden of the governor the ancient Jiang County in the nowadays province of Shanxi in Northern China. Like the Jiangshouju Garden in the time of Tang, Nan Lian Garden uses water as its main feature. If rocks form the skeleton of the garden, water is its skin and flesh. The garden is therefore called Nan Lian Garden (南蓮園池) after the Jiangshouju Garden, in which "南蓮" means "Lotus in the South", a description which aptly defines the garden's location in the south of China.
2. 仿唐與創新
Modelling on Tang style and Innovation
中國園林藝術經歷了二千多年，已經形成了為人接受的客觀的審美標準。而追慕古代早就根植於傳統的中國文化之中，仿古不僅在工藝領域如此，在園林藝術領域也是如是。另一方面，返璞歸真，回歸自然也一向為世人所崇尚。其實仿古除繼承的意義外，也是整理、綜合和演繹的過程。技術的不斷進步，使仿古與創新在某種意義上是統一的，仿古實在是一種創新，是藉仿古的椌框，體現時代藝術概念和時代技術工藝，並不是抄襲泥古。仿古是以古代工藝精神形貌為師，而豐富以鮮明的時代內涵。
With a history of over 2000 years in China, the art of landscape gardening has evolved generally accepted aesthetic norms and notions. Admiration for antiquity, for instance, is deeply ingrained in Chinese culture. This is as evident in landscape gardening as it is in the field of arts and craft. The idea of returning to simplicity and Nature, too, is much revered. Attempts to model upon antiquities, apart from reviving a legacy, are also a process of sorting out, of synthesizing and of interpretation. With the continuous development of techniques and technology, modelling and creating are, in a sense, similar. Modelling upon an antique is a sort of creation: working within the framework of the legacy with the use of contemporary craft and technology, and infusing into the work contemporary artistic concepts. Modelling on antiquities is not a slavish copying of antiquities. It is an acknowledgement of the form and spirit of the legacy, enriched with contemporary substance and life.
南蓮園池是以山西省新絳縣，隋唐郡府園林絳守居園池為藍本。絳守居園池已經歷了一千四百年的蒼桑變化，早已不是隋唐時的面目了。以絳守居園池為藍本，是以唐穆宗長慶三年(公元823年)樊宗師的《絳守居園池記》和學者專家對絳守居園池的研解為依據，又通過對有關詩詞、繪畫的欣賞和理解，以及對唐代園林藝術的研解與想像，根據南蓮園池所在地的自然形態、社會環境條件以及為今人服務的素求，進行再創造。南蓮園池的設計構想，體現了仿古而不泥古的創新精神，藉以弘揚中華博大精深之文化。
The design of the Nan Lian Garden is based on the garden of the Sui-Tang official residence of Jiangshouju (絳守居), in Xinjiang County (新絳縣) of Shanxi Province (山西省). That garden has weathered the changes of over 1400 years, and bears little resemblance to its original form. The blueprint used for the Nan Lian Garden is actually based on an obfuscated account of the Jiangshouju written in the Tang Dynasty by a governor of the county, also a literary writer, and also on scholarly research in later generations. The present plan is aided by research into Tang Dynasty literature, painting and landscape gardening, and by a close study of the site of the garden and a garden is recreated for the enjoyment and pleasure of contemporary visitors. The design of the Nan Lian Garden is an attempt to re-create, not to just copy, an antique style, so as to publicize and promote some of the best features of Chinese culture.
3. 唐絳守居園池簡介
Jiangshouju: The Garden of the Governor of Jiang County, Tang Dynasty
絳守居園池位於古絳州，即今山西省新絳縣。古絳州城建於汾澮岸邊，傍丘沿嶺，依地勢建城，西北高，東南低。戰國時期名為汾城，隋時修建為絳郡。郡守衙門設在城西高垣上，園池即位於郡衙的北面，原係絳郡衙府花園，是供太守及其官員及眷屬遊玩娛樂的地方。
The landscape garden of the Governor of Jiang was located in ancient Jiangzhou (絳州), which is today's County of Xinjiang (新絳縣)in Shanxi Province (山西省). The ancient city of Jiangzhou was built on the bank of the River Fen (汾河）, backed by a mountain range. The city was on higher ground to the northwest and lower in the southeast. In the time of the Warring States (475 BC - 221 BC), it was called Fen City. In the Sui Dynasty (隋, 581 - 618 AD), it was referred to as Jiang County. The governor's court and residence was built on high ground in the western part of the city, and the garden was located in the northern part of the county court. The garden was part of the official residence for the recreation of the governor, his officers and their families.
園池始建於隋文帝開皇十六年（公元596年），由內軍將軍臨汾令梁軌始建。絳郡當時常旱，於是從城北的鼓堆泉引來泉水，開闢十二道灌渠，大部分澆灌沿途田地，小部分流入當時郡守的牙城，從郡衙的後面經過，流入街市和城郊。
The garden was built at the time of Emperor Wen Di (文帝) of the Sui Dynasty (596 AD). At that time the city was often under the threat of drought, and the well water in the vicinity was high in salinity, so a canal was constructed to bring in water from about 15 kilometers north of the city. Twelve irrigation canals led the water to irrigate farmland in the area and part of the water was led past the county court and residence to supply the needs of the city and suburbs.
煬帝大業元年（公元605年），漢王諒造反，支持者據絳郡居高垣堆土築台，以拒皇帥討伐。其後幾經添建修飾，形成園池的雛型。 園池歷經隋、唐、宋、元、明、清各代官衙州牧的添建維修。一千三百多年的改變，使絳守居園池形成幾個大的格局和面貌，成為中國園林研究的重要資料。
In 605 AD, one of the princes led a rebellion and his supporters erected battlements on the high ground around the governor's garden to rebuff the emperor's troops. Those high walls, after many repairs and rebuilding through the ages, formed the basic outline of the garden known as the Jiang Garden. Repairs and renovation work on the walls and the garden were carried out by successive governors of Jiang County through the Sui, Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming and the Qing Dynasties. The changes of style and taste over 1300 years gave the garden its special character, providing important material for research on the history and development of Chinese gardens.
隋唐時期的園林面貎現在已蕩然無存，其創建緣由、建築規模及山水佈局只能從唐穆宗長慶三年（公元823年）絳州刺史樊宗師的《絳守居園池記》中查究追尋。 依《絳守居園池記》所述，當時園池構建以水為主，水面面積約佔全園的四分之一強，是中國北方典型的自然山水園林。園中有五個亭軒、一個堂廡，建築形制簡潔。引來的泉水從西北注入園池，成形懸瀑，形成一個大池，池的周邊以木石圍砌成駁岸。水池中子午橋貫通南北，池中建有蓮亭。池南是四合院式的香軒，與太守寢室相通。池西南有虎豹門，左壁有猛虎與野猪搏鬥，右壁畫胡人馴豹。池東南建有新亭和槐亭。亭後兩側有枝葉茂盛的槐樹，南面有寬敞的堂廡，是宴客與議事之處。
Sadly nothing is left of the garden as it was in the Sui and Tang Dynasties, but we can still gather something of its plan, its structures and layout from the chronicle "Record of the Jiang Governor's Landscape Garden" written by Fan Zongshi (樊宗師), a governor of the county, in 823 AD. According to the chronicle, the focus of the garden was water, which covered more than a quarter of the area of the garden. The garden was typical of the "natural garden" style common in northern China. It had a main gate, five pavilions and a hall. The structures were simple but elegant. Water was brought in from the northwest and flowed down from a sort of waterfall to form a large pond running in the east- west direction across the garden. Rocks and wooden spikes lined the banks of the pond. A bridge crossed the pond in a north-south direction, linking a mid-pond islet on which stood a small pavilion. South of the pond stood the large Fragrant Pavilion, linked to bedchambers for the governor's use. Southwest of the pond was the Tiger-and-Leopard Gate, on the left of which was painted a scene of a tiger fighting with a wild boar; and on the right a barbarian taming a leopard. To the east of the pond were two pavilions beside which were planted tall trees. There was a large hall to the south for banqueting and meetings.
水道向東流，形似彎月，架有亭橋。橋下水道將池與池東蒼塘相聯。最東面一角是柏亭，簇擁於蒼松翠柏、綠竹古槐之中。蒼塘正北是横貫東西的風堤，堤勢高峻起伏，倒映塘中如龜龍纏繞，靈魚浮波。蒼塘西北高地，其上建亭曰鼇原亭，山光水色，盡收眼底。蒼塘西是一片茂密的梨林，遍植梨花。
Water flowed east from the pond in a curved stream, over which was built a covered bridge like a simple pavilion. Past the bridge, the stream joined a smaller Green Pond. In the extreme east of the garden was the Cypress Pavilion in the midst of clumps of pine, cypress and bamboos. Due north of the Green Pond, running in a east-west direction along the rise and dip of the land was the wind-barrier wall, which cast its reflection on the pond like a dragon or some enigmatic sea creature. North of the Green Pond on the high land was another pavilion from where one could survey the whole layout of the garden. West of the Green Pond was planted a forest of pear trees rich in pear blossoms.
唐代絳守居園池佈局以水為主體，原堤谷等地貎為骨架，花木柏槐等植物為主題，輔以供游憩的園林建築物，構成唐代園林以自然風光為主的風貎。園池經宋明清數代，幾經損毀，幾經修建，經幾代人的構建，形貌佈局、園林的建築，與唐代園池已大有不同，由唐代的自然山水園，經宋代的建築山水園林，再添加了明清的寫意山水園林的面貌。現存園池大體基本上是清李壽芝重建、再經後來修建而成。園池的面積，也與唐宋時期大相徑庭。
In the Tang Dynasty, water formed the main body of the garden, with land forms like open spaces, embankments and slopes for relief, and plants like cypress, pines and flowers as the themes, as well as a few garden structures and buildings for repose. Tang gardens focused on natural scenery. After the ravages of time through the dynasties, the garden underwent cycles of destruction and repairs according to differing preferences and chosen styles. From the emphasis on "natural scenery" in Tang Dynasty, to the preference for "structured scenery" in the Song (宋) Dynasty, and then to the "expressionist scenery" of the Ming (明) and Qing (清) Dynasties, the garden went through many changes. What remains of the garden now is basically the restructuring effort of Li Shouzhi (李壽芝) of the Qing Dynasty, and some renovation work in 1950s. The size of the pond garden, too, is very different from what it was in the Tang and Song Dynasties.
4. 南蓮園池碑記文本（按：無英譯）
中國古典造園藝術 藉借景透景掩景隔景擴景 以有限空間藏無窮妙趣 一樹一石 一山一水 融合和諧 自成天地 遊人來此 迴旋徜徉 其常至者 藏焉脩焉息焉遊焉 進而觀思 開拓心靈 南蓮園池 仿唐代山西絳守居園池之設計 而建於中國南端香港東九龍鑽石山 佔地約叄萬伍千平方公尺 園之東北有山巒起伏 瞻彼莊嚴唐式梵宇 西南玉帶環繞 園建圍牆 絕喧擾也 引水闢池 堆山置石 廣植松柏槐榆 又設盆景 施木構小品掩映高樓 有翠葉石山以添勝景 公元二零零三年 香港特別行政區政府誠邀志蓮淨苑共同推廣中華傳統文化 特區康樂及文化事務署乃委託志蓮淨苑設計並建造此園 同年七月動工 政府撥款作基本建設 餘資由淨苑捐獻 工程於二零零六年底完成 香港特區行政首長曾蔭權先生蒞臨主持啟用儀式 南蓮園池充份體現美學科技與人文精神 乃為之頌曰
香城南園 人間淨域 雖由人作 宛自天開 怡情養性 山林咫尺
迴環不盡 各有所得 中華文化 川流不息 千秋萬世 蔭澤綿長
香港特別行政區康樂及文化事務署立
公曆二零零六年十一月十四日歲次丙戌九月廿四日
三、園池建造過程 Construction Process（按：有圖無文，圖闕）
