The Stone Mountain
Photo : M. Tremblay
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According to Chinese tradition, the stone used for the artificial mountain in a garden must contrast with the grey stone from Tai Lake used for individual sculptures. It took 3,000 tonnes of stone, in a warm brownish-orange shade, to create the nine-metre (30 ft) high mountain in Dream Lake Garden. The result is a surprising arrangement of stones incorporating paths, a staircase, a grotto and a waterfall flowing into a pond.
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The Mountain
The Chinese think of mountains as holding up the Sky, as magical and supernatural places.
Taoism furthered the supernatural aspect of mountains with the belief that the Immortals lived there. These eight legendary figures could grant longevity to those who succeeded in meeting them. The first emperor of the Qin dynasty (221-207 av. J.-C.), Shi Huangdi, was the first to create an artificial mountain inside his garden. He hoped to attract the Immortals and learn the secret of eternal life. His successor, the emperor Wu, built three artiificial mountains in his immense garden, and he surrounded them with wide moats of water. These beliefs and activities led to the custom of digging lakes and building artificial mountains.
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