Tung Chuin on The Garden of Accommodation

Translated and Introduced by Duncan M. Campbell 《隨園考》童寯 著 The architectural engineer Tung Chuin (童寯, 1890-1983) was a long-time resident of Nanking. During his years living in the city he taught at various universities and became known also as one of the foremost garden historians of the twentieth century.… Read

The Dream in Nanking

Duncan Campbell translates a passage from the garden historian Tung Chuin 童寯 on speculation regarding the inspiration for Prospect Garden 大觀園, the site of so much of the action in the novel Dream of the Red Chamber.… Read

Yuan Mei’s Menu

Selected and translated by T.C. Lai 賴恬昌 No account of Nanking would be complete without reference to Yuan Mei’s Yuan Mei shidan 袁枚食單. Now much reprinted. The following extract from T.C.… Read

Yuan Mei’s Garden of Accommodation

Translated and Introduced by Duncan M Campbell Yuan Mei (袁枚, 1716-1797), who was born in Hangzhou, was the most important Chinese poet of the eighteenth century. He was also a prolific essayist, letter writer, critic, short-story writer, gourmet and scholar.… Read