Final answer:
The design of Chinese scholars' gardens was influenced by traditional Chinese arts, Confucian principles, landscape painting, calligraphy, and Fengshui concepts, aiming to create harmonious environments for contemplation and artistic inspiration.
Step-by-step explanation:
The tradition that particularly influenced the design of Chinese scholars' gardens can be traced back to various cultural and philosophical concepts that were prevalent during the time. The design of these gardens was influenced by the traditional Chinese arts, Confucian principles, and the naturalistic ideals found in landscape painting and calligraphy. The gardens were meant to reflect the natural beauty found in classical Chinese paintings and were inspired by the metaphorical concepts such as dragon veins—which represent the flow of life force. The garden designs also took into account Fengshui principles, channeling the energy of the earth to create harmonious and propitious environments. These gardens served as places of contemplation and artistic inspiration for scholars, embodying the ideals of balance, harmony, and the intimate connection between art, nature, and philosophy.