Abstract:As a crucial historical source for studying Yunnan's gardens during the Ming Dynasty, Xu Xiake's Travel Notes reveal the typological characteristics of Yunnan's gardens in this period, providing an empirical foundation for understanding their historical evolution and regional distinctiveness. This research aims to systematically analyze the spatial attributes and distribution patterns of Yunnan's Ming-era gardens, thereby enriching the theoretical framework for studying garden history in China's southwestern frontier regions. Leveraging records of Yunnan's gardens from Xu Xiake's Travel Notes : Travels in Yunnan, this study employs textual analysis to systematically collate garden-related information documented by Xu Xiake during his investigations in Yunnan from 1638 to 1640. By applying quantitative statistics and qualitative analysis to gardens described in the travelogue, the distribution patterns, spatial features, and unique design principles of Ming-era Yunnan gardens are synthesized. The findings demonstrate that Ming gardens in Yunnan exhibited a highly clustered and uneven geographical distribution. Temple gardens predominated and were widely dispersed across renowned mountains and rivers, while private gardens were concentrated in urban or suburban areas. Official gardens were sparsely documented and clustered around administrative centers, with natural scenic landscapes deeply integrated into their environmental contexts. Beyond natural constraints, their distribution and construction characteristics were primarily shaped by human factors such as religious dissemination and political-economic dynamics.
