Struggles for power; relation between entertainments, sports and landscape design in Song dynasty

Abstract

The historiographical preconceptions of what Chinese culture is supposed to be, have neglected the analysis of sports and physical practices attached to court gardens. The following article will be an attempt at examining the landscape culture of the Song Dynasty through the exploration of such aspects as the relation between court gardens, entertainments and sports. Along with sports, celebrations and parties were a common way to show power and prestige but, in the context of court gardens, the way of displaying them was different than in that of the scholars'. The analysis of archery would be a key example, it being a sport which relation with court gardens provides a clear illustration of the struggles within the Song Dynasty power elites. The inner court circles, the military and the eunuchs fought with the scholar class, until the latter finally won the battle, imposing its own cultural views.