Da Guan Yuan (Grand View Garden)

The Grand View Garden (Dàguanyuán) is a large garden in the classic novelDream of the Red Chamber. It is the setting of much of the story.Built in chapters 16 and 17 of the novel, it was the site of Jia Yuanchun's first visit home as an Imperial Concubine. At that time, music and lights decorated the place so it was fit for Imperial patronage. After Yuanchun leaves, the Garden is made at her own request the home of her brother, half-sister, sister-in-law, and cousins. Being very beautiful and peaceful, it is a perfect home for Baoyu and the girls. Granny Liu also pays a visit to Grandview Garden in chapters 40 and 41. She is very impressed at the vegetation, water, layout, and life in the Garden. As a gift, the Dowager commissions Xichun to make a painting of the Garden for Granny Liu to take back home. It is here that the nun Miaoyu is met by many, and where she is also kidnapped. Eventually, the young girls drift away from the Garden. Yingchun is married off to her death. Tanchun is