中国园林桂花造景历史及其文化意义

桂花是中国十大传统花卉之一，中国古代用桂花造景有着悠久的历史。在西汉早期桂花就与中国园林结缘，魏晋六朝时期桂花成为园林造景的材料之一，唐宋时期将其广泛用于造园，并在明清时期成为私家园林造园的主要材料，达到了无园不桂的程度，近现代更是被发扬光大。中国古代园林之所以植桂造景，是因其具有丰富的文化内涵。关于桂花，有无数美妙神奇的神话传说，同时它也是古代科第吉兆和高洁品性的象征。

History and Cultural Significance of Sweet Osmanthus in Chinese Gardening

Sweet osmanthus has a long history in Chinese landscape architecture and gardening,the date of which can be tracked back to early Western Han Dynasty.In Wei,Jin,Northern and Southern Dynasties it became one of the materials in Chinese gardening;in Tang and Song Dynasties it was widely used in landscape architecture;in Ming and Qing Dynasties it grew into such a main scene in private gardens that there couldn't be a garden without it;and in modern times the use of sweet osmanthus in Chinese gardening has been further popularized.The reason for this lies in its rich cultural connotations.It is believed that many fantastic fairy tales,myths,and legends are closely related to sweet osmanthus and it has been a sign of good luck in ancient official examinations and a symbol of noble virtues.