This study takes Xiyuan imperial garden and Suzhou private gardens as study sites, interprets the meaning of the horizontal tablets (hereafter refer to as HT) of gardens buildings and then discuss the differences of the spatial features from the aspect of HT meanings. The following conclusions are drawn: ①In a relatively central and wide space, Xiyuan garden tends to use HT meanings to emphasize the imperial power while stressing the serious atmosphere of garden space. However, in private gardens, the HT meaning is directly connected to the sight relationship and garden elements.②In a relatively enclosed space, Xiyuan garden tends to use HT contents to express the introspection idea of emperors, reflecting the love of the philosophical thought of Han nationality and strict standard of wisdom and ability of the emperors. While HT contents in private part describes the details of the garden scenery, reflecting the garden owner's love for the pure and detached garden life.③HT contents of Nature elements and weather phenomena in Xiyuan garden are used as a symbol of imperial rights, while in the private part they are used to reflect the traditional ideal image of avoiding the civil life among traditional scholars.
