It seems that Chinese people in ancient times, especially until the end of the 6th century CE, never had a great interest in Indian Buhhist garden designs. The term "Indian Buddhist garden designs" in this paper represents the designs described in the representative Buddhist scriptures that were translated into Chinese, in order to consider the designs in the context of the eastward diffusion of Buddhism. This paper organizes historical information on the above point as a basic study. And it illustrates the following points:
1. A rectangular spond, in most cases a square pond, is basically the main design element of the gardens that were featured in the Indian Buddhist scriptures.
2. Findings of archeological investigations show that there had been rectangular ponds constructed in China before Buddhism was introduced to China. Accordingly, it can not be said that rectangular ponds were made in ancient Chinese gardens only as the Buddhist garden design element.
3. No historical text clearly shows a fashion of a rectangular pond as the Buddhist garden design elment in China.
4. Historical texts indicate that Chinese people in ancient times were enthused about possessing ponds with irregular shorelines. They regarded those ponds as a symbol of wealth. On the other hand, in most cases, seemingly they did not see rectangular ponds as such.
5. Square ponds that had been constructed from the 6th to the 7th century CE were found in Korea and Japan through archeological excavations. They are now broadly believed to have been related to the eastward diffusion of Buddhism. However, similar ponds can not be found in China, although China lies on the route of the diffusion. This would cast doubt on the validity of the broad understanding.
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