Gardens of ancient China&Japan
The Shang dynasty(c 1600-1100BC) was know to have enclosed hunting parks(you),which included a raised platform for ritual purpose.The Zhou(1100-221 BC) stocked these with rare plants as well as animals. Uder the Qin(221-207 BC)the you was trancformed into a park(yuan)with artificial ponds,and began to take a garden-like form.These parks became a symbol of imperial power.