The traditional garden is a realm of contrasts. The sheer hardness of rock is set against the soft ripples of the flowing brook. The light of the sun is accentuated by the darkness of shadows. Heights seem to become taller and empty space filled.
此外，以低襯高，使高者更顯宏偉；以深襯淡，使景物輪廓分外鮮明；以暗襯明，使明處益發燦亮；諸如此類大小、高低、明暗、虛實的對比運用，都使得空間的變化豐富有趣。