Introduction 1.Significance of Research 2.Content, Research Questions and Methodology 3.The Metamorphosis of Freedom as a Concept 4.Evaluation of French Enlightenment in the 20th Century 5.Desert de Retz: A Garden of All Times and Places Chapter Ⅰ Desert de Retz 1.Where Did the Name Come From 2.The Garden: Construction and Features 3.The Owner: Personality and His Circles 4.History of Garden after the French Revolution Chapter Ⅱ Changing Tides of Aesthetics Chapter Ⅲ Garden of Resurrected Nature and Reconstructed Freedom 1.Desert de Retz: A Garden of Nature 2.Sentimental Representation of Nature as Social Ethos 3.French Philosophical Ideas on Nature and Natural Law 4.The Concept of Freedom in French Enlightenment Chapter Ⅳ Garden of All Times and Places and Useful Freedom 1.Fabriques of All Times and Places 2.Embracing All Times and Places since Mid-18th Century 3.Implication of Changed World View for Freedom Chapter Ⅴ Garden of Imagined Otherness and Self-Centered Freedom 1.Historical Other: the Broken Column 2.Geographical Other: the Chinese House 3.Implication of the "Other" for Freedom Conclusion Bibliography