Abstract: Chinese classical gardens are influenced by Zen and Taoism, and have the same philosophy basis with modern minimalism landscape. This paper analyzes the plant landscape of courtyard in literati gardens of Song Dynasty, the existing royal gardens, and private gardens in south of the Yangtze River in contrast with the modern planting landscape in minimalism landscape. It finds that minimalism thinking is contained in the planting landscape design in classical garden courtyards, which offers references for minimalism gardens design.