Abstract: The Huilong Pond and Yingkui Hill in the south of Jiading Temple-School was constructed during Ming dynasty (1368-1644)—an example of Confucian landscape constructions in the Jiangnan region. Through gazetteers, stele inscriptions, and historical drawings, this paper outlines and reconstructs Jiading Temple-School’s landscape transformation from ‘mountain-scape’ to ‘water-scape’. It reveals its multifaceted landscaping motives, which includes creating fengshui metaphor for imperial examination, engaging in local water management, improving garden aesthetics, and announcing Confucian enculturation. It further summarizes two paradigms of Confucian landscape constructions in Jiangnan: ‘urban-scale landscape constructions’ and ‘gardening in Temple-School complexes.’ Such practices occupied auspicious fengshui sites within cities and confiscated private or Buddhist-temple properties as both sites and funding sources, and harmonized fengshui metaphors with local topography while engaging in water management practices, reflecting the political and cultural context of Ming dynasty—reinforcing the orthodoxy of Confucianism and diminishing the influence of Buddhism. It provides fresh insights for enriching, deepening, and comprehending the history of Jiangnan gardens and Confucian temple-school complexes.