Chinese Gardens: A Peaceful Balance

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Dr. Mark Miller

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Photo Credit: Mark A. Miller

A welcome oasis in an urban setting, the Chinese Garden of Friendship is a must-see when in Sydney.

There’ve been amazing cultivated gardens in China for thousands of years, but most North Americans don’t have the opportunity to travel to that distant land and see them in their natural form. Fortunately, established Chinese gardens can now be enjoyed worldwide – and I’ve had the chance to travel to many of them. I’ve seen Chinese gardens just about everywhere – including Switzerland and India – and my two favorites are the Chinese Garden of Friendship in Sydney, Australia, and the New York Chinese Scholar’s Garden at the Staten Island Botanical Garden.

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Photo Credit: Mark A. Miller

The New York Chinese Scholar’s Garden is an exemplary spot to enjoy when you’re in the New York City area.

The Chinese Garden of Friendship was initiated by the local Chinese community of Sydney to commemorate Australia’s 1988 bicentenary and to celebrate the bonds between Sydney and its sister city, Guangzhou, China. The New York Chinese Scholar’s Garden was constructed by the Landscape Architecture Corporation of China (LAC) and opened in 1999. This garden is credited with being the only authentic classical Chinese scholar’s garden built in the US.

China’s garden design style began for imperial palace grounds during the Zhang dynasty 3,000 years ago. It then became a staple of private estates for the rich and influential, reaching its peak during the Ming dynasty. Scholar’s gardens date back to the Ming and Qing dynasties, and were mainly created for scholars and administrators retiring from the emperor’s court.

Facts

Many Chinese gardens are designed using the ancient practice of feng shui (pronounced “fung shway”). It emphasizes the placement and arrangement of space to achieve harmony with the environment, and it involves a mix of geographical, religious, philosophical, mathematical, aesthetic and astrological ideas.
Outside of China, other gardens of note are the Chinese Garden of Serenity in Santa Lucija, Malta; Chinese Pagoda and Asian plant collections at Kew Gardens, London; Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden in Vancouver; the Garden of the Reclaimed Moon in Berlin-Marzahn, Germany; the Gardens at Duke Farms in New Jersey; Hamilton Gardens, New Zealand; Jardin Botanique de Montréal; the Portland Classical Chinese Garden in Oregon; the Seattle Chinese Garden; Singapore’s Chinese Gardens; the US National Arboretum in Washington, DC; and Zurich’s Chinese Garden.

Resources

You can learn more about the New York Chinese Scholar’s Garden by visiting the Staten Island Botanical Garden’s Website.
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The Chinese Garden of Friendship also has a Website, including a history of the garden and design principles.
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