Oriental gardens are
fascinating to visit, but I highly recommend one pick up a docent if at all
possible because there is so much symbolism involved in such gardens and so
much to learn. Over the years I have
visited several great gardens, including a fabulous one in Vancouver, British
Columbia, Canada. However, I have extensive notes from a couple of visits to
the lovely garden in Portland, Oregon so that is the garden I’ll reference.
Designed in 1963 and opened in 1967, this
haven of tranquil beauty has been proclaimed one of the most authentic Japanese
gardens outside of Japan.
The five and half acres encompass five
traditional and separate garden styles. At the three entrance doors of the
garden the center gate is tallest to allow people on horseback to enter. A
guardhouse for the samurai warriors flanks each side of the entrance. Just
through the gates two large stone guard dogs keep away evil spirits.
The first thing one sees after entering
the garden is a superby, which is a
stone basin of water for washing. Superby means crouching down. A large flat stone nearby holds any
gear one might have brought with him. Greenery and sculptured bushes surround
the entire area and immediately one feels the calm and tranquility-–just a
short distance from the bustling city.
All Japanese gardens contain three basic
components: stone forms the structure, water is its lifeblood, and plants are
the tapestry of the season. Secondary features include lanterns, pagodas, and
bridges, all of which enhance the garden.
Pine trees represent strength, cranes good
fortune. Asymmetry and balance are important aspects as the purpose of a
Japanese garden is to create calmness, escape, peacefulness, harmony and to put one
near nature.
Here the tiles for all the roofs of the
buildings in the garden were made in Japan. Roofs always curve upward at the end
on Japanese buildings, because evil spirits can only follow a straight line so
they flow right past the curve and disappear.
The frequent technique of ‘hide and
reveal’ was explained at a waterfall. The top of the fall and the pond were
hidden, but the fall itself was revealed.
Thirty lanterns and pagodas are scattered
throughout the gardens. Although the garden has several different types of
lanterns, the snow lantern is the most common one used in gardens. Since evil
spirits follow only straight lines the zigzag wooden bridge through the iris
beds lead you from one pond garden to another. Often curved bridges are used in
gardens to span small streams, again the curve thwarting the evil spirits.
The Flat Garden uses a sea of raked sand.
The gourd represents happiness and the circle represents a raindrop or a fish
poking his head through the water. The
Dry Gardens are interesting and the most
abstract of Japanese garden forms. The one here was Zen Buddhist inspired.
Dense grainy sand is raked into designs and it is amazing how the sand holds
its shape after being raked.
A pagoda is the focal point in the
Strolling Pond Garden, the largest of the gardens. The stones at the base of
the pagoda are in the shape of a Japanese island and one pink stone marks the
spot on the island of Portland’s sister city that donated the pagoda.
The teahouse, built in Japan, was taken
apart, shipped to Oregon and reassembled. It is put together with wooden pegs,
no nails. It is situated in the Tea Garden which is divided into an outer and
inner garden.
The Natural garden winds down a hillside
past ponds, waterfalls, shallow streams, and gorgeous plantings to a tile
roofed gazebo inviting one to sit and reflect.
It was so peaceful we hated to leave and venture out into the busy city.
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