Wednesday, 03. October 2007
A Scholar’s Garden

Practiced for thousands of years, feng shui (literally translated as 'wind and water') is a way to work in harmony with nature to enhance prosperity and happiness.

Feng shui is a means to harness and direct vital force – the qi (chi) – for positive effects. Qi is referred to as 'the cosmic dragon's breath of the universe' and literally translates as energy, air, or current. Chinese philosophy established a theory that an invisible flow of energy circulating through the earth and sky brings life force with it.

Qi is referred to as 'the Feng shui principles influence the design of Chinese gardens. Unlike Western gardens with grass lawns, formal flowerbeds, rectangular symmetry and rows of colourful blooms, a Chinese garden reflects nature, albeit exaggerated or idealized, to present a landscape in miniature.

In a Chinese garden, quality is more important than quantity, rarity, or variety. This helps the viewer to focus on details and emphasizes that less is more. Even the choice of plants reflects feng shui principles by featuring local plant material and limiting quantity.

The Daoist philosophy of yin and yang maintains the harmony between beauty and ugliness, light and dark, rough and smooth, excess and emptiness, strength and gentleness. This balance of opposites can be seen and felt throughout the Garden. Rocks arranged singly, grouped, or built into a mountain are prominent features and add the yang element to the harmony.

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Water Pavillion

Beautiful woodwork makes this building particularly delicate and distinctive. In addition to the lattice-framed windows and the balustrades, there are two wooden screens with patterns of plums, orchids, bamboo, and chrysanthemums. They are known as the Heaven and Earth gates.


The circle on the east-facing screen represents Heaven, and the square screen facing west represents its opposite, Earth. The gates illustrate the yin and yang of Daoist philosophy found throughout the Garden.

Look Out

At the Lookout, you see a large, framed view of the Garden, although all of the Garden will never be fully revealed at one time. The moon gate at the back of the Lookout represents a never-ending circle, heaven, and perfection.

Continuing along the zigzag corridor, you pass a small triangular courtyard that leads to the inner sanctum of the Scholar's Study and Courtyard.

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Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese garden: A Scholar's Garden.
The Scholar’s Garden web site will walk you through the philosophical principles and concepts that went into creating this full-scale Chinese garden.
Category: Buildings & Places |


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