Chinese Scholar’s Garden

/ Heyjude

This garden is one of the Paradise Garden Collection at Hamilton Gardens in New Zealand and follows on from my previous post.

Chinese Scholar’s Garden (Yichang-Yuan)

The tradition of the Chinese scholars building dates back to the Tang Dynasty in the 7th century. For them, gardens were havens for relaxation, meditation and the cultivation of the spirit. The Chinese garden portrays a miniature of the cosmos. In it are ‘mountains’ and ‘hills’, ‘rivers and ‘lakes’, ‘cliffs’ and ‘chasms’ following the Taoist tradition. Take your time to wander up to the bold, red Ting Pavilion. A winding journey takes you over the seasonally blooming Wisteria Bridge, across the Island of Whispering Birds, past the elusive Hidden Philosopher, and through lush bamboo to finally reach the Pavilion and its breathtaking views of the Waikato River.

entrance

The Chinese Garden is a tapestry of convoluted trees, rugged rocks, water, windows – watch out for contrasts: light and shade, shadows and reflections, sounds and scents, heights and depths, mountains and waters, yin and yang.

Ceramic Bamboo
Blossom Court
Ceramic Roof Tiles
The Moongate
A Bamboo Glade
The Wisteria Bridge
The Ting Pavilion

18 thoughts on “Chinese Scholar’s Garden”

  1. How wonderful these photos are. I am enchanted by Chinese and Japanese gardens laden as they are with so much symbolism. And that turtle-dragon (sorry, I don’t know what else to call it) would look wonderful in my own garden! Thank you.

    • It is a beauty isn’t it? I’d like it too. I could have spent a lot longer in this garden – so much to see and so many photo opportunities.

  3. Truly my breathing slows and deepens just seeing photos let alone visiting Asian-style gardens. The dragon in your opening photo (with a turtle-like shell) is stunning! I want to get closer to examine him and shy away at the same time! Yin and yang.

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