The New York Chinese Scholar's Garden () is part of the

Staten Island Botanical Garden Sailors' Snug Harbor, also known as Sailors Snug Harbor and informally as Snug Harbor, is a collection of architecturally significant 19th-century buildings on Staten Island, New York City. The buildings are set in an park along the Kill Van K ...

, located in the

Snug Harbor Cultural Center Sailors' Snug Harbor, also known as Sailors Snug Harbor and informally as Snug Harbor, is a collection of architecturally significant 19th-century buildings on Staten Island, New York City. The buildings are set in an park along the Kill Van K ...

. Materials were shipped to

Staten Island Staten Island ( ) is a Boroughs of New York City, borough of New York City, coextensive with Richmond County, in the U.S. state of New York (state), New York. Located in the city's southwest portion, the borough is separated from New Jersey b ...

in the spring of 1998, when a team of 40 Chinese artists and artisans from

Suzhou Suzhou (; ; Suzhounese: ''sou¹ tseu¹'' , Mandarin: ), alternately romanized as Soochow, is a major city in southern Jiangsu province, East China. Suzhou is the largest city in Jiangsu, and a major economic center and focal point of trad ...

constructed the garden. It opened in June of 1999. New York Chinese Scholar's Garden

President of the

Botanical Garden A botanical garden or botanic gardenThe terms ''botanic'' and ''botanical'' and ''garden'' or ''gardens'' are used more-or-less interchangeably, although the word ''botanic'' is generally reserved for the earlier, more traditional gardens, an ...

Frances Paulo Huber recognized the need for an authentic

Chinese garden The Chinese garden is a landscape garden style which has evolved over three thousand years. It includes both the vast gardens of the Chinese emperors and members of the imperial family, built for pleasure and to impress, and the more intimate ...

in 1984. The garden was finally constructed with the support of many partners, including the Staten Island Botanical Garden, the City of New York, the Landscape Architecture Company of China, the Metropolitan Chinese American Community, various private foundations, and hundreds of individuals and corporate donors. After a long series of collaborations a contract was signed with the Landscape Architecture Corporation of China. Mr. Zou Gongwu was appointed as chief project designer.

Design

The garden is designed with elegance (''ya'', 雅) in mind. The garden is traditionally entered through a narrow passage where meditation takes place, prior to entering the main garden. The design of the garden produces harmony through its views and concepts. The garden creates an infinite space within an enclosed area. *The ''borrowed view'' extends space beyond the border of the garden. *The ''hidden view'' creates suspense and excitement as one moves deeper into the garden. *The ''opposite view'' is framed by a moon gate or floral window.

Elements

*''Wood'' - Nails or glue are not used in a Chinese garden. Wooden elements are joined together using traditional Chinese construction techniques (a sophisticated mortise-and-tenon system characteristic of traditional Chinese Ming Dynasty construction). *''Rocks'' - In Chinese literature, rocks are described as the "bones of the earth." *''Water'' - The garden contains three ponds and one waterfall. Water is thought of as the arteries of the world. *''Plantings'' - China has contributed the rose, lilac, daphne, species of rhododendron, and the peony to the rest of the world. Trees, shrubs, and flowers are selected for shape, seasonal character, and symbolic meaning. *''Furniture'' - The furniture of the garden is called the "internal organs." *''Walls'' - Walls are strategically placed in the garden for design purposes. *''Walkways'' - The curvature of the walkways offer many views and angles. *''Bridge''s - Bridges and paths frequently zigzag, providing visitors with ever-changing vantages to experience the garden. Chinese philosophers also believed that zigzagging paths would throw off evil spirits. *''Pavilions'' - There are two pavilion in the garden. One is for the scholar's study and the other provides visual access to various other scenes. *''Xie'' - A Xie is a building one half hovering over a lake. The designs makes it seem that the building is floating in the water. *''Painting and Calligraphy'' - Paintings and calligraphy represent the garden owner's knowledge of literature and art.

References

Staten Island Botanical Garden (1999). ''The New York Chinese Scholar's Garden Interpretive Guide.''

External links

Staten Island Botanical Garden

New York Chinese Scholar's Garden

Snug Harbor Cultural Center
{{Protected areas of New York City Botanical gardens in New York City Chinese-American history Chinese gardens Chinese-American culture in New York City Parks in Staten Island Sailors' Snug Harbor