Traditional Ming Dynasty-Style Garden Art in New York

From ancient times to present-day, gardens have served a key role in the culture and identity of societies.

The Ming Dynasty—which started in 1368—has been widely attributed as the pinnacle of classical Chinese garden art.

These famous Ming Dynasty-style gardens can be found in the City of Suzhou in China's southeast Jiangsu province. Today, some of these classical gardens are World Heritage Sites.

Here in New York—nestled within the Staten Island Botanical Garden—is an authentic, but modern built, Chinese scholar's garden.

[Dr. Ron Altman, NY Chinese Scholar's Garden Representative Board Member]:
"This is a Ming-style garden, basically from middle of the Ming period to the end of the Ming period."

It is a miniature compared to some in Suzhou.

[Lynn Kelly, Snug-Harbor Cultural Center, Botanical Garden President & CEO]:
"We're the first scholar's garden in the United States. It's about one acre in size, and it's located here at Snug Harbor Cultural Center in Staten Island."

The New York Chinese Scholar's Garden shows the characteristics of traditional Ming-style Chinese gardens.

Winding garden paths are paved with pebbles—leading to waterfalls—and ponds with colorful fish. Rocks, bamboo, pine, and plum trees—and a diverse variety of plants—are specially selected for their shape, seasonal character, and symbolic meaning.

But not everyone in China could experience these gardens.

[Dr. Ron Altman, NY Chinese Scholar's Garden Representative Board Member]:
"This will be a reflection of the rich Chinese lifestyle. The peasant would probably never have anything like this. The scholar's garden is also a pun on words because they're scholars but they're first rich bureaucrats."

These wealthy, educated Chinese designed the gardens as peaceful havens for retreat.

[Dr. Ron Altman, NY Chinese Scholar's Garden Representative Board Member]:
"This would be an inner courtyard of the housing complex. At that point the retired bureaucrat tried to become a scholar again, and he'd study, he'd do his calligraphy, his paintings, his poetry, and he'd live here with his extended family."

Altman sees Chinese scholar's garden as traditional art form worth protecting.

[Dr. Ron Altman, NY Chinese Scholar's Garden Representative Board Member]:
"This is basically an art form that the Chinese design back in the Ming period we do not want to lose—because I think it's the same as any other art form."

For one visitor in particular, the garden serves as a venue for art.

[Dr. Ron Altman, NY Chinese Scholar's Garden Representative Board Member]:
"He comes here usually three, four times a week with his flute...This gave him a chance just to relax and to go back to his roots, he (the Chinese man) said. He has three four different flutes and he plays different flutes at different times of the day."

Altman says, even in our modern society, one needs a place to unwind—just like those ancient wealthy Chinese scholars.

Margaret Trey, NTD News, New York.

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[nutier]

very nice video and painting ! thank you for sharing .