the great exploration: November 2008

Yesterday we took the bus downtown to the Portland Classical Chinese Garden.

Ming dynasty gardens were part of the extended living space for the adjacent family home. Therefore, the placement of the principal buildings was the most important element in the layout of a garden in order to achieve a harmonious integration of architecture within the natural world. Suzhou gardens are often referred to as ‘living landscape paintings’ in which Tao, or the Way, overwhelms even the people inside.

The strangely-shaped standing stones (below picture) are the highly prized Taihu stones. Formed of limestone brought up from the bed of Lake Tai, only 30 kilometers west of Suzhou, they demonstrate the soft force of water as it wears away hard stone over many years. You will find Taihu stones piled into false mountains, set up as monolithic abstract sculpture, and lining the edge of the Garden’s lake. Our tour guide mentioned that families such as the famous architect Ieoh Ming Pei's (louvre- glass entrance/ rock n' roll hall of fame) own these gardens for hundreds of years. They've had theirs for 600! The Taihu stones, being so scarce now and less cool looking, are purchased and commissioned by elder patriarchs to be harnessed back in the river under strict supervision until the day they look cool enough (basically) to place in the family garden. It's a crazy concept to think about buying something for your family that you will never get to appreciate in your life time.

Our meal consisted of: (left to right) Steamed buns filled with vegetables and mushrooms, next to pickled cucumbers and soy sauce. A Chinese rice noodle bowl filled with seasoned tofu, longevity mushrooms, roasted sesame, garlic sauce, ginger carrot and soybean toppings. It was yummy.

In Chinese tradition, garden landscape without poetry is not complete. Traditionally, the owners of such gardens were scholar officials in the Ming imperial court. Poetry writing and recitation, along with an extensive understanding of classical texts, were essential requirements for successful passage of China’s rigorous civil service examinations. Discovering poetic inscriptions engraved into rocks, framing doorways, or above gateways have long enhanced the natural wonders of the Garden and added another level of intellectual pleasure to everyone’s experience. Poetic inscriptions reveal deeper meanings of the Lake Tai rocks, moving water, symbolic flowers, and elegant architecture.

In the Chinese Garden, the solidity of stone (yang) is balanced by the softness of water (yin). When opposites--yin yang--are in balance, there is rejuvenating qi energy. As the circulatory system of the world, water brings vital energy to the Garden.

The strangest part was the incredible sense of peace created by the garden amongst the contrast of the city. There is something so deeply beautiful about Eastern culture in its approach toward life. It's is a meditative attention, purposely focused on the gifts of creation and their essential harmony with life. It in turn has planted a rich foundation unlike any we've tried here in the west. I'm so worn by the pace of fast, wasteful indulgence in fatty morsels and fleeting joys. I wonder will we ever step back and recycle our throw away culture of apathy?

I just found some photos from our trip across the USA. Our train from Cinci to Chicago was delayed so they put us up in a fancy hotel. It was nice to shower before we made the 50 hour trek to Portland.

America runs on Dunkin' Donuts.

I like how badass the security guard looks. Always lookin' out for suspicious characters.

We ended up leaving half of our clothes in the hotel. Our bags weighed way too much. This is not how we left the room by the way.
Museum/ Train station in Cinncinati. We were waiting there until our train arrived at 2am.

Thanks mom for dropping us off. I know it was late and tiring driving back home.

Waiting for the station to open at 11pm. It's amazing they haven't torn this down yet like everything else. I remember visiting the museum as a kid. The architecture is incredible and in great shape. When you enter there is a 360 super large mosaic. You feel like you've stepped back in time.