Feng Shui the Balance of Ying & Yang in Chinese Gardens
By: Frances T.
Submitted: 2012-02-16 11:23:24 | Word Count: 577
When it comes to the art of Feng Shui it seems that nowhere is the duality of the two opposing yet complementary forces of Yang & Yin more so very pronounced than in gardens and garden areas. It comes to pass that the strong solid mountains or rocks which represent them, contrast ever so greatly if not profoundly with the still deep waters in the lakes & ponds. The ancients often would point out with great relish that this would not be so apparent if the image portrayed by each would not be so effective if the two were not in such direct contrast with each other indeed. It can be said that on our earth that the beauty of a single flower is more pronounced when set against a dark, rocky surface, as are the twinned branches when seen against the sky. In life it is not absolutes that count but rather comparisons and contrasts. So goes it in life and so too in the art & sciences of those who practice Feng Shui.
True there is a great feeling of serenity in a Chinese garden, but not for one moment that it is lifeless, still or sterile. There is a movement and also sound – the rustle of wind through the trees as well as the distinct and profound calls of birds and animals. In addition movement is also suggested by the shapes of the rocks themselves, which may have been given evocative names like Flying Dragon or Great Schmendrick as well as in the very patterns within the weathered rock faces themselves – almost like camouflage. The bent trunks and twisted stems of carefully positioned trees and shrubs contrast with the pale or even sometimes dingy tints of the walls and pillars of the sky. It has been said that ancient Chinese gardens provided the great backdrop and backdrops for social life and lives in the most influential of Chinese households and social circles. Operas, dancing and music filled the environs of many many Chinese gardens with sound, light and great ambience. These traditionally were lit by lanterns which created their own tableaux no doubt.
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All in all in a Chinese garden nothing is left to chance, fortune or misfortune.
It seems that everything in a Chinese garden is more than strategically placed to highlight its great intrinsic beauty as well as impact. Each and every point of structure is not alone or isolated. They are seen and held in relation to everything and anything around and adjacent to that specific structure or point of light.
True to its form an English country garden can be filled with the richest variety of flowers and horticulture and is lovely in a completely different way and manner overall. In an English garden setting the focus may be on one stone or solitary flower bloom is all that is needed to create a most powerful visual impact.
Yet in a Chinese garden setting it is not a matter of one solitary plant or rock – it is the whole collection at peace with itself and indeed with the inhabitants of the abode, their lives and activities. A balance of Yin & Yang prevails. Each and every plant and indeed rock outcrop in a fine Chinese garden can be said to be endowed with the greatest balancing act of the forces of Ying & Yang. So is it in the Chinese language, and so is it in a Chinese garden arrangement. Feng Shui!
