ANDREW HEISER
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THE HUNTINGTON CHINESE GARDEN >

 —THE HUNTINGTON CHINESE GARDEN— 

San Marino, California. 2024

Liu Fang Yuan is based on the mid-late Ming dynasty (1368–1644) style of a scholars’ garden, especially the gardens from the city of Suzhou, China. The mid-late Ming dynasty, 16-17th centuries, was a time of increased garden-making activity in China because of a variety of economic and social factors. 

The garden’s name, Liu Fang Yuan, means The Garden of Flowing Fragrance and is a reference to an ancient Chinese poem, Rhapsody on the Luo River Goddess by Cao Zhi. A verse of the poem, translated into English, reads, “She treads in the pungency of pepper-plant paths / walks through wild ginger, making its fragrance flow” (translation provided by Phillip E. Bloom, Curator of the Chinese Garden). 

What does this verse call to mind for you? What does it make you think of? What does it make you feel? Can you imagine the sounds in the garden as the goddess walks through the plants? Can you imagine the smells? 

Chinese scholars’ gardens are designed to promote scholarship, relaxation, and human connection. In the mid-late Ming, Chinese scholars’ gardens functioned in the same ways that some people today use backyards. Owners sometimes spent time in their gardens alone to relax or to think. Owners also invited people to visit in the gardens. Parties with games and conversation were common in Chinese scholars’ gardens. In addition to throwing parties, owners of gardens often brought people together in the garden to create art. They performed music and brought friends together to compose poetry or make paintings.  

Today, Liu Fang Yuan functions in a similar way to the mid-late Ming scholars’ gardens. Some visitors to the garden walk through the garden alone, peacefully reflecting on the poetry, architecture, plants, and other elements of the garden. Other visitors enjoy the garden with friends and family, playing games and interacting with each other. The Huntington also puts on events and art shows in the garden to promote creativity and human connection [The Huntington].