Huntington Gardens Response

Huntington Gardens Response
The Chinese and Japanese Gardens at Huntington are two of the most unique sites that I have ever visited. As soon as I walked into both, I felt completely immersed in their respective cultures. In our studies of Japanese Culture, we discussed the attachment that the Japanese felt to nature prior to their period of modernization. This reverence for nature is clear in their attention to detail throughout the Japanese Garden. For example, the Japanese House blends seamlessly into the garden with its use of natural materials. In addition, the bonsai trees are elegantly pruned to achieve their maximum beauty. Although this could be viewed as artificially manipulating nature for the pleasure of humans, the Japanese intention was likely to honor nature. I am curious to …show more content…
For example, our tour guide, Ralph, explained how the water throughout the garden represent the ever-changing aspect of life and that the rocks intricately placed throughout the garden illustrate the eternal conditions of life. This shows the amount of care that the Chinese put into the gardens and the importance that each piece of the garden meant to them. While walking through the garden, it was amazing to notice these considerations for the smallest details throughout the nature and architecture. Often, when I am in nature, I focus on the bigger picture, but fail to notice the subtle beauties throughout it. The tour of this garden changed my perspective on how nature can be appreciated. It was also impressive how they tried to keep the Chinese garden as natural as possible, even though it was made in a slightly artificial manner. Many of the trees that surround the garden were kept during construction and the lake in the middle of the garden was placed in a location where rain naturally gathers. This desire for authenticity made me appreciate the garden even