Shoka is an
ancient word for stone. The Yuyuan
(garden) is a garden of stone, water, prana
(plants), and sculpture. Shaped by
the movement of water, the stones of the garden hold the peace acquired from
the ages lying at the bottom of a deep lake.
It is a famous classical garden located in the
very heart of Shanghai and completely surrounded by the city. It is an oasis in the center of the world’s
most cosmopolitan city. The garden was
finished in 1577 by a government officer of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) named
Pan Yunduan. Yu in Chinese means
pleasing and satisfying, and this garden was specially built for Pan's parents
as a place for them to enjoy a tranquil and happy time in their old age.
In the 400 years of its existence, Yuyuan Garden
underwent a number of changes. It became
very dilapidated during the late Ming Dynasty.
In 1760, some rich merchants bought the Garden and spent more than 20
years reconstructing the buildings.
During the Opium War of the 19th century, Yuyuan was severely
damaged. Today’s Garden is the result of
a five year restoration project which began in 1956. The garden was opened to the public in September 1961 and
declared a national monument in 1982
The true treasure of Yuyuan Garden is the “Exquisite
Jade Rock,” which is one of three famous rocks in the southern region of the
Yangtze River. “Exquisite
Jade Rock” (玉玲珑, Yù Línglóng) is a porous 3.3-meter, 5-ton
boulder. Rumors about its origin include
the story that it was meant for the imperial palace in Beijing, but was
salvaged after the boat sank off Shanghai.
I was at peace in Yuyuan.
Dragon heads and backs form the top of the walls, keeping the energy intact,
while prana plays with shoka to form unique designs of beauty
and solace. It invoked a feeling of
comfort and safety, reminiscent of caves.
This experience will provide a perspective for viewing the gardens in
Suzhou and Hangzhou later in this trip.
