Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden

This Suzhou-style scholar’s garden home built by craftsmen from China without the use of nails, screws or glue, was the first of its kind built outside China. The site of this unique Canadian museum was once home to buildings including a sawmill, brothels, opera house, opium factory and train station. The Dr Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden is an important bridge between cultures.

The first full scale Chinese classical garden outside of Asia

The Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden is modeled after the famous Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) gardens from the city of Suzhou. When this garden was completed in 1986 in time for Expo 86, it was the first full scale Chinese classical garden constructed outside of Asia.

The Garden is situated on a site where Vancouver’s Chinatown first began. At the time, it was at the edge of False Creek and consisted of Chinese association buildings, sawmills, brothels, theatres, and until 1920 – the Great Northern Railway. In the late 1960’s plans were underway for a freeway to go through Chinatown. These plans were thwarted and part of the reclaimed land was then designated for a Chinese Cultural Centre and an adjoining park and Chinese garden.

The planning and fundraising for the park and garden began in 1976 with the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Garden located just west of the public Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Park. Together, the park and garden covers just over 2.5 acres with the Classical Garden covering approximately 1/2 an acre. In Vancouver, all public parks must be opened to the general public for free.  Anticipating the costs to continually maintain a Classical Chinese Garden, the area was divided into two spaces – the larger free park, administered by Vancouver Parks Board, was completed in 1983 and the smaller classical garden, requiring admission fees, was completed in 1986 (and expanded in 2004) and is managed by the non-profit, Dr. Sun-Yat Sen Classical Chinese Garden Society.

Dr. Sun Yat-Sen and Vancouver

Dr. Sun Yat Sen (1866-1925), known as the “Father of Modern China”, was a Chinese revolutionary. He was educated in the West and became a doctor but returned to China to unify and modernize his country. He founded the Nationalist Party and formed the first Republic after overturning the last dynasty (the Ch’ing/Qing Dynasty). He visited Vancouver three times in 1897, 1910 and 1911, not only to hide from the Empress but to also fundraise for his campaigns. There are accounts of Dr. Sun Yat-Sen staying at the Hotel Pennsylvania (412 Carrall St) and also the Chinese Freemasons Building (5 West Pender St.) in Chinatown. In the early 1900’s, Chinese in Vancouver donated more money per capita than any other North American city.

Features of a Classical Chinese Garden

Of the three types of Classical Chinese Gardens, (the Imperial Garden, the Monastery Garden and the Scholar Garden), the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden is a scholar’s garden. During the Ming Dynasty, scholars often became the emperor’s senior administrators. Their homes included gardens, which were surrounded by high walls to prevent distraction from the outside world and to provide a peaceful space for scholarly reflection on philosophy and truth.

Scholars’ gardens were characteristically small and adjoined the scholar’s residence. Despite its small size, there is no single vantage point where one can obtain a total view of the garden. The garden was purposely designed as a series of unfolding scenic vistas, like displaying multiple landscape paintings. Winding walkways and corridors ensure the entire path cannot be seen. The zigzag paths have a dual purpose of slowing one’s steps so that the garden can be fully appreciated; and of warding away evil spirits.

The key elements of a Chinese Classical Garden are architecture, rocks, water, plants and calligraphy. These elements are used to reflect Confucian ideals as well as the Tao (Dao) principles of yin and yang. Yin having more ephemeral, feminine qualities while the yang being more solid, permanent and masculine. Items are carefully placed to ensure a flow of positive energy (ch’i/qi) and to create harmony. The garden exemplifies the balance between opposites – white walls and dark roof tiles; floor tiles with smooth stones contrasting with rough porcelain; flexible bamboo next to rigid rocks; the north side of the garden exhibits yin qualities with rounded designs in the leak windows and floor tiles whereas the south side of the garden has yang qualities with more straight-edged patterns.

• Architecture In the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Garden, the architecture is based on Ming Dynasty design. Courtyards, pavilions, corridors and bridges and symbolic motifs of plants and animals are incorporated into the floors, tiles, windows and door pulls. Bats, representing good fortune, are in the design of the door handles and roof’s drip tiles. Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Garden has 45 leak windows, each one different from the other. The leak windows along the corridors maintain privacy and allow light and air to come into the garden. The circular Moon Gate is symbolic – representing heaven and perfection.

• Rocks symbolize nature’s rugged landscape and force (yang). Some of the rocks are formed into  “false mountains” with multiple crevices for the good spirits to live in. In the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, the craggy, weathered, water-worn limestone rocks are from Suzhou’s famous Lake Tai (Tai Hui).

• Water represents the ‘yin’ of nature and the flow of life. A Classical Chinese Garden centres on a pond, which is made purposely opaque with a clay liner so that it can reflect the surrounding and create a sense of tranquility. The jade colour symbolizes purity.

• Plants Unlike Western gardens, plants in a Classical Chinese Garden do not have a dominant role. Instead, plants are used sparingly and are meant to complement the garden. Plants are chosen for their symbolism, their season, the mood they create and the space they define. Winter-flowering plum depicts renewal and rebirth; the bamboo symbolizes resiliency and flexibility; the ginkgo represents China; the maple represents Canada; and, the pine symbolizes steadfastness, and longevity. The plants are local with 70% traditionally found in a Suzhou gardens.

The Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden also has a collection of penjing plants (landscapes in small trays/bowls) that were donated by a Hong Kong benefactor in 1992. Penjing is an art form dating back to the 8^th Century AD and a precursor to Japanese bonsai. All the plants are regularly and carefully pruned to ensure that there is a sense of relationship and balance among all the garden’s elements. It is important that the architecture, such as the Ting (Yun Wei Ting or “Cloudy and Colourful Pavilion”), and rocks and pebbles are seen and not hidden by overgrown trees or bushes.

• Calligraphy is an integral part of a Chinese Garden. What the words say and how they are written were carefully selected. The Sun Yat-Sen Classical Garden uses four different styles of script to add diversity. The signs, couplets and poetry add insight and mood. In the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Garden, one of the scrolls in the Main Hall states:  “An exquisite garden built in Vancouver to commemorate the accomplishments of the past ages”. The Garden uses poetic names for its pavilions, like “Cloudy and Colourful Pavilion” , “Study of the Four Seasons”, “Hall of One Hundred Rivers”. One of the garden plaques reads “Yi Yuan”, Garden of Ease or Lingering Garden. Some of the top Chinese scholars in Canada contributed their works. Even the sign at the main entrance way to the public park is significant as it is a carved version of calligraphy by Madam Sun Yat-Sen.

Made in China

The materials, tools and techniques used to construct the garden were almost identical to those used in the Ming Dynasty. Much of the architectural components are from China – the carved woodwork; the limestone rocks; the courtyard pebbles; and the roof tiles were fired in China’s Imperial Kilns. The wood all comes from China – Chinese fir for the structural components; camphor for the curved rafters (whose scent also helps repel insects); gingko wood for the screens. The columns of the China Maple Hall and Scholar’s Study are made of nan wood – a species used in China for over 2000 years. The floor tiles are made of pebbles form riverbeds in China and broken Chinese porcelain. All these materials were prepared in Suzhou packed into 965 wood crates and brought to Vancouver in 70 steel containers.

Built by Hand

The Suzhou Garden Administration arranged a team of 52 Suzhou artisans (e.g. masons, carpenters, painters, carvers, tilers) to construct the garden by hand in 13 months (March 1985-April 1986). Traditional tools and equipment were used as much as possible – no power tools, screws or glues. Vancouver architect, Joe Wai and landscape architect, Don Vaughan worked with the Suzhou team to ensure authenticity but still accommodate Vancouver’s building code and current technological requirements. At the time, the garden cost $5.3M to build.

Working Together

The Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Garden symbolizes a number of collaborative efforts and relationships. The planning and development began in the 70’s at a time when China was just opening its doors and needing to develop relationships with the rest of the world. The project promoted cultural understanding and involved cooperation between Canadians and Chinese. The Garden’s China Maple Hall was built to signify this friendship.

The development of the Garden involved all levels of government. Financing relied on federal, provincial, municipal, and private funding. Vancouver’s Chinese and non-Chinese communities worked together to make the garden a reality. Support continues on with the Sun Yat-Sen Garden Society receiving invaluable assistance from its dedicated volunteers.

The Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Garden is a site of educational programs, tours, exhibits, author readings, special events, and concerts – all encouraging and fostering cross-cultural understanding.

Sources

• Changing Vancouver:  Then and Now Images. 
• Gee, D. “Vancouver’s Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden celebrates 30th anniversary.” Vancouver Sun 2016.
• McLean, H..  Statement of Significance.  BC Register of Historic Places Application.
• Keswick, M., Oberlander, J.,  Wai, J.  “In A Chinese Garden – The Art and Architecture of the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Garden.”   The Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Garden Society of Vancouver, 1999.
• Liu, D.  “Garden, Power, and the Other:  The Cultural Politics of the Dr. Sun Yat Sen Garden” U of Manitoba, 1994.
• Rossiter, S.  “The Dr. Sun Yat Sen Garden – A Catalogue of Earthly Delights.”  Beautiful BC, Vol 31, Fall 1989, p. 6.
• Vaughan, D.  “Vancouver’s Classical Chinese Garden”  Pacific Horticulture, Spring 1988.
• Wai, Hayne.  Interview with Shona Lam.  July 18, 2017. Public Tour.  Aug 1, 2017.
• Wai, H ., Wilmots, B. “Essential Elements of the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden.”  Presentation for the Master Gardeners Association, Feb 8, 2016.
• Wickberg, E.  “Chinese and Canadian Influences on Chinese Politics in Vancouver 1900-1947. “  BC Studies, 45 (Spring 1989) p. 37-55.

Nearby Sites

• Smilin’ Buddha Cabaret
• Georgia Street Viaducts
• Hogan’s Alley