As we welcome the autumn’s vibrant colors, shedding of leaves and bounty harvest, it’s fitting to find an “escape” close to home to celebrate the changing of the seasons. As the International Correspondent for TDC, I also enjoy exploring our community to find local places that embrace the roots of Ancient China and provide an understanding of Chinese life. My recent discovery is the beautiful and authentic treasure of the New York Chinese Scholar’s Botanical Garden, at the Snug Harbor Cultural Center on Staten Island.
The Chinese Scholar’s Garden, which opened in 1999, was a collaboration between the City of New York, the Landscape Architecture Company of China and the Metropolitan Chinese American Community, becoming the first authentic Chinese Garden in the United States. Starting in the 1980s, the Gardens were a vision of Frances Huber, the President of Snug Harbor during the 1980s. An individual passionate about Asian culture’s New York roots, specifically on the docks of Staten Island, Huber transformed this retirement community for sailors into a vibrant park and sanctuary to celebrate the sacrifices of the Chinese in the development of Snug Harbor. The gardens themselves are modeled after a traditional Ming Dynasty garden, which lasted from 1368 until 1644.
Designed by visionary architect and scholar Zou Gongwu in China, he used his heritage to develop a project that was sentimental to the Chinese community from all over New York. Every element, from stones to plants to sculpture, were carefully chosen by Zou’s team with a close attention to the temperate climate in the Northeast. Carefully selected items were transported via cargo-vessel to New York, where artisans and craftsmen placed the materials according to 风水. The plant choices also had a hidden meaning. The use of American and Chinese botany together, were meant to savor and treasure the friendship and special bond between our two nations. Finally, Chinese philosophy is exchanged here at the Chinese Scholar’s Garden, merging Buddhist shrines, with Confucian values in an orderly setting, with Taoist values of peace and tranquility. At the end of a visit to this garden, one will feel refreshed, invigorated and relaxed. In other words, this place is to evoke the senses of how a Chinese Scholar would feel, after living on the grounds of this garden, stimulating free-flowing ideas about nature and their awareness of the world around them.
Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden is also an educational center offering classes in calligraphy, art and meditation and a place to celebrate cultural events, festivals, and holidays. The mission of the scholars is to provide visitors a retreat to get in touch with their senses. What makes the botanical gardens so symbolic, however, is the partnership of American and Chinese designers creating a cooperation of nature and culture.
Below is a link to a video, which provides a glimpse into the exquisite gardens and picturesque setting of this local getaway: a peaceful treasure and escape for scholars and local visitors. These contagious tranquil surroundings will inspire you to add this escape to your bucket list for an autumn family road trip.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbBCgPrqZcE
Some of the information and pictures found in this article came from the following sources:
http://snug-harbor.org/botanical-garden/new-york-chinese-scholars-garden/
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/20/nyregion/where-to-get-away-in-new-york-without-getting-away.html
https://www.nycgo.com/museums-galleries/snug-harbor-cultural-center-botanical-garden
https://www.nyc-arts.org/organizations/345/snug-harbor-cultural-center-and-botanical-garden
It’s great that you have been so exposed to nature and the roots of China, Matthew! The video looks so nice, and I really would like to visit the Chinese Scholar’s Botanical Garden, at the Snug Harbor Cultural Center on Staten Island some day. I recall visiting a Ming Dynasty exhibit at the Met, which reminded me of this garden. Everything is so strategically placed to symbolize the collision of American and Chinese cultures. Zou Gongwu is a truly talented architect to create such a beautiful and complimentarily cohesive garden.
Thank you for another captivating and beautifully written article and sharing your discovery about the Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden. Such a fascinating history . Can’t wait to take a day trip to SI this fall.
Another very nice article! I liked the descriptions of the places with the clear and clean images that you used. I have never even known about this place and that it was so close to us. Maybe one day, if I have nothing to do, I’ll try to go here. Zou Gongwu’s works are stunning and I hope you can make more articles on him and his architecture in the future. Thanks for the article!
Wow this is such a nice place! I definitely will take a trip to these exquisite gardens and structures. Looking at these images make me feel so serene and calm. I wonder how I’ve never been to such a nice place when it was so close to home. I am truly thankful for Zou’s skillful team to bring Chinese culture into New York so everyone can enjoy it. Keep up the good work Matthew!
Great article Mathew! The pictures were very beautiful and fit well with the writing. I would love to visit these places one day, as they all look beautiful. Your writing was also very neat and organized, it made it easier to read and process information. It’s odd to me that even though these places are so close to us I’ve never visited one yet. Thanks for writing this!
That place looks amazing! Those pictures were really stunning and captured my eyes. They fit perfectly with what the article is talking about. I wish I could visit all of them one day and see it for myself. It is great to see Chinese culture being represented in New York. Great job Matthew, keep up the good work!
Wow, that looks really relaxing! I wonder how much of Chinese culture is entwined in relaxation escapes like these, as I can imagine adherence to nature being a huge principle in many aspects of Chinese culture. Now I really want to take a trip to the Snug Harbor Cultural Center just to find my own escape, as many of us would really appreciate something like this. Thanks for the really inspiring and interesting article, Matthew!
Wow, that looks really relaxing! I wonder how much of Chinese culture is entwined in relaxation escapes like these, as I can imagine adherence to nature being a huge principle in many aspects of Chinese culture. Now I really want to take a trip to the Snug Harbor Cultural Center just to find my own escape, as many of us would really appreciate something like this. Nice job on the really inspiring and interesting article, Matthew!
Wow, that place looks beautiful. I can’t believe I’ve never heard of it until now. I love how this garden symbolizes the cross between two cultures. Zou Gongwu is seriously talented to be able to create such a masterpiece. Hopefully, I can visit the Chinese Scholar’s Botanical Garden, at the Snug Harbor Cultural Center on Staten Island in the future.
Awesome article! I have never even heard of this place but now that I know about it, I Have to go there with my family. The scenery is amazing and I would have thought that this was a place in China if I didn’t read the article itself.