Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden

Location: 578 Carrall St, Vancouver, BC V6B 5K2

Located in Vancouver’s historic ‘Chinatown’ district at 578 Carrall Street, the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden 中山公园 unites dimensions of architecture, ethnobotany, and spatial design to convey visual forms of cultural storytelling. Originally constructed in 1986; the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden is a site that educates, preserves, and transmits dimensions of Chinese culture. Constructed to be the first of its kind beyond the geographical boundaries of China, the garden is seen by many as an overseas emissary that integrates unique aspects of the Chinese culture and its traditions into Vancouver’s multicultural landscape.

When learning from cultural sites such as the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen garden, it is critical to reflect on the racist colonial policies that mediated the cities tumultuous relationship with its Chinese immigrant population. During its initial stages of proposal, Vancouver’s city council was attempting to pass a policy that would permit the construction of a freeway that would run directly through the ethnic diasporas of Chinatown and Strathcona. Hidden under the guise of “urban renewal”; the true intentions of the proposal reflect Vancouver’s institutionalized support for ethnic exclusion, cultural erasure, and white supremacist attitudes. Shortly after a unanimous vote overturned the freeway proposal, the garden was built in Chinatowns centre to act as a cornerstone in Vancouver's newfound efforts to protect and promote the city's diverse ethnic heritage.

Currently operating as a multi-utilitarian space, the garden is both a registered museum and venue for cultural and educational programming, events, guided tours, and exhibitions. The garden receives its name from the respected politician, doctor, and philosopher Dr. Sun Yat-Sen who gained international recognition for his campaign to promote cultural understanding between China and the West.

Unifying dimensions of architecture, water features, ethnobotany, and spatial design, Chinese gardens have historically operated as a vessel for storytelling through a lens of cultural signification. The layout of each classical garden is designed to create individual scenes that communicate a culturally significant story to its visitors. Physical elements such as water features, pagodas, and specific types of vegetation function as metaphors of culture that enable the garden to communicate with its visitors. For example, water features and ponds are frequently used features in Chinese gardens as they reflect the cultural principles of Fengshui; in Chinese culture, water is said to represent positive energy and vitality. The communicative properties of the garden are also reflected within its spatial design; twisting and winding paths that progress from one scene to another to determine the sequence of the garden's narrative.

Functioning as a space for cultural communication, the garden regularly hosts exhibits from Chinese artists and curators. The garden provides a platform for creators to showcase their experiences and understanding of their culture to their community and the wider public. 'Luminous Garden' is Dr. Sun-Yat Sen’s current featured exhibit, curated by local artist Lam Wong. The exhibit uses the garden as a canvas to investigate how it creates space and understanding of spiritual growth in Chinese culture.

A major success of the garden is its ability to communicate cross-culturally. Located within Chinatown's center, the garden is a space that members of the community can visit to engage and express their cultural heritage, but it also a space of education and cultural appreciation. Beyond the Chinese community, the garden operates as one of Vancouver’s most successful tourist attractions as it draws visitors from a spectrum of ethnic backgrounds.

References

Bin, H., & Yan, A. (2011). Dr. sun yat-sen garden and contemporary propagation of the Chinese classical garden. Paper presented at the 6529-6532. doi:10.1109/ICETCE.2011.5776045

Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Park, A classical Chinese garden in Vancouver. (1982). Urban History Review, 10(3), 57.

Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden (n.d.). retrieved from https://vancouverchinesegarden.com/.

Rinaldi, B. M. (2011;2012;). The Chinese garden: Garden types for contemporary landscape architecture (1. Aufl. ed.). Basel; New York; Birkhäuser.