NABF Newsletter #6

Feature #11

Sun Yat-Sen

A compilation of information taken from the website and
input from the Executive Director: Yvonne Chui

Classical Chinese gardens contain plants known for their mystical and symbolic qualities. Unlike Western gardens in which plants are 'collected' and massed together, plants in this Garden are used sparingly and each one is selected for its symbolic meaning and its ability to evoke a natural landscape.

This careful selection of plants, trees, and shrubs creates different moods and gives each area a unique character. Selecting the vegetation according to their blossom time is very important in a Chinese garden. This reinforces the importance of seasonal change and heightens the anticipation of spring as the Garden awakens from the winter months. Different from Western gardens, all the seasons are enjoyed in a Chinese garden. Climactically, Vancouver and Suzhou are quite similar, so many of the plants in the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Garden are similar to those found in classical gardens of China.

The Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden in Vancouver, British Columbia is the first full-sized classical Chinese garden outside China and, though it was built in 1985-86, it employed the ancient techniques of the original Ming dynasty gardens. For the architect, the botanist, the student of history, the lover of beauty, the Garden provides insights into the subtle wonders to be found within the walls of this living treasure.

In the early 80s architects Joe Wai and Donald Vaughan were commissioned to design the outer park to reflect a public park style in contrast to the Ming dynasty style garden. At this time, a team of experts from the Landscape Architecture Company of Suzhou, China visited Vancouver to inspect the Park site for possible construction of a classical Chinese garden within the Park. Among this group was Mr. Wang Zu-Xin, who later became the chief architect for the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden.

From 1983 to 1985 fund raising efforts were undertaken to finance the project. Funding for the Garden came in many forms. Joint donations came by the Canadian and Chinese governments, the local Chinese community, and the private and public sector at large.

Known as the "Father of Modern China," Dr. Sun Yat Sen was an important figure in the development of the Republic of China. He was internationally recognized by members of all political affiliations for his central role in the history of modern China. As the first non-gentry leader of a political movement, he sought to bring democracy to his country during the early years of the 20th century.

His connection with Vancouver is significant since he visited on three separate occasions on fund raising missions to support the revolution which ultimately overturned the Manchu Dynasty. Born into a peasant family in the Cuiheng Village, Xiangshan County(now Zhongshan City) in Guangdong Province on November 12, 1866, he was educated in Hawaii where he was sent to live with an elder brother and therefore exposed to Western thought at an early age.

Although he became a doctor, he left his medical career in order to devote himself to the cause of democracy. As China's first professional revolutionary, he traveled around the world to promote the pro-democracy movement and
raise funds for his work.

Dr. Sun Yat-Sen is credited with leading the 1911 revolution that finally overthrew the Qing dynasty. He became the first president of the Republic of China in 1912, but after only a few short months in office he resigned as President and devoted his efforts to the economic development of China. A struggle and battle which he endured for the rest of his life.

Since his death in 1925, Dr. Sun Yat Sen's persona has evolved into a heroic symbol of modern China. He is canonized as Kuo Fu, the Father of the Country.