Chinese Garden of Serenity

The Chinese Garden of Serenity (Ġnien is-Serenità) is a public Chinese garden in Santa Luċija, Malta. Construction of the Garden of Serenity began in September 1996. The Prime Minister of Malta, Dr Alfred Sant, officially opened it on July 7, 1997.

Chinese gardens traditionally symbolize various philosophical ideas. Chinese gardens are intended to encourage people to roam freely in their inner thoughts, and are designed around three principles. A garden must:

Rocks and water are the two important physical elements in a Chinese garden. Their combination forms the architecture and horticulture. Rocks and water symbolize the basis of nature, yin and yang, all that gives life. Rocks are the body of the world—the hills and valleys. The water is the world's spirit, providing oxygen, breath, the liquid clouds, blood running through the veins. The rocks symbolize all that is active, the work, the forces of work. The water symbolizes all that is contemplated—all that compliments work, thought, freedom, silence, and reflection— in other words, serenity.

The "Serenity Garden" in Santa Luċija therefore, symbolizes life, birth to death. The fountain at the beginning of the garden is birth, with the water in the background symbolizing the mother, the water as if giving birth, the happiness of a new life. The beginning of childhood.

Childhood is represented by the space between the fountain and the garden door—the door to maturity. As in life, one finds two paths, one is straight with no problems, no difficulties, serene under the guidance of parents—while the other is a serpentine path, full of adventure, danger, curving away from the parents’ sight. The parents are represented by statues of two lions.

From childhood one passes into maturity. This threshold, which everyone in life must go through, offers a welcome through to a large portico that offers shelter. Inside, "Wu," ("the wonder of life") is written inside the door. Here, the rocks are placed to resemble the image of a god, as if on an altar surrounded by plants and flowers. The inscription behind the rocks says "The pleasure of heaven." Here, the choices of life begin. On the right, a small door gives welcomes you to an elevated patio. This leads to corridors that represent an active life—the sunrise of a new life.

The corridor is in a zig-zag form that represents life's windings and difficulties. Even the bridge zig-zags like the difficult bridges we cross in life. To remind us we are don't face this active life on our won, the corridor is covered with the symbol of comfort.

The garden provides a choice of experiences. On the other side of the bridge, a round door in the form of a moon is inscribed, "The path to retreat," a spiritual retreat from the crowd. This pathway holds the freedom of mind, not hidden, dark thoughts, but thoughts inspired by observing living nature.

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Wikipedia