RonnieAdventures: RonnieAdventure #0354 - Cal State Long Beach Campus & Japanese Gardens

Granddaughter Ashley (15) wanted to learn how to use a SLR camera, so we decided to visit the Earl Burns Miller Japanese Gardens, located on the campus of California State University Long Beach, to practice photography skills. She did a great job, as can be seen by some of the following pictures.

The walkway leading to the gardens is lined lined by tamamoto hedges, bonsai, artistic pruned trees, historically inspired lanterns, and large wooden gates modeled after those found in the gardens of Kyoto. Tamamoto means "round" in Japanese and is a technique used when pruning shrubs to mimics natural motion and the curvature of rolling hills.

Photography by Ashley

The Kasuga lantern located next to the garden entrance gate was imported from Japan and is abstractly sculptured with figures to depict a deer with a horn and hoof motif.

Photography by Ashley

When entering the gardens, there are two Koma-Ina ("lion dogs) standing guard at the entrance gate to ward off evil spirits. One is listening and the other is speaking.

Photography by Ashley

Gardens in Japan were traditionally viewed from inside of a room, looking outward. Therefore, the Miller Garden is divided into various "rooms" for viewing. The first "Room" contains a Buddhist symbol that depicts Senju Kannon, or "Kannon of a thousand hands," which is symbolic of infinite compassion. Behind Senju Kannon is a three-tiered pagoda that is modeled after temples in Japan and stands as a reminder of the spirituality the gardens invoke.

Photography by Ashley

The Black Rock "Room" represents all three elements of a Japan Garden - Plant, Water, and Rock. Odd numbers are paramount in a Japanese Garden, so the black rock serves as a third waterfall. When it rains, the runoff resembles a waterfall as the water rushes over the rocks and cascades down into the pound.

At the lake's edge is a Yukimi-Doro, or "Snow Viewing" Lantern. It is one of the most popular Japanese lanterns because as snow falls on the umbrella-like structure, the snow creates a beautiful design as it accumulates. (In Long Beach, they are still waiting for the first snowfall.)

Moon Bridge is patterned after the arched bridges in Japan. When the bridge's reflection is viewed in the water, the bridge appears as a full circle, representing completeness of the garden.

Moon Bridge is the most popular wedding spot in the Gardens. Atop the bridge posts are bud-shaped Giboshi fertility symbols that are very prominent in Japanese culture. The symbols have been placed there to bless new marriages when starting a new family, and they also represent the eight spiritual principles that enlighten the path to Nirvana.

Along the path leading from Moon Bridge to the tea house is a panel that resembles a mythical Phoenix bird. According to legend, when a Phoenix dies it burst into flame and out of its own ashes comes a new Phoenix. The Phoenix bird is symbolic of immortality and represents good luck and longevity. Therefore, the Phoenix symbol along the path is meant to grace the newlywed couple's marriage with good luck, longevity, and unity.

Photography by Ashley

Photography by Ashley

According to the garden guide: "The Tea House is used to commemorate special occasions. The traditional tea ceremony is a spiritual occasion shared by host and guest. Sliding shoji doors cover the front of the teahouse, however, tea ceremony guests enter on the left side through the low nijiriguchi, or kneeling door, humbling themselves in the process, and forcing them to remove armor and weaponry as the teahouse is a place of peace... The main teahouse room has a little alcove in the back. The scroll hanging in the alcove is changed with each of the four seasons. Beneath the scroll is the flower vase called hana-ire, meaning 'Container in which flowers are simply placed.' The appropriate type of floral arrangement for tea ceremonies is called Ikebana. These arrangements are also changed seasonally... In front of the teahouse is the stone water basin or Tsukuba, which is used for traditional symbolic purification before the ceremony, and for the enjoyment of children passing by... The Jure-Sage lantern is located on the hill behind the stone water basin. It is thought to resemble a heron (or a crane), a traditional Japanese bird, standing salutarily in the rain. Its umbrella like structure is a depiction of the bird's wings above its head and the two holes on opposite sides represent the bird's eyes."

Photography by Ashley

A bamboo forest behind the tea house is the tallest grass found anywhere on campus.

The Pond Viewing "room" is a place to sit and enjoy feeding the Koi.

Photography by Ashley

The Karesansui (dry rock garden) resembles a body of water and is raked daily by students who take time to "contemplate life, love, and finals." The raked designs represent "state of the sea," and this design represents "tranquility." There are nine rocks (odd number), each representing an island in the sea. Traditionally, a rock garden is separated from the rest of the garden by a wall; but to keep the garden more unified and as natural as possible, plant materials have been used as the enclosure.

Photography by Ashley

The Zig-Zag walkway* forces the walker to be attentive and mindful of the current place and time - "being here in the now." At each turn, the walker is forced to look at different parts of the garden and lastly to look at what is left of the journey ahead. The walkway is made of Brazilian Ironwood, the strongest and densest wood on the planet. The wood is impervious to almost all pests and it is "able to withstand the harshest weather conditions for a hundred years." (I'm certain they intended to say 99 years.)

*Zig-Zag walkways are also known as Zig-Zag Bridges because in Japan's Mikiwa Province during the 10th century bridges zig-zagged across eight channels branching from a single river.

Photographer Unknown

Photography by Ashley

Photography b Ashley

Photography by Ashley

Near the end of the walkway is a five-tiered pagoda that represent the five cardinal virtues of Zen - humanity, justice, politeness, wisdom, and fidelity. At the end of the tour, the garden guide states: "Japanese gardens are designed to showcase the greenery of shrubs and trees and are generally more monochromatic than Western-style gardens, which emphasize the colors of blooming plants. The dominance of greenery creates a serene and restive quality in the garden, but southern California influence can be seen in the many blooming flowers throughout the Garden."

Photography by Ashley

The Cal State 18-story tall Walter Pyramid houses a sports arena and was used for the basketball scene in Adam Sandler's movie Little Nicky. The arena floor is about 20 feet below ground level.