Books & Media
Listen to the Fragrance
The Portland Classical Chinese Garden, Lan Su Yuan, grew out of a friendship between the sister cities of Portland, Oregon and Suzhou, a Chinese city renowned for its ancient gardens. Lan Su Yuan - poetically named the Garden of Awakening Orchids - is a microcosm of nature’s splendors contained in an urban setting. Created to nurture and inspire all who visit, this classical garden is little changed from what might have greeted visitors during China’s Ming dynasty.
In Chinese tradition, garden landscape without poetry is not complete, and Lan Su Yuan is graced with a wealth of poetic inscriptions. In Listen to the Fragrance, Professor Charles Wu provides translation and insightful commentary, guiding us on a literary tour of the garden and revealing hidden meaning among its flowers, moving water, Lake Tai rocks, and elegant architecture. With stories and legends from ancient dynasties and images of scenic wonders from China’s vast history, the inscriptions deepen our appreciation of Lan Su Yuan’s beauty. The rich canon of classical Chinese poetry enhances the garden as a new setting for China’s enduring culture.
Listen to the Fragrance will engage readers in the poetic conversation deeply embedded within the landscape of classical Chinese gardens.
$14.95
The Garden Plants of China by Peter Valder
This book is an essential reference for everyone who grows or is given pleasure by the garden plants of China, for those who like to read about them or admire their depictions in Chinese paintings and decorative art, for those interested in garden history, and for visitors to China with an interest in plants, gardens, and Chinese culture in general.
$49.95
The Chinese Garden by Maggie Keswick
When The Chinese Garden was published in 1978, it was the first attempt in any language to explore the meanings that lie behind Chinese gardens. Now thoroughly revised and with new illustrations, it remains a classic of the subject. In a scholarly and accessible way, it traces the Chinese garden back through the earliest records, and explains its influence on, and how it was influenced by, philosophy, painting, architecture and literature. An exploration of Chinese culture, and how this culture manifested itself in the art of garden-making and design, The Chinese Garden provides unique insights into a great civilization and an intimate glimpse of the lives of the artists, scholars, poets and emperors who made it.
$39.95
Item Code 103458
Gardens in China by Peter Valder
With their distinctive characteristics, the gardens of China are among the most fascinating in the world. Many excellent books have been written about them but, on the whole, they have dealt only with the surviving imperial gardens and a selection of those of retired officials. Rarely are the fascinating courtyards and gardens of temples mentioned, nor the evocative enclosures of ancient burial grounds and imperial tombs – to say nothing of the public parks, botanical gardens and arboreta, most of which have sprung up since 1949.
In this book Peter Valder describes over 200 gardens in China which he has visited, including representatives of all types. In order to introduce them, he looks at how over the years Western visitors have perceived and come to understand Chinese gardens, and for each site provides notes on its location, history and plants. A description of more than 200 imperial, private, temple, botanical and public gardens in China, including notes on their history and significance, together with 500 color photographs.
$49.95
Chinese Brush Painting
A complete painting kit for beginners. This inspiring set includes a 32 page booklet, water colors, ink stick and stone, three assorted brushes and watercolor paper! A perfect introduction to the timeless tradition of Chinese brush painting for anyone who wants to learn.
$19.95
Item Code 102539
CD - Bamboo in the Wind
This is the debut CD of the Hwa-yun Bamboo Orchestra comprised of Beijing’s most talented musicians. This album features a variety of traditional bamboo instruments and a superb female vocalist, an elegant and wonderful CD for any lover of Chinese music.
$19.95
Item Code 105738
CD - Taste Zen in Tea
Music master Zhang Wei-liang expresses the colors, smells and tastes of tea with musical instruments and then transforms the music into Zen. In addition to Chinese instruments such as the bamboo flute, gu-zheng and er-hu, he also utilizes western string symphony and MIDI.
$19.95
Item Code 105736