The UCLA Hannah Carter Japanese Garden
Jaime Gilmour May 2005
In 1965, the Chairman of the University, Edward W. Carter purchased and donated the Japanese Gardens to UCLA. Located a mile from campus, these gardens were created by Mr. And Mrs. Gordon Guiberson in memory of Ethel L. Guiberson, the organizer of Beverly Hills Garden Club.
About Japanese Gardens: Originally built by Japanese Monasteries for worship and tranquil contemplation, these gardens were largely influenced by Zen Buddhism and have existed for fourteen centuries. Many Zen ideas such as simplicity, the quality of maturity, asymmetry, and imperfection are present within the traditional gardens. Rocks, water, and plants are key elements of these gardens and are used to symbolize the ocean, which has always played a vital role in the lives of Japanese people. Tea ceremonies are another important aspect of Zen, and the paths leading to the teahouses were often long and winding to give participants time to experience peace and tranquility.
In order to accurately replicate these features in their Bel Air garden, the Guibersons spent many months planning and traveling abroad. Nagao Sakurai, a famous Japanese landscape architect, was hired to design and plan the garden. The teahouse, bridges, main gate, shrine, and symbolic rocks were imported and assembled by Japanese artisans. Not wanting to falsely represent ancient culture and traditions, the Guibersons selected many of these artifacts themselves and made sure that the majority of the trees and plants in their garden were of species that are native to Japan.
Chancellor Murphy expresses his passions for this ancient art form in a pamphlet about the UCLA Japanese Gardens:
“The Japanese Garden is an art form with which Americans have a great affinity-perhaps because of the pace at which we live, perhaps because it was ‘discovered’ by so many of us at the end of the Second World War when, sick of violence and in search of stable values, we found in Japan, especially around Kyoto, the ultimate in serenity and permanence. The Japanese Garden, ancient in purpose, pattern and symbolism, brings peace to both eye and spirit.”
Several UCLA departments including Theater Arts,
Architecture, and Botany utilize the Japanese Gardens. These gardens are
open to the public by reservation only. For more information regarding
visiting
hours
please visit the UCLA Japanese
Garden Website.
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Works Cited:
Hamilton, Andres, and John B. Jackson. UCLA on the Move. The Ward Ritchie Press, 1969. 90-91
“Gardens”. University Archives Subject Files(Reference Collection)
Images:
"UCLA Hannah Carter Japanese Garden Online Tour". Google Images. 22 May 2005