18 September 2014
The Short Answer (TSA)
A part of
traditional Chinese architecture, the Moon Gate is a kind of garden gate. A Moon Gate is a circular opening in a garden
wall onto a path leading through a large garden.
Moon Gate Saint Louis Botanical Garden
The Chinese
Moon Gate is a “study” in itself. The
“gate” is more than just a part of building design. The shape and even the tiles used to build
and decorate the Moon Gate have meanings.
The upper “round” shape of the top of the Moon Gate symbolizes the “half
moon” of the Chinese summers. Every tile
used to decorate the gate has a traditional spiritual meaning. Even the shapes of the tiles have a spiritual
significance. Then, the tiles are often decorated
with Chinese symbols intended to bring luck, happiness, and good fortune.
Moon Gate
The size of
the Moon Gate and its place in a large garden wall assured that only the very
wealthy had the money to build such gates.
You had to be fairly well off to even afford a walled garden of the
necessary size. Because of their rarity,
these gates might have stayed a beautiful, but almost hidden, part of Chinese
culture.
Moon Gate
But in the
19th century, the British began importing Japanese Easter lilies for gardens in
England and other British territorial possessions, including Bermuda. It isn’t clear whether or not the Asian
flavor of the lilies caused Bermuda garden designers to look to China for
inspiration. But, the Chinese Moon Gate
suddenly appeared in garden designs in Bermuda.
Bermuda Style Moon Gate
Unlike the
Chinese original, the Bermuda version of the Moon Gate is freestanding or
attached to only a low wall. The Bermuda
gate hasn’t the rich cultural significance the Chinese version of the
gate. But, Bermuda newlyweds are said to
enjoy good luck after stepping through a Moon Gate.
Bermuda Moon Gate
The classic
Moon Gate design is also used in small bridges over canals and watercourses.
Moon Bridge
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