THE HIDDEN VALLEY : VAN NUYS' ZEN HIDEAWAY.Urban seekers of Eden need look no further than the Japanese Garden Japanese gardens (Kanji 日本庭園, nihon teien), that is, gardens in traditional Japanese style, can be found at private homes, in neighborhood or city parks, at Buddhist temples or Shinto shrines, and at historical landmarks such as old castles. in Van Nuys. What is billed as ``a garden of water and fragrance'' at the Donald C. Tillman Water Reclamation Plant is 6-1/2 acres of exquisitely sculptured greenery and complex stone arrangements steeped in Buddhist symbolism Buddhist symbolism appeared from around the 3rd century BCE, and started with aniconic symbolism, avoiding direct representations of the Buddha. Anthropomorphic symbolism appeared from around the 1st century CE with the arts of Mathura and the Greco-Buddhist art of Gandhara, and and offering meditative med·i·ta·tive adj. Characterized by or prone to meditation. See Synonyms at pensive. med  i·ta tranquility, all supported by reclaimed water Reclaimed water, sometimes called recycled water, is former wastewater (sewage) that has been treated and purified for reuse, rather than discharged into a body of water. from the on-site facility. Fountains, waterfalls, azaleas, black or ``stylized'' pines, cherry trees, flowering plums, viewing arbors and bridges dot the delicate landscape. A winding, ornate or·nate adj. 1. Elaborately, heavily, and often excessively ornamented. 2. Flashy, showy, or florid in style or manner; flowery. , stone-embedded walkway walkway Rehabilitation medicine An instrument used to measure the timing of foot contact and or position of the foot on the ground leads you through three distinct areas: the dry Zen meditation garden; the ``chisen'' or ``wet-strolling'' promenade; and the Shoin Building, set among bamboo stands, with an authentic Japanese tea house. The dry garden is a small field of gray stones, centered by five large ones. The ``stone beach'' symbolizes an ocean, and this particular arrangement symbolizes ``the five mystical isles of Japan,'' landscape architect Gene Greene said. ``There's a double meaning on the stone arrangement,'' he explained. ``There's the typical three-Buddha arrangement. In the religion, they have Buddha and his two servants to the side. Dr. (Koichi) Karama (the garden's designer) gave us the typical three, but he put two adjacent stones next to it.'' Other symbolism: black pine trees, the male figure; maple trees, for friendship; cherry trees, symbolizing sym·bol·ize v. sym·bol·ized, sym·bol·iz·ing, sym·bol·iz·es v.tr. 1. To serve as a symbol of: the warrior; three-tiered waterfall - heaven, man and earth; and rocks and shrubs, shrines containing ``auspicious'' beings - including Buddha himself. The weeping willow weeping willow symbolizes grief at loss. [Flower Symbolism: Flora Symbolica, 178] See : Grief , set alongside a lake that quietly catches its reflection, stands as the symbol of the female: ``kind, loving, forgiving - and bending with the wind,'' as Greene puts it. The wet-strolling portion begins with the silver-gray Administration Building, on a lake bordered by redwood bark logs, fronted by cascading fountains and dotted with carefully placed rocks (``baby turtles'') and shrubbery. After an hour or two of peaceful contemplation, you remind yourself that this Eden lies among busyness all around. ``It's the best-kept secret in the Valley,'' Greene believes. ``It's a living
Got a secret? Let us know! Got a favorite ``hidden Valley'' treasure? The Daily News is interested in hearing about it for a future story. Send information, including the name, address, telephone number, hours of operation, cost if known and a description of the place and activities you found there. Mail to Ana Young, Daily News, P.O. Box 4200, Woodland Hills 91365-4200; or fax to her at (818) 713-3545 or (818) 713-0058. CAPTION(S): 2 Photos, Box Photo: (1) The Japanese Garden's Shoin Building isdesigned like an aristocratic Japanese country home. (2) Bridges dot the landscape of the garden, located on the site of the Donald C. Tillman Water Reclamation Plant in Van Nuys. John McCoy/Daily News Box: Got a secret? Let us know! (See Text) |
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