I was primed for color, after watching Yimou Zhang’s recent film Shadow. It is a visual and a psychological master piece from the maker of so many famous martial arts movies, and drew me in, although the levels of violence were at peak. According to the director, the visual scheme is based on the brush techniques of Chinese painting and calligraphy, a world of black and white (and grey) were it not for the flesh tones of the actors’ faces and bodies, and the voluptuous dark blood that splatters the screen whenever swords, knives, arrows, and crossbow bolts start to fly. The cinematography, particularly of group scenes, is stunning, and the psychological dilemmas around court intrigue, peace or war, and the impossibility of love freely given and received keep you drawn in, with a complexity of evil and good that matches the multitudes of grey shades in a bleak black and white landscape where it perpetually rains.

So, I was ready for color, real color, and the universe complied. The Huntington’s Chinese Garden, Liu Fang Yuan 流芳園, the Garden of Flowing Fragrance, was filled with color, both natural and man made. Established in 2008, the 15 acres garden is one of the largest and most authentic classical-style gardens outside of China, according to the website. The link above will allow you to learn more in detail – I will just share the beautiful sights, particularly of the Bonsai collection which was breathtaking.

Here is the Library building:

Pathways lead to a large pond with happy turtle families.

Eventually you climb up to the area displaying the bonsai. I could have stayed there the whole day…

But so much else clamored for attention. There were the touchstones, warm where the sun hit, but completely insulated on all other sides, rubbed blank by exposure to the elements and peoples – invited – hands.

And there was the bamboo forest in all its green glory, its swishing sounds in the breeze and its surprise inside.

Here is something to contemplate:

Music from Ginzheng.