West Paifang Entrance & Garden Naming Stone
West Paifang Entrance
The West Paifang Entrance is an impressive granite structure that welcomes visitors into the China Friendship Garden from the west side of Phalen Regional Park. Construction was completed in 2019 and the entrance was the site of the Grand Opening Ribbon Cutting ceremony in September 2019. Across the main crossbeam, it bears the Chinese name of the China Friendship Garden – Liu Ming Yuan 柳 明 園
The calligraphy used on the Archway is read from right to left in classical Chinese literary style. The calligraphy is by the famous Chinese calligraphist Wang Xizhi 王羲之 (303–361) who is known as one of the Four Talented Calligraphers (四賢) in Chinese calligraphy and traditionally referred to as the Sage of Calligraphy (書聖). It was carved by MN artist Peter Morales under the direction of Minnesota artist Shen Yudong in 2019.
柳 Liu means “Willow”, reflecting the surrounding willow trees
明 Ming means “Bright” and also “Minnesota,” reflecting its connection to a Minnesota sister-city garden
園 Yuan means “Garden”
This reflects the full name of this space, “The Saint Paul-Changsha China Friendship Garden of Whispering Willows & Flowing Waters”
West Paifang Entrance Symbols
Drum Stone
The symbolic meaning of the drum stone, found at the base of the Paifang columns, is 如意 “ruyi” = “after one’s desire”/“as you wish.”
Cloud Decoration
The ancient Chinese auspicious cloud patterns, found at the top of the Paifang columns, symbolize promotion and happiness.
Tang Rolled Grass Pattern
The continuous, flowing nature of this pattern symbolizes the constant flow of life, energy and vitality.
Paifang Dedication Stone
Ming Li Tchou (d. 2024), long-time China Garden Society Honorary Advisory Council member, was one of the first supporters of the China Friendship Garden and her early six-figure donation helped to make the construction of this Paifang possible. This dedication stone is located just inside the West Paifang Entrance.
Garden Naming Stone
The China Friendship Garden Naming Stone was formally installed in 2023 at the West Paifang Entrance. The Naming Stone bears the full name of the China Friendship Garden, as well as its name in Chinese and Hmong.
Saint Paul-Changsha China Friendship Garden of Whispering Willows & Flowing Waters
Liu Ming Yuan | 柳明園: The name in Chinese translates literally as “Willow | Bright | Garden”
LUB VAJ PHOOJ YWG: The name in Hmong translates as “Garden of Friendship”
China Garden Name Poetic Inspiration: The China Garden name “Liu Ming Yuan,” referring to willows, is drawn from an idiom associated with a poem “A Trip to Mountain West Village” 游山西村 by Chinese poet Lu You 陆游 (sometimes Lu Yu) (1125-1210 in Southern Song Dynasty, 1127-1279). The poem represents perseverance in the face of adversity.
山重水复疑无路，柳暗花明又一村。
So many mountains, and so many rivers, where is my path? I am not too clear.
Passing by thick willows and smiling flowers, suddenly another village is here.