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The Westernization of the Japanese garden
Thesis   Open access

The Westernization of the Japanese garden

Theresa Nicole Tobin
Master of Science (M.S.), Drexel University
Dec 2019
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/k9ms-f587
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Tobin_Theresa_20194.83 MBDownloadView
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Abstract

Arts--Management Gardens, Japanese Arts, Japanese--Western influences Asian Americans--Study and teaching
In 1894, Japan decided to share the art of the Japanese garden with Western civilization at the first World's Fair held in the United States. The event took place in San Francisco, California and featured a hybrid Japanese garden - one that combined different styles of garden design into one intricate display nestled in a make-shift bazaar. The garden was so well received that it became a staple attraction of San Francisco and inspired the creation of other American Japanese gardens in the 19th and 20th centuries. These spaces have each developed their own representation of Japanese garden design and have overcome obstacles involving their unique climate and sourcing accurate materials, as well as financial burdens to ensure they provide the most culturally sensitive depiction. After speaking with the managers of seven different American Japanese gardens, I've found that, though they receive no additional funding from their local or state government, they prioritize cultural authenticity and use the resources at their disposal to make their gardens a learning opportunity for their surrounding communities. Some gardens receive more resources than others and are able to portray the Japanese garden more realistically; however, each organization approaches the subject with respect and with eventual growth in mind.

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