A Video Review by Debra Kreml

Silent Elegance: A Journey Through Japanese Gardens
Video 5038


Perhaps one of the most significant reasons to use our library resource is to learn something new and to experience something completely different from the usual offerings. I choose this months selection so that I might have the hope of new exposures. Just as you would pick up a book of a new author, or watch a movie with a new director behind the lenses, you would expect something exciting and unfamiliar in the end product. I had the pleasure of accompanying Peter Chan on a 45-minute Journey Through Japanese Gardens. It was truly a unique experience compared to those prior to this installment. It was a step from the familiar and quite the treat.

I found myself leaning into the television, pen and paper in hand, prepared (as usual) to document information and be on "the ready" to capture all important technical tidbits to give our members. I suppose this is what I am accustomed when reviewing our books and tapes. Again, this was a different experience.

Silent Elegance is a quiet and tranquil journey of information and scenery. Chan is a mild and calm tour guide who sets the pace rather nicely. In our hurried lives the trend is to also be entertained in a hurried way. Videos, movies and books jam packed with action and sensory overload. Within the first few minutes of Silent Elegance I was actually putting the pen and paper down and enjoying the moments through famous and beautiful Japanese Gardens. It was not a video where you need to focus but rather enjoy.

I did learn much from this video and have an appreciation for the Japanese garden and its history. Actually the Chinese were the first to create such gardens and then copied by the Japanese for centuries. I believe many people have the idea that these gardens are filled only with bonsai bushes and bridges when in fact these gardens offer much history, reflection and uniqueness only unto them.

Did you know that all Japanese Gardens are actually "miniatures" of the world? It is small scale to the mountains, streams and oceans. The bushes and rocks being the mountains, moss and other plants being the foliage surrounding the mountains and water (or gravel representing water as in a Zen garden) represents the oceans, lakes or streams.

Most gardens are surrounded by walls (the walls themselves being a garden element) to "frame" the garden. The wall keeps the onlooker from having outside features interfering with the garden you are admiring. You will also find a common element in the Japanese Gardens in the form of bridges (influenced by China). This architectural feature is usually in red and wooden. The bridge is to connect islands and any land.

Common plants to the Japanese Garden are the Maple, Azalea, Iris, Bamboo, Moss, Black Pine, Red Pine, White Pine, Lotus and Flowering Cherry.

Personally I am fond of the Tea and Zen Gardens. The garden entrance offers a wash basin to cleanse your hands and face. The basin of water is low so that a person needs to bow. This action in itself is to humble oneself before entering the garden. This garden a place in which to receive the cleansing of your being and your soul. Zen gardens offer no clutter and only bare essentials of Rock (mountains), Moss (landscape) and Gravel (Water).

You will notice that there are several minutes between Chan's narrations to enjoy the famous gardens they filmed. In these moments you will experience the Silent Elegance. The pen and paper were set down early on to enjoy the relaxation and calm while watching this video. This experience in itself makes me wonder why we do not see more Japanese Gardens in our yards.

I learned something new and I experienced Silent Elegance.
This video offers 45 wonderful minutes and is deserving of 4 fish!!

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