THE REALIZATION OF A DISTANT LONGING

Posted: Tuesday Jan 22, 2019

1st place winner of A Distant Longing: Dunedin Chinese Garden Student Essay Competition

Who knew that a distant longing could tie two nations together for more than a century?

It all started in 1860, when Chinese people first came to Otago during the gold rush. That’s when this longing for homeland and recognition began. Life in a foreign country is never easy. It means constant experiences of culture shock, the language barrier, loneliness, and the discrepancy in lifestyles, food, drinks, and customs. But no-one can doubt that they made it. They struggled to blend in while retaining their own Chinese traits. They opened up and embraced all these differences, using them to broaden their own minds. With their diligence, persistence and talent for commerce, they became a cornerstone of the local economy that gave Dunedin the momentum to become New Zealand's commercial center. The early Chinese won their due place in the local community and thus established a solid foundation for their descendants - the first step in the realization of a distant longing for acceptance.

Being a compliment to Dunedin’s Chinese citizens and a tangible extension of the Chinese story characterized by unique Chinese style and culture, Lan Yuan fulfills its mission and connects Otago and its sister-city Shanghai in an unprecedented way. It’s a perfect combination of exotic flavor and local aroma. All the key elements of Chinese gardens, such as Taihu stones, pavilions, hand-made wooden buildings and tiles, bricks and lattice-work and even hand-finished granite paving stones tell the story of China. They allow the Chinese in Otago to recollect their memory of the sophisticated interplay of Chinese construction wisdom, such as illusion and reality, the contrast between large and small and the balance between high and low, which give Lan Yuan a sense of boundless space despite the limited area. Lan Yuan gives the Chinese an opportunity to feel a sense of belonging while being far away from the motherland. In this way, it becomes the second step in realization of a distant longing for reconnection with the homeland.

These days, that distant longing is no longer confined to simple recognition and acceptance, it focuses on turning an invisible cultural dialogue into a solid space where local residents can explore and savor Chinese elements and thoughts. The garden allows Chinese people to present their unique culture and tell their stories in a straightforward way. A website has also been set up to introduce local residents to the garden’s origin, and to the Chinese craftsmen’s vision and toil over tricky problems of transportation and budget during the eight years of construction. It also helps them to know more about Chinese cuisine and the celebration of Chinese traditional festivities. All this online and offline education grants people a comprehensive insight into China, Chinese people’s lifestyles, their traditional wisdom and their willingness to open up - the third step in realization of a distant longing for making connection with Chinese migrants’ second homeland, New Zealand.

Lan Yuan is the accumulation of the past glory, and also, the indicator of the future prosperity. It demonstrates that a distant longing can indeed be powerful enough to bring two nations together for more than a century, and can still create momentum to keep going forward. The building of Lan Yuan over eight years is not only the fruit of the dedication of Chinese craftsmen, but is ultimately a witness to the elevated visibility of the Chinese in New Zealand and a tangible reward for all the hard work of Chinese immigrants through all these years. It honors the early Chinese migrants, celebrates the present contribution made by New Zealanders of Chinese ancestry, recognizes them as an indispensable part of Dunedin and Otago alike and signals a path into a promising future.

More significantly, the garden plays the role of a cultural courier, serving as an indicator of the future tight bond between China and New Zealand. Lan Yuan will continue to elevate the two nations’ cooperation in education, commerce, defense, tourism, technology and more, such as the ongoing Belt and Road Initiative. Both China and New Zealand are sure to benefit from such a fair, friendly and transparent collaboration.

In short, Lan Yuan, the realization of a distant longing for recognition, homeland and connection, will continue to be an indispensable key to solid friendship between China and New Zealand.

A golden era is sure to come.