The Landscaped Garden of Dong Zen Temple

ABC Wednesday Round 5

L is for ........ the Lovely Landscaped Garden of Dong Zen Temple, Jenjarom

The chinese word for landscaped garden is "shan shui", meaning mountain and water. In a typical chinese rock garden, there are rock-shaped mounds, bridges, pavillions and a pond with gold fishes or carps. Amidst cool and quiet surroundings, plants and rock formations provide the scenic beauty while fishes add life to the garden.

Can you see the man-made waterfall, the mini pavillion and a crane? The crane is regarded as a symbol of Longevity.

Lively koi or carps are symbols of good fortune. It is also a symbol of preseverence.
Chinese legend tells of carps swimming against the current to reach the Dragon Gate or Lung Men, transforming into a dragon. This signifies the attainment of immense success through preseverence. In a healthy pond where the kois are swimming happily, you shall be able to see them jumping up from the water regularly. That's exactly what they are doing here in Dong Zen. I love to watch them splish splashing around and I adore the way they swim towards me whenever I approach the pond.

Some families with school going children keep lots of carps in a pond in their homes, hoping that this will generate good fengshui and bring about excellent examination results. However, kois with a red dot on the head are taboo for this purpose because it is said to signify failure as legend has it that those carps that failed to cross the lung men will be indicated by a red dot on its head. I have not seen any carps with red dots here at the Dong Zen pond.

Today's post is an entry in ABC Wednesday Round 5, the meme initiated by Denise Nesbitt
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This is also my entry for Watery Wednesday #56. To see what others have posted or to participate, click here.