Charmed Circles: Bring Serenity to Your Garden With a Moon Gate
The elegant arc of a moon gate creates tranquillity and a hint of mystery in modern gardens
The circle is one of the most eloquent shapes in our universe. It expresses completeness, continuity and protection – a beginning and an end in one flawless arc. In western culture, the circle’s magnetic power is explained as a function of the human eye and brain, and the subconscious pleasure that comes from viewing its harmonious symmetry. In many other cultures, it is richly charged with meaning, depicting profound links between humans and nature. A graceful moon gate can express all of these in the modern garden. Do you have room for one in yours?
Traditional Chinese moon gates were circular openings in a stone wall, usually with a short ‘foot’ supporting the arch, giving them a keyhole appearance.
An ancient construction method was to build the circle, stone by stone, around a temporary timber frame, finishing in a keystone at the apex. It required great skill, especially as some gates were constructed free-hand with no mortar between the stones.
An ancient construction method was to build the circle, stone by stone, around a temporary timber frame, finishing in a keystone at the apex. It required great skill, especially as some gates were constructed free-hand with no mortar between the stones.
According to Shapes in Chinese Culture, symbolically a circle was an emblem of perfection. It represented heaven, birth and renewal, celebrated the unity of family and created a transition between public and private life and between this world and the next.
Although both Japanese and Chinese cultures attach significance to the moon and many circular apertures are found in Japanese architecture and gardens, moon gates remain quintessentially Chinese.
Moon gazing Japanese style
Although both Japanese and Chinese cultures attach significance to the moon and many circular apertures are found in Japanese architecture and gardens, moon gates remain quintessentially Chinese.
Moon gazing Japanese style
The moon in the water
The moon gate concept was often integrated into a bridge over water, a fundamental feature in Chinese gardens. Lakes, ponds, streams and waterfalls balanced other natural features including rocks, trees and plantings. Designers often played with reflections in water, building a half-moon arch that became a full moon when mirrored in a still pool or lake.
The moon gate concept was often integrated into a bridge over water, a fundamental feature in Chinese gardens. Lakes, ponds, streams and waterfalls balanced other natural features including rocks, trees and plantings. Designers often played with reflections in water, building a half-moon arch that became a full moon when mirrored in a still pool or lake.
Moon gazing
One of the main design intentions of moon gates is to enhance a view with a graceful encircling frame. The frame intensifies the scene in the same way as a telescope concentrates a field of vision. The observer’s eye is drawn through the circle towards what lies beyond.
One of the main design intentions of moon gates is to enhance a view with a graceful encircling frame. The frame intensifies the scene in the same way as a telescope concentrates a field of vision. The observer’s eye is drawn through the circle towards what lies beyond.
A circular opening highlights a lovely part of a garden, or a special flowering plant or tree by focusing our attention and providing a lens through which to observe the changes that come with the seasons. Another approach is to compose a garden vignette by framing a specific architectural feature.
See more Asian-style gardens
See more Asian-style gardens
Rather than just framing pretty landscapes, moon gates also heighten our perception of the garden world with all its shapes, textures, colours, movement and imperfections.
The stability and weight of the grand structure in this garden and the formality of its circular span contrast with the wild windswept grasses.
The stability and weight of the grand structure in this garden and the formality of its circular span contrast with the wild windswept grasses.
The moon gate concept has many applications beyond gardens. In this seaside home, a moon gate (well, a moon window, really) brings a section of the panoramic ocean view into focus, creating a dynamic piece of natural art.
Eastern influence
Gardeners all over the world have interpreted the moon gate in their own ways. One widely adapted form is a slatted gate with a large circular window and an overhead trellis structure. The spirit of Chinese moon gates is echoed in the way these gates provide both a barrier and a welcome, framing a different scene from each side.
Gardeners all over the world have interpreted the moon gate in their own ways. One widely adapted form is a slatted gate with a large circular window and an overhead trellis structure. The spirit of Chinese moon gates is echoed in the way these gates provide both a barrier and a welcome, framing a different scene from each side.
A world away from the ancient stone gates of China, an austere metal ring rising from the ground, tinged with rust, is a powerful industrial-strength counterpoint to a meandering free-form path and informal greenery.
What to consider when laying a garden path
What to consider when laying a garden path
Multiple concentric metal rings in this garden support a cool canopy of climbing plants and give a sense of expectation for visitors.
A subtle and artful feature of ancient moon gates connecting contrasting ‘worlds’ is that the design allowed only one person to step through at a time, according to Maggie Keswick, author of The Chinese Garden: History, Art and Architecture. By crossing alone from one space to another, it’s said the experience was seen as more intimate and significant.
A subtle and artful feature of ancient moon gates connecting contrasting ‘worlds’ is that the design allowed only one person to step through at a time, according to Maggie Keswick, author of The Chinese Garden: History, Art and Architecture. By crossing alone from one space to another, it’s said the experience was seen as more intimate and significant.
Moon gates for modern gardens
The traditional Chinese gardens of the wealthy boasted monumental features such as pavilions, temples and galleries. Moon gates reached imposing heights of several metres, requiring tonnes of stone.
In today’s smaller gardens, a lighter approach to scale and materials injects the charm of the moon gate without the grandeur and bulk. Rather than a solid wall, this moon gate is constructed from timber and set in an open trellis that filters the view and doesn’t overwhelm the compact space.
The traditional Chinese gardens of the wealthy boasted monumental features such as pavilions, temples and galleries. Moon gates reached imposing heights of several metres, requiring tonnes of stone.
In today’s smaller gardens, a lighter approach to scale and materials injects the charm of the moon gate without the grandeur and bulk. Rather than a solid wall, this moon gate is constructed from timber and set in an open trellis that filters the view and doesn’t overwhelm the compact space.
Asian fusion
Many modern generically ‘Asian-style’ gardens make use of circular openings and motifs to convey an Eastern feel. In this Sydney garden, in response to a client’s wish for an Asian aesthetic, Dean Herald from Rolling Stone Landscapes fused classic elements of rocks, bamboo and water with a contemporary stone wall, a moon aperture and Japanese maples.
Many modern generically ‘Asian-style’ gardens make use of circular openings and motifs to convey an Eastern feel. In this Sydney garden, in response to a client’s wish for an Asian aesthetic, Dean Herald from Rolling Stone Landscapes fused classic elements of rocks, bamboo and water with a contemporary stone wall, a moon aperture and Japanese maples.
No Chinese garden is complete without rocks. They are further up the hierarchy than plantings and are treated as natural sculptures. A strategically placed rock feature, such as this rough-hewn pagoda, forms part of a miniature landscape that can be framed by a simplified moon gate at the garden entrance.
Moon gates and wedding bells
The moon gate also has an unexpected link with Bermuda. It’s a national symbol, appearing on stamps and souvenirs and in many gardens. Local accounts trace the connection to a sea-faring Bermudan who spent time in China and brought the idea home, where he built his own version in local limestone around 1860. Island tradition promises that those who step through a moon gate, especially newlyweds, will have their wishes granted.
The moon gate also has an unexpected link with Bermuda. It’s a national symbol, appearing on stamps and souvenirs and in many gardens. Local accounts trace the connection to a sea-faring Bermudan who spent time in China and brought the idea home, where he built his own version in local limestone around 1860. Island tradition promises that those who step through a moon gate, especially newlyweds, will have their wishes granted.
Under the moonlight
Renowned Mexican architect and garden designer Luis Barragan believed that “the ideal space must contain elements of magic, serenity, sorcery and mystery”. As alluring as a moon gate is in daylight, when illuminated at night it becomes other-worldly. Magic and mystery? Definitely!
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Renowned Mexican architect and garden designer Luis Barragan believed that “the ideal space must contain elements of magic, serenity, sorcery and mystery”. As alluring as a moon gate is in daylight, when illuminated at night it becomes other-worldly. Magic and mystery? Definitely!
Tell us
Would you like a moon gate in your garden? If you enjoyed this story, like or share a comment and join the conversation!
More
Find fence and gate professionals
Moon gates go back thousands of years to the gardens of Chinese emperors and other nobility. Gardens were constructed for intellectual contemplation of nature and the cycle of life, and garden design was more about symbolism and spiritualism than the aesthetics that largely govern gardens in the West.
Solid walls were seen as unsociable, and moon gates presented a partial enclosure while still allowing free passage.