VOA慢速英语2021--日式庭院

Japanese Gardens Bridge Indoor, Outdoor Space

Japanese-style gardens first gained attention in the United States at the 1893 world exposition¹ in Chicago, Illinois.

Over 120 years later, they continue to be a great part of American garden design. Today, there are more than 200 Japanese-style public gardens in the country, the North American Japanese Garden Association² reports.

Japanese-style gardens bring together indoor and outdoor spaces, says Asher Browne of New Jersey³. He creates Japanese-like gardens for people in the United States. He did his training in Kyoto, Japan.

"One reason that gardens are so successful in Japan is that the house-garden relationship is set up to be so integrated," Browne said. He added that gardens surround the house, "so it's as if your living space extends⁵ out much further," he said.

Japanese garden design in the U.S. has moved beyond the commonly known features such as special lights, called lanterns, and imported Japanese cherry and maple⁶ trees, says Sadafumi Uchiyama. He oversees⁷ a Japanese garden in Portland, Oregon. He is a third-generation gardener from southern Japan.

Over time, Japanese gardens in the U.S. changed to look more authentic⁸. This happened in part because of more widely available books on the subject, Uchiyama said.

Browne said that, in Japan, garden spaces are linked with indoor spaces. Wherever a person looks out from their home, a garden should look almost like a painting.

He said the "idea of bringing the beauty of nature into daily lives" is an important idea in Japan. He notes that gardeners in Japan pay special attention to the beauty of rocks and stones.

John Powell is a garden builder from Weatherford, Texas, who also received training in Japan. He said Japanese gardens appeal to him because of their strong connection between indoor and outdoor space.

He said that traditionally, outdoor landscaping in the United States "was very disconnected" from indoor spaces. But today, he said, more Americans like the idea of "connecting the indoors⁹ and the outdoors."

There have been changes among Japanese-style gardens in the U.S. in recent years. In the past, the trees and plants chosen were often native to Japan. But today, the aim is to use plants that grow well in local environments.

"It's very possible to create a wonderful Japanese garden using all native plants," Browne said.

Garden designers who are experts in Japanese-style gardens say one common misunderstanding is that this kind of garden does not require much work. But they note that Japanese gardens sometimes involve even more work than other kinds of gardens.

Uchiyama said these gardens require "constant small actions."

He noted¹⁰ that only 20 percent of land in Japan is livable. "So, people learn to care for their environment," he said. One way they do that is by caring for their gardens often.

Words in This Story

garden - n. an area of ground where plants (such as flowers or vegetables) are grown

exposition - n. a public show or exhibition

integrate⁴ - v. to combine (two or more things) to form or create something

feature - n. an interesting or important part, quality, ability, etc.

authentic - adj. real or genuine¹¹ : not copied or false

landscaping - n. the process of making changes to improve the appearance of (an area of land)

constant - adj. happening all the time or very often over a period of time

1 exposition   

n.说明，讲解，展览（会），陈列

参考例句：

• John gave a very exposition of the facts.约翰把事实解释得很清楚。
• His pictures were shown at the Paris exposition of 1878.他的画在1878年巴黎博览会上展览过。

2 association   

n.联盟，协会，社团；交往，联合；联想

参考例句：

• Our long association with your company has brought great benefits.我方和贵公司的长期合作带来了巨大的利益。
• I broke away from the association ten years ago.我10年前就脱离了那个团体。

3 jersey   

n.运动衫

参考例句：

• He wears a cotton jersey when he plays football.他穿运动衫踢足球。
• They were dressed alike in blue jersey and knickers.他们穿着一致，都是蓝色的运动衫和灯笼短裤。

4 integrate   

v.（使）结合，（使）一体化 adj.完整的，综合的

参考例句：

• A customs union would integrate the economies of these countries.关税联盟会把这些国家的经济紧密结合在一起。
• We must integrate theory with practice.我们必须把理论与实际结合起来。

5 extends   

v.（空间、时间等）延伸，延续( extend的第三人称单数 )；伸展；给予；延长

参考例句：

• This country extends its power and influence into neighbouring countries. 这个国家将其势力与影响扩大至邻国。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• His domain extends for 20 miles in every direction. 方圆20英里之内都是他的地产。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 maple   

n.槭树，枫树，槭木

参考例句：

• Maple sugar is made from the sap of maple trees.枫糖是由枫树的树液制成的。
• The maple leaves are tinge with autumn red.枫叶染上了秋天的红色。

7 oversees   

v.监督，监视( oversee的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• She oversees both the research and the manufacturing departments. 她既监督研究部门又监督生产部门。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The Department of Education oversees the federal programs dealing with education. 教育部监管处理教育的联邦程序。 来自互联网

8 authentic   

a.真的，真正的；可靠的，可信的，有根据的

参考例句：

• This is an authentic news report. We can depend on it. 这是篇可靠的新闻报道, 我们相信它。
• Autumn is also the authentic season of renewal. 秋天才是真正的除旧布新的季节。

9 indoors   

adv.(在)室内，(在)户内

参考例句：

• Because of the coldness of the weather we stayed indoors.我们因天气寒冷呆在家里。
• It is very cold outside,you'd better come indoors across the board.外面很冷，你们所有人最好都进屋。

10 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

11 genuine   

adj.真的，非人造的；真诚的，真心的

参考例句：

• On further examination it was found that the signature was not genuine.经过进一步的调查发现签名不是真的。
• As time went on,a genuine friendship grew up between us.随着时间的推移，我们之间产生了一种真挚的友情。