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Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Garden Society fonds Chinese New Year With digital objects English
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Garden of ease

Item is a documentary film about the Taoist meanings of various elements of the design in the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen garden. The film opens with a street scene of Chinese New Year, including lion dances, firecrackers, and a parade. The main film is an interview with James Yu, the maintenance coordinator of the garden. He discusses the contrasting elements (yin and yang), the different kinds of plants (plum, bamboo, and pine), the leak windows, the upturned eves, and the reflections in the water, and then presents a Taoist interpretation of each of them. The narration is supplemented with film footage of the gardens illustrating each point in turn. The film concludes with more footage of garden views and details.

1991 - Year of the sheep (ram), Chinese New Year - Parade, Vancouver, B.C.

Item is an amateur home movie of the 1991 Chinese New Year’s parade in Vancouver. It includes footage of the parade from East Pender Street outside the Chinese Cultural Centre and from Keefer Street just outside the entrance to the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Gardens. Also included is footage of vendors and tables inside the Chinese Cultural Centre, scenes of families inside the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Gardens, primarily inside the main pavilion, a view of the water and railings, and through the moon doorway.

The parade footage contains a variety of traditional Chinese elements, such as lion dancers, Chinese dragons, firecrackers, flags, dancing, music, and costumes. Some of the identifiable groups in the parade are: Cheerleaders from Steveston Secondary School, Children from J. W. Sexsmith Elementary School, Dancers from Strathcona Chinese Dance Co., the Freddy Fudd[pucker] band, Boy Scouts and Girl Guides of Canada, St. John’s Ambulance Cadets, Tibet Lama Kung-Fu, and the Western Canada Chinese Martial Arts Association.

Gong xi fa cai

Item is a documentary that uses photographs and voice over narration to tell the story of how Chinese New Year came about and how it is celebrated, traditionally, in Vancouver, and at the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen garden. The documentary begins with a presentation of the Chinese zodiac: its origins, associated animals, and how it works. Next is a discussion of Chinese New Year traditions, what they mean, and how they are celebrated, including: Family feasts, Door Gods, red paper door hangers, the family reunion dinner, the importance of avoiding unlucky word or actions, the children’s game of watch the clock, family visiting, red paper envelopes given as gifts, broken day, lion dances, and parades. The feature concludes with a discussion of how the New Year is celebrated at the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen gardens, with photos of a lantern parade, firecrackers, ceremonial offerings, and traditional Chinese music, dance, and entertainment.