Feng shui is an ancient discipline of Chinese origin that presents a means to develop and shape our living and working spaces (or cemeteries, in this context) to best serve our emotional and spiritual needs, drawing from centuries of experimental and traditional theory.[3]
At Harling Point the diverse symbolism, customs and mythic animals that embody Ancient Chinese culture in Feng Shui can be found everywhere in the landscape. The high elevation to the northeast is represented by the “Azure Dragon,” the low elevation of the southwest by the “White Tiger” and Gonzales Hill by the “Pillow Mountain” wherein the two cosmic forces of Dragon and Tiger meet.[4] Encircling the cemetery’s southern side is the vast symbol of wealth, the “Living Water” of Juan de Fuca strait. [5]
Located at the southwestern side where the “White Tiger” lays, rests the location of the six monuments chosen for this study. These monuments were chosen because they were analogous in material composition (red granite), approximately the same size and orientation, had a uniform location removed from the other grave sites, and demonstrated a similar style of inscription (to the extent that we can transcribe).
The characteristics of these monuments and the further research we conducted into their history led us to deliberate on several critical research questions;
-Why is the position of these monuments so removed from all other monuments in the cemetery? Why were they given liberal space between them, while monuments in the flanking area were squeezed together to conserve space?
-Why is the structure and inscription of the second monument we identified so unique within the context of the other monuments we selected?
To reach the Google Map of the Harling Point Chinese Cemetery
please click on the link below.
please click on the link below.
Grave marker #1 represents one of the thirteen mass graves dug in 1961 and contains the remains of the DongGuan county.⁶
Its immediate context includes the 2nd and 3rd monuments on west side, mourning Furnace Alter on the southeast side and the water and beach of Gonzales Bay to the southwest, while open grass to the north. The orientation of its major face is directed upwards, with inscription reading towards the southwest waterside. It is composed of red granite with Mandarin characters in relief projected from surface surrounded by simple flat inlay. Some delamination of characters has occurred due to lichen and surface deposits causing miscellaneous staining.
Grave Marker #2
Grave marker #2 is remarkably well preserved compared to the other memorials and was placed in this position in 2004 to mark the mass burial remains of the YangJiang county.⁷
It's immediate context includes the 1st monument and the mourning Furnace Alter on it's southeast side, the 3rd monument selected on the west side, the water and beach of Gonzales Bay to the southwest and open grass to the north. The orientation of its major face is directed upwards, with inscription reading towards the southwest waterside. The monument stone is composed of red granite with inscribed Mandarin characters in relief projected from the surface surrounded by inlay coloured with white paint which has weathered in some areas. It is smaller by several cm in dimensions from the other monuments. Paint of the inlay has been weathered through surface deposits and miscellaneous staining, but is still considerably intact in comparison to the paint of Monument #6. Relief characters are in better condition that all other 6 monuments.
