the portal is another kind of frame - in addition to framing a vista, it allows one to pass through it into the world it frames. this is made possible by their larger, humanoid scale. such portals are commonplace in chinese gardens, sometimes with simple forms and sometimes with more elaborate silhouettes. for example, a vase shaped portal is a subtle metaphor for calmness and tranquility - the chinese for vase is ping, which is homophonic to peace or stillness in chinese.
portals that lead into architecture are usually rectangular, whereas those that lead into gardens are more often circular. in chinese symbolism, the square represents the earth and the circle represents heaven. thus, the circular "moon gate" signals one's arrival in a garden of paradise - an oriental "garden of eden." the transition/boundary is made even more apparent by the fact that one has to step over the bottom arc of the circular opening in order to cross it. further, passage can only be made in single file, and thus human traffic trickles slowly into the garden; a gentle stream in lieu of a raging torrent. one final point of interest: a circular frame is believed to best capture a view, which might explain the circular nature of camera lenses and apertures.
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