─ Zenhow Academies

 

 

“Zenhow” is a combination of Zen and possibility, the possibilities contained within the Art of Living Consciously.

Zenhow Academies are a place where this art is shared and passed on to future generations, a place where people can come to learn more about living well.

The first Zenhow Academy is in China’s Jiangsu Province, tucked away on Fengxiang Lane in Yangzhou City.

It is set within the Weipu Garden, in what was once the residence of a salt trader built in the early Republican period. The structure is a sanheyuan, or three-sided building. Constructed by famed Yangzhou garden designer Yu Ji-zhi, the garden featured artificial mountains constructed of piled Taihu limestone, aged rattan vines and cedars, and other lush foliage. Verandas and waterside pavilions dotted the garden, offering visitors countless memorable views. Sadly, years of neglect left the gardens in very poor condition.

 

 

Mr. Liang determined to restore the site, and invested heavily in bringing back this idyllic archetype of a Yangzhou classical garden. The reconstructed site features a very Eastern, Zen style and houses a lecture hall, study, tearoom, meditation hall, and dormitory. At over 1,000 square meters, it can host upwards of 100 people.

Presently, the site serves as a training center for lecturers at Zenhow workshops as well as a venue for receiving important visitors.