The Gosford Edogawa Commemorative Garden

Tensions between a Secular Gosford City Council and the Religious Dimensions of the Site

Authors

  • Cassanda Hastie Western Sydney University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1558/firn.37253

Keywords:

shuyu, Japanese garden, discourse analysis, sacred landscape

Abstract

This article will demonstrate that the visual and experiential religious elements visible in the components of the Gosford Edogawa Commemorative Garden (New South Wales, Australia) have been shifted outside of the realm of "understanding" that is promoted by the Sister City Agreement that established the garden. Understanding within this article refers to how the experiential aspects of the garden depends on each individual, their own interpretation of the garden, and their own knowledge. The invisibility of the religiosity of the garden results in a mediation of how individuals in Gosford, and visitors, interact with the space. These interpretations through a secular body such as the Gosford City Council, who seemingly do not promote the garden as a sacred landscape, offer an investigation into those who interpret the environment depending on their own knowledge. Through discourses on understanding, that are the result of specific language used to describe and explain the garden, the otherwise prominent religious elements have been silenced.

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Author Biography

  • Cassanda Hastie, Western Sydney University

    Cassandra Hastie completed her BA (major; Studies in Religion) at the University of Sydney. She is currently a postgraduate student at Western Sydney University.

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Published

2018-10-15

How to Cite

Hastie, C. (2018). The Gosford Edogawa Commemorative Garden: Tensions between a Secular Gosford City Council and the Religious Dimensions of the Site. Fieldwork in Religion, 13(1), 44-60. https://doi.org/10.1558/firn.37253