| Making a garden in the traditional Japanese style may | | | | endeavors including landscape painting, Ichibana, |
| seem easy until you do a little research and find out | | | | pottery, etc. |
| there is a lot underneath the surface that complicates | | | | Tea Gardens were a style of gardens that originated |
| the issue. | | | | from the importation of tea from China. As Chan |
| If you are the type of personality who simply cares | | | | Buddhism was introduced to China through one |
| about what things look like, then you may not | | | | known as Daruma, he also introduced tea so that the |
| appreciate knowing about the historical evolution and | | | | meditating monks would not fall asleep. The |
| development of Japanese gardens. | | | | popularity of tea as well as this sect of Buddhism |
| In addition, if you prefer balanced, symmetrical | | | | was brought to Japan, where it was known as Zen |
| European style gardens, then Japanese may not be | | | | Buddhism. |
| for you. They are diametrically opposed in design | | | | Thus tea became very popular and developed into a |
| philosophy. | | | | ritualized social event utilizing a special tea house. The |
| Describing what Japanese gardens are not is perhaps | | | | invited guests would come through the garden |
| a good way to start out. Here is a bullet list to get | | | | before entering the tea house separated by some |
| the basics: | | | | form of fencing to divide the outer tea garden from |
| Japanese gardens (traditionally) do NOT have:o | | | | the inner space. |
| Borders or beds of flowers;o Symmetry: whether | | | | They would then go through a ritualized practice of |
| bilateral, radial or axial;o Ornate designso Clutter of | | | | cleansing the mouth via the water basin outside the |
| accessories;o Potted plants;o Gaudy, bold "splashes | | | | entry and humbling themselves upon entering by |
| of color";o Pink flamingos or other decorative | | | | crouching down low to enter through the small |
| elements;o Human centered designs;o Large | | | | doorway. At night, the paths were often strategically |
| expanses of recreational grass. | | | | illuminated using a stone or iron lantern. |
| What Japanese gardens do have (traditionally | | | | Karesansui style gardens or "dry landscape" gardens |
| speaking) is a reverence for nature. The use of | | | | were of a style that developed generally at the |
| natural materials dominates the elements of the | | | | same time as the Tea Garden era but were much |
| design.o Stone (in the form of boulders, rocks, gravel | | | | more austere then and not as interactive as the Tea |
| or sand);o Water (actual or symbolic), earth, trees | | | | Gardens. |
| and shrubs;o Manmade elements such as stone | | | | Dry landscape gardens consisted of stones and |
| lanterns, bridges, water basins;o Enclosure usually | | | | gravel. The use of plant material was very sparse if |
| formed by fencing, hedges or the architectural | | | | at all. The types and styles varied depending on what |
| structures; | | | | the layout of the stones and gravel was supposed to |
| Using mostly natural materials, the design intent of a | | | | symbolize. However, the idea was that the stones |
| Japanese garden is to re-create and capture the | | | | represented mountains, as islands in the ocean or a |
| essence of the natural landscape, whether creating it | | | | lake. |
| on site or using techniques like "barrowed scenery". | | | | Gravel represented water as the ocean or lake. Sand |
| There are several styles of Japanese garden derived | | | | was raked to mimic the ripples on the water's |
| from the historical progression of their development. | | | | surface or the ocean's waves. Course gravel was |
| They are generally the following:o Hillside garden;o | | | | used to represent fast moving water as in a stream, |
| Tea garden;o Karesansui (dry landscape);o Strolling | | | | whereas finer gravel represented a calm pond and |
| garden. | | | | more tranquil feeling. |
| The Hillside gardens began as gardens designed to be | | | | The fourth major style of Japanese Garden design is |
| viewed from certain vantage points such as the | | | | the Strolling Garden. They were interactive, in that |
| residences, or rooms within palaces of Emperors and | | | | the use of stepping stones were incorporated so |
| the like. These gardens incorporated waterfalls and | | | | people could wander and meander throughout the |
| ponds. Bridges were included to access islands | | | | garden. This allowed for a much richer experience as |
| created in the ponds. | | | | design concepts such as "seen and hidden" or |
| At one point in history, islands were symbolic of | | | | progressive realization was utilized. |
| Paradise (Pureland Sect of Buddhism), or the afterlife, | | | | In other words, the paths were purposely irregular |
| and the bridge was symbolic of the path of life, the | | | | and not so easy to navigate. This allowed the |
| journey to Heaven. | | | | designer to manipulate the gait of the walker so that |
| There is a parallel here between the eastern concept | | | | they had to pause at key vantage points or to be |
| of Paradise and the western concept of the Garden | | | | made aware of a subtle message, otherwise passed |
| of Eden. Both celebrate the virtues of the raw, pure | | | | by if the walker was not in a state of mindfulness. |
| form of the earth, of nature itself. But in the | | | | As you contemplate designing a Japanese style |
| western (biblical) version, that purity was lost through | | | | garden, consider whether adapting to traditional |
| the committing of sin. | | | | styles and principles are important to you. Often, |
| Eastern thought at its roots especially Taoism, | | | | authenticity adds to appreciation, value and beauty. |
| reveres nature in its pure form. Nature is much larger | | | | An art form that is a "reproduction" must honor the |
| than mankind and in fact dwarfs man in the context | | | | traditional style and feel of the piece; otherwise the |
| of the Cosmos. | | | | piece will lose its value. That elusive essential |
| That relationship is more understood in the east and | | | | ingredient in traditional form is worth attempting to |
| is reflected in not only gardens, but other cultural | | | | reproduce for a richer experience. |