| A Japanese Garden is full of mystery, nature and | | | | suggest mountains, character or spiritual themes and |
| serenity. Just as landscape gardens of the West | | | | add a grounding element |
| followed historic points of reference such as Classical | | | | A lantern-typically of stone. |
| Garden Design, Traditional Garden Design, English | | | | A teahouse-or pavilion for renewal |
| Garden Design on up threw Modern Garden Design, | | | | An enclosure such as a hedge, fence, or wall |
| the Japanese garden tradition has a history that | | | | reflecting elements of the homes architecture or |
| followed the trends and lifestyles of their location and | | | | simply wood, bamboo, or other matting. |
| times. It would be very pretentious to copy directly a | | | | A bridge to an island either with stepping stones |
| Japanese Garden for Houston, although there was | | | | or a wood bridge |
| actually a style of Japanese Garden Design that did | | | | Japanese Garden Design and Materials |
| just that. We will highlight how you could build and | | | | The first decision to be made in designing a Japanese |
| apply the Japanese or Zen Garden style to your own | | | | Garden is to decide what "themes" will run |
| home in Houston Texas. | | | | throughout the garden. There may be combinations |
| Japanese Garden History | | | | of paths that create a journey through a winding |
| Asuka period (538-710)-gardens were an | | | | path were there are seating areas for quite |
| expression of Buddhism and Taoism. Small gardens | | | | contemplation, meditation or entertainment. Artistic |
| were reflections of spiritual themes or miniaturizations | | | | focal points of rock may be used to enlighten and |
| of the large mountainous regions of China and Japan. | | | | excite the spirit of the observer. Paths, bridges, and |
| Heian period (794-1185)-the garden shifted from | | | | walkways create diverse experiences. As an overall |
| representing religious beliefs to becoming a place for | | | | design intention, remember you are miniaturizing the |
| ceremony, entertainment and passive contemplation. | | | | cosmos in a naturalistic way. |
| These became gardens for the wealthy of the time. | | | | Stone-use to represent water such as a dry creek |
| Kamakura and Muromachi periods (1185-1573) this | | | | beds, ponds or a beach entry. Here various round |
| was the period of shogun rulers who enjoyed | | | | river rocks could be used from plain brown rock |
| gardens for their beauty and revitalization. Zen beliefs | | | | special to Mexican beach pebble black or white |
| were also flourishing at this time and had great | | | | specialty rocks. Boulders can be used in upright |
| influences over garden techniques and purposes. The | | | | positions to represent mountains or be submerged to |
| dry landscape style from Zen Buddhism became | | | | create more natural stone ledges or flat plateaus. Be |
| popular. | | | | careful with being to literal-stones and boulders still |
| Edo period (1603-1868) continued the style and | | | | need to be positioned in a natural way so when |
| preferences of shogun rulers and the Japanese tea | | | | viewed the composition looks natural. |
| ceremony became a vital part of the Japanese | | | | Structures-such as an entertainment pavilion for |
| lifestyle reflected in the construction of tea houses | | | | private or public use. This could be a deck or platform |
| built especially for this occasion. | | | | made of wood, metal or stone. Ordinary outdoor |
| Meiji period followed Japanese modernization. | | | | furniture for entertainment or a meditative |
| Many famous and traditional gardens from the past | | | | experience could be achieved using low benches or |
| were renovated or reconstructed by wealthy | | | | stone benches and simple outdoor sculptures or |
| business owners and politicians of the time. | | | | stones for viewing. Although borrowing from the tea |
| Japanese Garden Features | | | | ceremony experience this could be a place to enjoy |
| Deep philosophical and spiritual interpretations and | | | | wine and foods while creating a contemplative or |
| nuances were intertwined with Japanese Garden | | | | renewing experience for the eye. |
| design but we can view overall meanings and | | | | Fences-Rather than a typical fence of cedar pickets, |
| structures to understand, interpret and bring | | | | wood, or brick and wood which simply serve to |
| Japanese Garden design into the modern day | | | | provide security a fence could vary in materials, |
| context for our own beauty, enjoyment and renewal. | | | | detailing and heights. For example, pickets could be |
| Japanese gardens create themes and are extensions | | | | installed as panels between posts with a detail strip |
| of the architecture of the home. They are designed | | | | and cap pieces could be pyramidal or circular |
| with very specific view points so that subconsciously | | | | reflecting garden scenes. A solid brick fence could |
| universal, spiritual, or passive themes could be | | | | create interest and repetition by adding equally |
| experienced. Common themes from the garden | | | | spaced metal lattice panels. |
| include: | | | | Plants-In the Japanese garden, plants are used not |
| Water-either as fountains, streams, ponds, lakes | | | | only for recreating nature, echoing larger themes or |
| or interpretations in stone | | | | nature but can also serve as focal points. |
| Rocks-used as representations placed upright to | | | | |