| When it comes to gardens, the Japanese are one of | | | | usually symbolize the Japanese islands. The sand, |
| the finest designers. When one visits Japanese | | | | which is raked in circular patterns, symbolizes the sea. |
| garden, he might see a big lotus pond with a delicate | | | | The rock gardens of the Ryoanji and the Daitokuji |
| bridge that spans across it, a wide variety of plants, | | | | temples are perfect examples of Karensansui. |
| beautiful flowering trees and skillfully displayed rock | | | | Unlike a Tsukimaya garden, a Karensansui garden is |
| formations. The view immediately gives the person a | | | | to be viewed from a single, seated perspective. |
| sense of calm. Truly, one cannot deny the fact that | | | | Lastly, the third category of Japanese garden |
| Japanese garden landscaping is awe aspiring. | | | | landscaping is the Chaniwa. This type of garden dates |
| Japanese garden landscaping is categorized into three | | | | back to the 14th century. This is not a garden in the |
| types. The first and the most common is the | | | | real sense of the word. Instead, this type of |
| Tsukiyama type, which means "constructed | | | | Japanese garden landscaping is characterized by a |
| mountain" in English. A Tsukiyama inspired garden is | | | | beautiful, carefully planned path made out of stepping |
| basically a garden with contours and hills. It may also | | | | stones that lead to a tea room. This tea room is |
| include a pond or stream with various plants and | | | | called Chaniwa, hence, the name of the garden. The |
| shrubs. A typical Japanese house or a temple may be | | | | Chaniwa also has stone water basins where the |
| erected on the grounds. | | | | guests can wash themselves so they could partake |
| Another main feature of a Tsukiyama garden is that | | | | of a tea ceremony. |
| the entire place can be seen from strategically placed | | | | Apparently, the designer of the Chaniwa type of |
| vantage points. | | | | garden wants to invoke to his guests a feeling of |
| The different category of Japanese garden | | | | peace, solitude and enlightenment with this design. |
| landscaping is called the Karensansui or dry landscape | | | | Therefore, the Chaniwa garden is a perfect place for |
| gardens. Gardens of this type are associated with | | | | meditation. Usually, Chaniwa gardens are not open to |
| people who practice Zen Buddhism. | | | | the public. |
| What makes this garden apart from other gardens is | | | | It is worthwhile to see these types of Japanese |
| that it has only minimal or no vegetation at all. | | | | gardens. By doing so, one will truly feel at peace with |
| Instead, the main elements of a Karensansui garden | | | | himself while having a glimpse with the unique |
| are carefully arranged rocks and sand. The rocks | | | | Japanese culture. |