Japanese Rock Gardens

The use of stones and rocks in a Japanese gardenslives in the main central stone and his disciples are the
or Zen gardens is an essential element in their design.smaller stones around the Buddha.
Apart from trees and plants nothing features soChinese legend and in particular the Isles of Eternal
much in a Japanese garden that stones and rocksyouth made an impact in Japanese gardens in the
and even that is a close call. The rules governing theirHeian era approximately 781 to 1185 AD. These taller
usage are ancient and plentiful,so what I plan to do instones made up the group of islands which represent
this article is give you an overview of the types ofthe unattainable dwelling place of the Immortals. One
rocks and stones used together with some basiclarger stone is surrounded by 3 smaller ones. This is a
rules of design.typical example of a Chinese influence in the use of
Japanese gardens are an art form that date backJapanese garden rocks and stones.
over 2,000 years, they originated in their mostThere are 5 main types of stone groupings in a
common form in China. As time went by and JapanJapanese rock garden and each type has a name and
imported more and more cultural ideas from China,a meaning. These stones and rocks can be used in
gardens were very much at the forefront of 'mustmany combinations so if you are thinking of designing
have's' for the aristocracy. Priests and monks wereyour own Japanese rock garden or adding to what
allied to rich landowners and were encouraged toyou already have there is plenty of scope for
design and create gardens of spectacular proportionscreativity!
and intricacy. The history of garden design and thoseThe first type of stone is the 'Soul Stone' it is low
associated skills passed down over hundreds andand vertical. Secondly, is the 'Body Stone' which is as
hundreds of years took on religious overtones in a lota rule tall and vertical in shape. The third type of
of cases as the influence of Zen Buddhism becamestone is called 'The Heart Stone' or 'Flat Stone' - and
common in Japan.that's exactly what it is. Fourthly, is the 'Branching
It was quite normal for priests who scouredStone ' or Arching stone and last but not least is the
riverbanks for stones and rocks of certain shapes'Ox Stone' which can also be known as the 'reclining'
and sizes to be revered and promoted in a physicalstone.
and spiritual sense to top Japanese garden designers.All of these stones are included in Japanese rock
It would be worth looking at some photographs ofgardens and Japanese gardens because of their
Japanese and Zen gardens to see the truly'positive' meaning and influence but, as you know in
spectacular use of stones and rocks in a very preciselife for every positive there is usually a negative and
way.so it is in Japanese gardens. 'Bad' stones and rocks
Japanese gardens are all about precision and serenitycan be put into 3 categories and these are never
and it's a common factor in the main 5 types ofused in Japanese rock gardens. Firstly, there are
Japanese gardens. To achieve these objectives there'Diseased Stones' these are stones that are withered
are some essential facts to understand.or have a misshapen top. Secondly, comes the 'Dead
Stones and rocks are symbolic representations ofStone' this is a stone that is obviously used as a
real or mythical land forms. The first stone groupinghorizontal one and vice versa and finally, the 'Pauper
to be introduced into Japanese gardens was theStone' which is a stone that has no direct connection
'Shumisen' - a collection of stones, where the Buddhato any other stones in the garden.