| When you hear the term "Zen Garden" the | | | | from the right position, created the image of |
| picture conjured up is of a dry landscape | | | | a tree in the subconscious mind. |
| with rocks surrounded by carefully raked | | | | |
| gravel which invites you to withdraw from the | | | | Not all Zen gardens are restricted to dry |
| noise of the world outside and to enter into | | | | stones and gravel, but often include plants |
| silent meditation. Some say that zen priests | | | | and mosses as well as shrine lanterns, |
| adopted the dry landscape style in the | | | | bridges and water features. A Zen garden |
| eleventh century as an aid to create a deeper | | | | should be equally attractive and inviting |
| understanding of the zen concepts, but others | | | | throughout the year, which is why evergreens |
| hold that the Japanese Zen Garden is a myth. | | | | play such an important role in their design. |
| They claim that it is a late 20th Century | | | | Black pines and bamboo, moss and other |
| western creation that has nothing to do with | | | | evergreen ground covers provide seasonal |
| the Japanese Garden Tradition and that the | | | | continuity which is always green and alive. |
| dry garden style is not unique to zen temples | | | | |
| but can be found associated with many other | | | | Construction of a Zen garden starts with the |
| buildings. | | | | selection of suitable rocks. It is important |
| | | | that you find rocks in shapes that appeal to |
| Whatever your view it is undeniable that | | | | you since these will form the backbone of the |
| there is something rather special about this | | | | design. It may take some time for you to find |
| dry landscape style which is generally known | | | | the right stones and gravels to blend |
| as a Zen garden. The main elements consist of | | | | together to form a harmonious picture, but |
| rocks representing mountains or islands | | | | taking time and making careful choices is an |
| surrounded by flowing water in the form of | | | | important part of transforming simple |
| sand or gravel. | | | | gardening into an act of "meditation". |
| | | | |
| Recently scientists used computer analysis to | | | | Zen gardening means that design, |
| study one of the most famous Zen gardens in | | | | construction, planting and cultivation is |
| the world, at the Ryoanji Temple in Kyoto, to | | | | all part of the garden itself. A Zen garden |
| discover why it has a calming effect on the | | | | is a continuing process in which the creation |
| hundreds of thousands of visitors who come | | | | and maintenance of the design is as much a |
| every year. The researchers found that the | | | | part of the meditation as contemplation of |
| seemingly random collection of rocks and moss | | | | the completed garden. |
| on this simple gravel rectangle, when viewed | | | | |