| The modern Japanese garden will only contain things | | | | There are many different Japanese garden styles. |
| that occur in nature. Japanese gardens offer a | | | | These include a Zen garden or dry garden, Japanese |
| tranquil setting for relaxation and meditation. Elements | | | | tea garden, a stroll garden, courtyard garden, and |
| of Japanese gardens include stones, water, plants, | | | | pond and island style. |
| ornaments, borrowed scenery, and architecture. | | | | In Japanese gardens, stone lanterns are often placed |
| Elements for the garden will be in the proper scale; | | | | near a pond or a stream to represent the female and |
| there will be no huge boulders placed in a tiny garden | | | | male elements of water and fire. This is known as yin |
| area. | | | | and yang in Japanese tradition. |
| The first element placed in the garden will usually be | | | | Japanese gardens will have empty spaces, and there |
| the stones. The stones are the main element of the | | | | will be no crowded spaces. The gardens will usually be |
| garden. They are usually positioned in odd numbers | | | | enclosed with natural fencing and a gate or gates. |
| and are grouped together in triangular shapes or | | | | The Japanese garden is always a work in progress |
| randomly. They can be used for stepping stones or | | | | and will never be completed. Asymmetry is another |
| for viewing. Stones can be arranged to emphasize a | | | | element of these gardens. There will be no straight |
| faraway mountain or a nearby tree. The pathways | | | | lines or rows. |
| that the stepping stones form represent a person's | | | | Flowers and colorful foliage are sparingly used to |
| journey through life. The stones can be placed so | | | | signify changing seasons in the Japanese garden. The |
| that the person will slow down as they travel | | | | flowering plants used are usually cherry or plum |
| through the garden. Stones can be used to represent | | | | trees, azaleas, peonies, and chrysanthemums. Other |
| mountains or islands and to express the human | | | | plants commonly used include bamboo, moss, |
| emotions of strength and endurance. | | | | Japanese maples, and evergreens, such as Japanese |
| Water features are an important element of a | | | | black pine. Some plants may be chosen not only for |
| Japanese garden. Water symbolizes purity. The water | | | | their flowers but perhaps because of the attractive |
| features in the garden will appear to flow naturally as | | | | way they look with snow on the branches, raindrops |
| in streams or waterfalls or will be in ponds but not in | | | | on the stems, or sun shining through the leaves. |
| fountains. Raked gravel is sometimes used to | | | | Nothing unsightly should be used in the garden. |
| represent water. | | | | |