The dry garden was introduced in the 14 th century when military rulers embraced the newly introduced Zen Buddhism, which had a strong influence on garden design. The garden represents the spiritualism of Zen Buddhism, and provides a space and simplicity that’s ideal for meditation. Flowing sand and gravel are used to represent the sea or rivers, while rocks embodies an island. The Karesansui Garden consists mainly of carefully arranged rocks of varying shapes and sizes surrounded by sand. Read below for some more detail on the different types of Japanese gardens: There are two distinct types of Japanese garden: those designed for walking, and those intended to be viewed from a building or veranda. Koi is a homophone for ‘affection’ in Japanese, and the fish (known locally as nishikigoi) are a common symbol of love and friendship. They were first developed in Japan in the 1820s, where the various colours were established through careful breeding. Koi are domesticated common carp found in Japanese gardens. The water flows through a bamboo pipe into the basin. Stone water basins are intended for visitors in tea gardens, with guests expected to wash their hands and mouth before the tea ceremony. They are either inner fences, outer fences or fences that extend from the house to the garden.Ī stone lantern provides a dim light that softly illuminate elements in the garden, and represents the four natural elements – fire, water, earth and wind. They are either arched or flat, and became particularly popular in the Edo period when stroll gardens first emerged (see below for more detail).įences are made of bamboo or wood and are kept simple. Some of the most popular trees and flowers include the lotus (sacred in Buddhist teachings), pine (representing longevity), azalea, oak, bamboo, cherry, maple and gingko trees.īridges have been known to symbolise the path to paradise and immortality, and are most often made of natural materials such as wood, stone or logs covered in earth and moss. Moss is often used to suggest that the garden is ancient. Trees are selected for their autumnal colours, and flowers are chosen by their season of flowering. Trees and flowers are arranged carefully to create a picturesque scene, or to hide anything unsightly. Rocks are also evident in clusters of two, five or seven, and are sometimes placed in a random configuration to represent spontaneity. Smooth rocks are normally used as stepping stones or around lakes, while hard metamorphic rocks are placed around waterfalls or streams.Īrrangements of three rocks are most common in Japanese gardens - the tallest rock represents heaven, the medium-sized rock is humanity, and the bridge between heaven and earth is shown with the smallest rock. Sand and gravel – the ocean or a flowing river.Vertical rock – Mount Horai, Mount Sumuru or a jumping carp.Rocks are an important feature of a Japanese garden, and carry different symbolic representations: Water flowing from north to south is said to bring good luck. It is thought that water flowing from east to west will carry away evil, and that the owner will have a healthy and long life. It is advised that waterfalls should face towards the moon to capture its reflection. Ponds symbolise the ocean or a lake, while waterfalls represent a miniature version of Japanese mountain streams. Traditional gardens consist of asymmetrical ponds, positioned as they would be in nature. In dry rock gardens known as Zen gardens, water is instead symbolised by sand. Ponds, streams and waterfalls are all popular features. Water is a constant in Japanese gardens, as a reflection of life and its fundamental role in human existence. What are the elements of a Japanese Garden?Ī Japanese garden consists of six key elements: Worn and natural elements are integrated into the gardens, and bright colours are used in a direct manner to represent seasonal shifts. They avoid the extravagance of many Western garden designs, and consist mostly of evergreens, rocks, pebbles, sand, ponds and waterfalls.Īny architecture found in the garden tends to be minimalistic, with the focus primarily on natural landscape rather than elaborate and ornate designs. Japanese gardens are serene and simple places of calm, providing a peaceful retreat for reflection and meditation. The Different Types & Elements of Japanese Gardens Date Posted: 11 September 2018 What is a Japanese garden?
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