CAIRO UNIVERSITY

JAPANESE GARDENS
PRESENTED TO:

DR. MOHAMMED REFAAT DR. NEZAR KAFAFY

BY:
\

ASMAA ALY DOAA MAHMOUD HEBA EZZAT KAMEL MOHAMED AL-ASEEL MOHAMED SHAWKY

JAPANESE GARDENS
JAPANESE GARDENS
"LITERATURE REVIEW"

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Landscape gardener Seyemon Kusumoto wrote that the Japanese generate "the best of nature's handiwork in a limited space."

OVERVIEW:
The classic Japanese garden aims at emphasizing the natural beauty of the site. It creates a delicate, highly refined layout in a limited space. Japanese landscape gardening tries to achieve a striking image through arranging rocks, trees, shrubs and running water in such a way as to create the vast landscape. Garden design has been a significant Japanese art throughout the centuries. It can be categorized into three types, Tsukiyama Gardens (hill gardens), Karesansui Gardens (dry gardens) and Chaniwa Gardens (tea gardens). The surrounding context, history, politics and society highly influenced the Japanese garden.

INTRODUCTION

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THE GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION OF JAPAN:

Japan extends along the pacific coast of Asia; it is composed of a number of islands known as "Japanese Archipelago". They are approximately 1000 miles from north to south. 73% of Japan is forested and mountainous.

(JAPAN)

CLIMATE:
The climate is humid, but it varies greatly from north to south. The average winter temperature in Japan is 5.1 C (41.2 F) and the average summer temperature is 25.2 C (77.4 F).[82] The highest temperature ever measured in Japan40.9 C (105.6 F)was recorded on August 16, 2007.

THE CONTEXT

RELIGION
Most Japanese people do not exclusively identify themselves as adherents of a single religion; rather, they incorporate elements of various religions in a syncretic fashion[1] known as Shinbutsu shg. Shinto and Japanese Buddhism are therefore best understood as a single, rather complex religious system.

CULTURE
The culture of Japan has evolved greatly over the millennia, from the country's prehistoric Jmon period to its contemporary hybrid culture, which combines influences from Asia, Europe and North America.

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HISTORY OF JAPANESE GARDENS

"In Japan, the garden has the status of artwork."

Garden architecture is as important as building architecture and very much influenced by the same historical and religious background. Tracing back the history of the development of Japanese gardens we find the roots of the concept took birth during the time known as the Asuka Period in Japanese history. The influence of the Buddhist dharma was in full swing during these years. Garden works attempted to imitate famous mountains and other natural elements. Japanese gardens were developed under the influences of the distinctive and stylized Chinese gardens. Since both Buddhism and Daoism were imports from Korea and China, as were many other elements of early Japanese culture, it would stand to reason that early garden designs in Japan might have emulated Korean or Chinese prototypes

THE HISTORICAL PERIODS

THE ASUKA PERIOD (538-710) THE NARA PERIOD(710-794) THE HEIAN PERIOD(794-1185) THE KAMAKURA & MURAMACHI PERIODS (1185-1573) SEN NO RIKYU(1517-1591) THE EDO PERIOD(1603-1868) THE MEIJI PERIOD MODERNIZATION OF JAPAN |Page4

HISTORY OF JAPANESE GARDENS

During the Asuka period (538710), gardens were supposed to express Buddhism and Taoism through replicating the mountainous regions in China (Japanese Lifestyle). Ruins of these types of gardens can be found in Fujiwara and Heijyo castle towns (Japanese Lifestyle). During the Nara period (710-794), Shinto worshippers encountered the gardens of the capital in China and these gardens were carefully recreated near the palace. During the Heian period (794-1185), gardens shifted from solely representing religious beliefs to becoming, "a place for ceremonies, amusement, and contemplation" (Miller). In this style, the garden was located at the front of a building, also known as the south side (Japanese Lifestyle). As part of the garden style, there was water flowing through artificial passages that eventually spilled into ponds with little islands in them (Japanese Lifestyle). Very few of these gardens have survived to this day, and thus, are certainly a rarity in modern history.

In the Kamakura and Muromachi periods (1185-1573), a great many gardens were
created during these two time periods due to improved garden techniques and the development of Syoinzukuri style (Japanese Lifestyle). Zen beliefs were also flourishing at this time and had great influences over garden techniques and purposes. Another factor that allowed gardens to flourish stems from the fact that the shoguns simply enjoyed gardens. Dry landscape style also emerged during this time (Japanese Lifestyle). After the Muromachi Period, Japanese tea ceremonies became an intricate part of Japanese culture (Japanese Lifestyle). Sen no Rikyu

(1517-1591) created the traditional style of a tea

house where there was usually a roji (dewy path) leading to the house (Japanese Lifestyle). Besides the tea houses, gardens constructed in

the Edo period (1603-1868) reflected the tastes

and style of each individual shogun ruler. Instead of being a religious symbol, gardens shifted to being a symbol of a shoguns prestige and power (Miller).

In the Meiji period following the modernization of Japan, famous traditional gardens were owned by businessmen and politicians. Some of these extensive gardens are open to public viewing in Murinan (Kyoto) and Chinzanso (Tokyo) (Japanese Lifestyle). |Page5

Poetry

CULTURAL ASPECTS OF JAPANESE GARDENS

Many poems were inspired and written about the different Japanese Gardens.

Literature The Tale of Genji describes the shinden-zukun style garden of the Heian Period. During the Heian Period the Sakuteiki was written- the first book to discuss allotment of land, stone arrangements, artificial waterfalls, water passages, and planting.

Tea Ceremonies After the tea ceremony was refined by Sen Rikyu, the tea garden, house, and utensils all served as a way to awaken consciousness and to realize with humility our relationship with all that is around us and with the universe itself(Miller). Also, tea ceremonies were partly designed to teach participants how to gain absolute control over body and mind (Kato p. 27). Culturally, the Japanese followed the five Confucian virtues (loyalty, righteousness, politeness, wisdom, and trust) to ground these tea ceremony ideals off of (Kato p. 27). In short, the tea ceremonies were a cultural activity to teach Japanese/Confucian virtues that were important for life. |Page6

Typical features

TYPICAL FEATURES OF JAPANESE GARDENS

A catalogue of features "typical" of the Japanese garden may be drawn up without inquiring deeply into the aesthetic underlying Japanese practice. Typical Japanese gardens have at their center a home from which the garden is viewed. In addition to residential architecture, depending on the archetype, Japanese gardens often contain several of these elements: Water, real or symbolic. A bridge over the water, or stepping stones. Rocks or stone arrangements (or settings). A lantern, typically of stone. A teahouse or pavilion. An enclosure device such as a hedge, fence, or wall of traditional character.

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TYPES AND STYLES OF JAPANESE GARDENS

Karesansui gardens

Tsukiyama Gardens

Chaniwa Gardens

JAPANESE GARDENS STYLES

Different styles of gardens in Japan Traditional Japanese gardens can be categorized to the five basic types:

Hill and Pond Style Gardens that originated from China. The ponds represent the sea, and the hills symbolize the islands. Lanterns, trees, bridges, and ponds are practically necessities here. They vary in size, usually cover many acres, but with careful techniques, it can be created in a small backyard. Dry Landscape Style Gardens are very simple and modern-looking, usually placed in a very small area. They reproduce natural landscapes in a more abstract way by using stones, gravel and sand onto mountains, islands and rivers. They refer to the Zen philosophy and usually try to evoke a deeper meaning. Tea Style Garden has a very intimate atmosphere and are meant to provide a relaxation from a person's busy lifestyle. They are designed for the tea ceremony. They contain a tea house where the ceremony is held and a stone basin where guests can purify themselves before participating in it.

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JAPANESE GARDENS STYLES

Stroll Style Gardens that are meant for viewing from the path and that is why they never reveal the whole garden's beauty from one spot. They must be big enough to enable visitors to walk along the path and spacious at the same time to allow the path to take turns. Courtyard Style Garden follows the rule of having an outside sensation while still being inside. Apart from other styles, everything here must be full-sized. All elements, as lanterns, bridges, basines have ornamental rather than a functional meaning.

The Karesansui gardens:

Karesansui gardens () or "dry landscape gardens were influenced mainly by Zen Buddhism and can be found at Zen temples of meditation. Unlike other traditional gardens, there is no water present in Karesansui gardens. However, there is raked gravel or sand that simulates the feeling of water. The rocks or gravel used are chosen for their artistic shapes, and mosses as well as small shrubs are used to further garnish the Karesansui style. All in all, the rocks and moss are used to represent ponds, islands, boats, seas, rivers, and mountains in an abstract way (Japan Guide). Example: Ryan-ji, temple in Kyoto, has a garden famous for representing this style. Daisen-in, created in 1513, is also particularly renowned.

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The Tsukiyama gardens:

Tsukiyama Gardens often copy famous landscapes from China or Japan, and they commonly strive to make a smaller garden appear more spacious (Japan Guide). This is accomplished by utilizing shrubs to block views of surrounding buildings, and the garden's structure usually tries to make onlookers focus on nearby mountains in the distance (Japanese Lifestyle). By doing this, it seems that the garden has the mountains as part of its grounds. Ponds, streams, hills, stones, trees, flowers, bridges, and paths are also used frequently in this style.

JAPANESE GARDENS STYLES

The Chaniwa gardens:

Chaniwa Gardens are built for holding tea ceremonies. There is usually a tea house where the ceremonies occur, and the styles of both the hut and garden are based on the simple concepts of the sado. Usually, there are stepping stones leading to the tea house,stone lantern, and stone basins (tsukubai) where guests purify themselves before a ceremony.

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JAPANESE GARDENS CHARACTERISTICS

In addition to trees and shrubs, the Japanese garden makes artistic use of rocks, sand, artificial hills, ponds and flowing water. In contrast to the geometrically arranged trees and rocks of a Western-style garden, the Japanese garden traditionally creates: "A scenic composition that, as artlessly as possible, mimics nature." Garden designers followed three basic principles when composing scenes: Reduced scale: miniaturization of natural views of mountains and rivers so as to reunite them in a confined area. Symbolization: abstraction, an example being the use of white sand to suggest the sea. "Borrowed Views." where background views that were outside and beyond the garden, such as a mountain or the ocean, and had them become an integral part of the scenic composition.

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Use of stones, water, and plantings

The basic framework of the Japanese garden, according to one school of thought, is provided by rocks and the way they are grouped. Ancient Japanese, we know, believed that a place surrounded by rocks was inhabited by gods. Likewise, a dense cluster of trees was called himorogi (divine hedge); moats and streams, thought to enclose sacred ground, were referred to as mizugaki (water fences). Though often thought of as tranquil sanctuaries that allow individuals to escape from the stresses of daily life, Japanese gardens are designed for a variety of purposes. Some gardens invite quiet contemplation, but may have also been intended for recreation, the display of rare plant specimens, or the exhibition of unusual rocks. The Japanese gardens, tufted moss Kaiyu-shiki or Strolling Gardens require the observer to create a cascade of texture and visual enlightenment walk through the garden to fully appreciate it. A premeditated path takes observers through each unique area of a Japanese garden. Uneven surfaces are placed in specific spaces to prompt people to look down at particular points. When the observer looks up, they will see an eyecatching ornamentation which is intended to enlighten and revive the spirit of the observer. This type of design is known as the Japanese landscape principle of "hide and reveal". Stones are used to construct the garden's paths, bridges, and walkways. Stones can also represent a geological presence where actual mountains are not viewable or present. They are sometimes placed in odd numbers and a majority of the groupings reflect triangular shapes, which often are the mountains of China. A water source in a Japanese garden should appear to be part of the natural surroundings; this is why one will not find fountains in traditional gardens. Man-made streams are built

JAPANESE GARDENS CHARACTERISTICS

Japanese stone lanterns adds mystique, tradition and spirituality

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JAPANESE GARDENS CHARACTERISTICS

with curves and irregularities to create a serene and natural appearance. Lanterns are often placed beside some of the most prominent water basins (either a pond or a stream) in a garden. In some gardens one will find a dry pond or stream. Dry ponds and streams have as much impact as do the ones filled with water. Green plants are another element of Japanese gardens. Japanese traditions prefer subtle green tones, but flowering trees and shrubs are also used. Many plants in imitated Japanese gardens of the West are indigenous to Japan, though some sacrifices must be made to account for the differentiating climates. Some plants, such as sugar maple and firebush, give the garden a broader palette of seasonal color.

The sand, rock and stone zen gardens provides a place for quiet reflection and contemplation.

Japanese Garden Fountain

The Japanese stone lantern accompanied with the crimson colors of the changing Japanese maple trees.

Japanese Garden path

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THREE GREAT GARDENS OF JAPAN The Three Great Gardens of Japan is common concept in Japan where there are other famous items of three including the Three Views of Japan. The significance of the Three Great Gardens of Japan is not that they are the best Japanese gardens, but that they are large scale traditional Japanese gardens. Only two of the Three Great Gardens of Japan, Kenrokuen and Korakuen Garden are designated "Special Places of Scenic Beauty".

EXAMPLES

Kairakuen Kairakuen is most famous for its 3000 plum trees (the most ant where in Japan) which flower in early spring. There are over 100 different varieties of plum trees in Kairakuen, which is one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan. Kairakuen is located in Mito.

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EXAMPLES

Kenrokuen Kenrokuen Garden is by far the most famous part of Kanazawa. Kenrokuen is one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan, maybe the best one of all. It was first established in the 17th century by the feudal lords of Kaga as their private garden.

Korakuen Garden Korakuen Garden is one of Japan's official Three Great Gardens. Korakuen Garden is located next to Okayama Castle, Okayama.

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Mts-ji Garden
Buddhist temple of the Tendai sect in Hiraizumi and the historic area surrounding it.

EXAMPLES

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JAPANESE GARDENS
"FROM AN ANALYTICAL POINT OF VIEW"

JAPANESE GARDENS

The art of Japanese gardens have been believed to be one of the most important parts of Japanese culture for many centuries. The garden design in Japan is strongly connected to the philosophy and religion of the country. Shinto, Buddhism and Taoism were used in the creation of different garden styles in order to bring a spiritual sense to the gardens and make them places where people could spend their time in a peaceful way and meditate

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DESIGN Part of the beauty of the Japanese gardens comes from the symbolic expression of religious Buddhism and Shinto beliefs. The design of the Japanese gardens is based on three basic principles: Reduced scale: Gardens in reduced scale represent famous scenes and places in small and confined spaces. Mountain views and rivers are miniaturized using stones, sand and gravel. Symbolization: Symbolization is used in almost every Japanese garden. Raked sand or gravel symbolizes rivers, groupings of stones and rock can represent islands. Borrowed view: Shakkei or borrowed view is the use of existing scenery and plants to supplement the garden. The garden design is made in such a way that the existing scenery becomes part of the total design. An important concept in the garden is "simplicity" or kanso. In this concept, beauty is attained through omission and elimination. Simplicity must not be confused with plainness which is, in many cases, monotonous or a lack of refinement.Simplicity means the achievement of maximum effect with minimum means. Buildings, bridges, fences, and pavement all utilize natural material constructed in a most imaginative and refined manner.

DESIGN CONCEPTS

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DESIGN CONCEPTS

The character of most of today's famous gardens owe much of their development to the influence of Zen Buddhism which was brought from China in the thirteenth century and became a major influence in Japan in the two following centuries. A real appreciation and understanding of the traditional Japanese garden is complex and difficult. The visual entities which may appear as a design in the Western sense of forms, textures, and colors are less important than the invisible philosophical, religious, and symbolic elements. This is shown clearly when we examine the derivation and importance of the key elements present, in some form, in almost every Japanese garden. These elements include water, islands of stones, plants, and garden accessories. The design of the Japanese gardens is based on the principles of symbolization. Its essential elements have different meanings: A stone lantern representing four natural elements: earth, water, fire and wind Statues of male and female lions, placed at the entrance of the garden in order to protect the garden from intruders, representing the two opposite forces: yin and yang (fire and water, male and female). Water basin known as a deer chaser, which keep deer away by making a special sound when filled up The koi fish swiming in ponds, which has a decorative meaning Typical Japanese bridge, called a moonbridge, whose purpose is to reflect artistic feelings In its origin the garden was representative of utopia or, more often, a paradise of Buddha. Both were Chinese concepts. The first, brought to Japan in the sixth century, was the product of China's ancient mythology. The other gained credence as Buddhism came to influence all sectors of Japanese life. Indigenous factors, such as Japan's insularity, also had an impact on the development of gardens.

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THE JAPANESE GARDEN IN SAN FRANCISCO

DESIGN CONCEPTS

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DESIGN CONCEPTS

RITSORIN KEON A JAPANESE GARDEN

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Symbolism:
Symbolic Meaning of Plants and Items

SYMBOLISM

Item

Symbolic Meaning

Japanese Flowering Cherry

Celebrate change of seasons

Japanese maple Autumn welcomed as a friend

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Pinus densiflora

SYMBOLISM

Eternity Trees and plants used in the garden are closely interwoven with the spiritual and physical life of the Japanese people. The pine is a major basic structural tree. Traditionally it is called tokiwa and, as an evergreen, it expresses both longevity and happiness. The black and red pines symbolize the positive and negative forces in the universe. The Japanese black or male pine called omatsu represents the former force and the red or female pine called mematsu represents the latter force.

Mounds Mountain ranges Pond in shape of tortoise and Crane 1 Rock Shumisen 1 Central rock Longevity Crane and tortoise islands belong in this category. According to Chinese mythology, the crane lives a thousand years and the tortoise ten thousand years. 1 of 3 Mythical Islands, a guarantee of prosperity Central pillar that supports the heavens

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A line of boats sailing toward the Isles of the Immortals

A line of rocks

The Buddist trinity In dry gardens, islands are symbolized by rocks of interesting shapes set in gravel or sand. Groups of stones representing a rocky seashore may be arranged near the edge of a lake or its gravel or sand depiction. The three Buddha arrangement called sanson is one of the most orthodox styles in the art of stone arrangement. It consists of three rather vertical stones. The largest stone, which is always placed in the center, represents the Buddha while the two smaller stones placed nearby represent two Bodhisattvas. This arrangement is used commonly to express horaisan, shumisen, or a waterfall.

SYMBOLISM

3 Rocks

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Paradise land of paradise Symbols of auspiciousness and longevity, the actual beings are often simulated by the shape of the islands. Another auspicious symbol is the kibune or treasure ship which sails the seas and is represented often by a rock or group of rocks. Island in pond Such islands, due to their sacred character, are inaccessible to human beings and no bridges are constructed to reach them. In contrast, ordinary islands called nakajima are accessible to the mainland by bridges and it is on these latter islands that one may find teahouses and arbors.

SYMBOLISM

Guzei Red bridge Split bridge Mountain

Route blessed to take to salvation Bridge split to prevent evil spirits from crossing (evil spirits are believed to only move in straight lines)

Assertive, hard, uncompromising (Yang)

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SYMBOLISM

Intellectual force, softness of water associated with feelings (Yin) Japan is a group of islands surrounded by oceans and seas. From ancient times, the Japanese people had an affinity for the sea. Water as a design element in the garden is crucial. One of the most popular styles of garden is called chisen, in which a pond or lake occupies the most significant portion of the garden. Water's importance is not as a substance but as a symbol and expression of the sea. Even the quantity of water present is unimportant. If space is a problem, one is supposed to be able to enjoy the tranquility of the sea in contemplation of a bucketful of water contained in a stone water basin. The presence of water itself is not required. In the dry garden of karesansui style, the sea is symbolized by grey gravel or sand and the state of the sea is expressed by sand patterns or samon created by raking the sand to form certain designs.

Water

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Wooden terrace jutting over picturesque garden

Constant need to be with nature Bamboo is usually found in such gardens and plum trees are often grown there. Combinations of pine, bamboo, and plum are used in decorations to mark the New Year and the most auspicious occasions. Bamboo is an evergreen also and is credited with auspicious characteristics similar to those of the pine while the plum is thought to embody the qualities of vigor and patience since it is the first to bloom after a severe winter.

Bamboo

SYMBOLISM

Water Straight lines calm water Curved lines waves Gravel

Upturned roof edges

The giant wings of the Phoenix in flight Phoenix symbol of rebirth

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Garden Elements
In the picture on the right, some of the constituting features are the stone lantern, the pond, the bridge, and the trees. Each of these elements are made from natural materials, that is, if they do not already exist in their pure form. For example, although the stone lantern is a man- made element, its raw material is stone. In this way, everything from the pond to the bridge crossing over it is an example of the intrinsic connection between nature and the Japanese garden as well as between architecture and the garden. Each element holds an individual symbolic content. This is why it is not enough to understand the garden itself as simply a combination of parts. The aesthetic principles are embedded in the spiritual and intellectual experience. The specific organization of the garden space within its natural environment contributes to a different aura for each garden. In this way, the particular implementation of the elements contributes to a unique experience for each visitor.

SYMBOLISM GARDEN ELEMENTS

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Ponds, Waterfalls, and Bridges

The pond, or the ike, is a fundamental element in Japanese gardens. As a body of water, it represents the sea, lake, pond or river in nature. This is why they are not geometrical in appearance; in order to preserve the natural shapes, man- made ponds are asymmetrical. The bank of the pond is usually bordered by stones, as you can see in the image above.

SYMBOLISM GARDEN ELEMENTS PONDS, WATERFALLS AND BRIDGES

"Shinshen" or "Eishu" Island, Jyoei- ji

The passage of the water from the waterfall or stream to the pond symbolizes human existence: birth, growth and death. The sound and the appearance of the water change throughout this course from being a boisterous rushing of waves to a serene silence.
Murin- an Garden, Kyoto

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A fountain is sometimes found at the bottom of a hill or hillside or secluded forest. Wells, too, are sometimes found in a Japanese garden. This is made for both functional and aesthetic purposes. Both features, like other elements, appear in various forms.

SYMBOLISM GARDEN ELEMENTS PONDS, WATERFALLS AND BRIDGES

The bridge is both a functional and ornamental addition to the garden. In the picture to the right, the wooden bridge is left unpainted, as is common, and crosses over a stream.

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SYMBOLISM GARDEN ELEMENTS PONDS, WATERFALLS AND BRIDGES

Bridges that cross over sand are not functional. It is exclusively an ornamental device used to promote spiritual and intellectual meditation. As in the stone bridge to the right, the absence of a handrail underscores both the ornamental quality and the spiritual: there is no division between the visitor and his surroundings. The stone bridge is usually elevated on either ends by a pair of stones, or hashibasami- noishi. These are erected in order to emphasis the strength of the monolithic stones. As you can see, bridges come in various forms and styles. The materials used vary from worked and unworked stones to different types of wood. In addition, when gardens have multiple bridges, repetition is avoided in order to produce variety in aesthetic experience.

North- East Stone Garden of Daisen- in Monastery, Daitoku- ji

Shomyo- ji, Kanagawa

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Stepping Stones and Garden Paths

SYMBOLISM GARDEN ELEMENTS STEPPING STONES AND GARDEN PATHS

The stepping stones (tobi- ishi), like many other elements, derive from the tea ceremony but has become a prevalent feature in other garden types. Originally, it was created so that visitors would not have to walk over the mossy ground. In this way, the flat stepping stones served to preserve the grass as well as orient the viewer to a specific visual experience. Stepping stones are placed in varying intervals. Although they create irregular paths in various patterns, the placement of the stones are calculated and precise. The gardener places the stones carefully with respect to their relative shape, color and size.

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SYMBOLISM GARDEN ELEMENTS STEPPING STONES AND GARDEN PATHS

There are stones, called step- stones, which precede the stepping stones in the garden. These step- stones are found near the veranda or entrance of the house or tea room. The visitor of the house or room is expected to place his shoes on the step- stone before entering.

Stepping stones appear in various shapes. Some stones remain unworked while others are worked in order to createl ong rectangular blocks. Such worked stones are used in certain garden paths in order to break the monotony of the aesthetic experience. For example, there are usually two rectangular stones that are parallel to each other (Tanzaku) which appears in the middle of a path. The juxtaposition of natural and artifical stones underscore the process of garden design: the gardener inserts artifical elements within the natural environment.

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Stone Water Basins and Stone Lanterns SYMBOLISM GARDEN ELEMENTS STONE WATER BASINS AND STONE LANTERNS
There are two kinds of stone water basins. One is ornamental, kazari- chozubachi, which is kept near the verandah while the other is for the tea garden, called tsukubai. The image above is an example of the tsukubai. As you can see, it is kept very low so that the visitor must kneel down in order to wash his hands. The other stones that surround the basin are set in a specific manner: 1. Mai-ishi (in front where the visitor stands) 2. Yutoseki (on the right) 3. Teshoku- ishi (on the left) There is an area left in the middle, or the hollow, which is where the water is disposed. This area is covered by smaller rocks and pebbles. Although originally meant for the tea ceremonies, these basins are used in other gardens as well. The second type of stone water basin is raised. In this way, the visitor can use it standing up. Such basins are usually placed by the short fence, or the sodegaki, adding to the aesthetic experience. The tsukubaiis surrounded by four other stones:
1. Kagami- ishi or Mizukaeshi (which prevents the water from seeping into the verandah) 2. Seijoseki (Cleaning Stones) 3. Mizukumi- ishi (Water- Drawing Stone) 4. Mizuage- ishi (Water- Bringing Stone)

All the elements are connected by a hollow which, like the tsukubaiserves as the drainage.

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SYMBOLISM GARDEN ELEMENTS STONE WATER BASINS AND STONE LANTERNS

The stone water basins are made of natural or lightly worked stones. The water basin is replenished frequently by bamboo pipes, as you can see in the image above. A stone lantern is usually near the stone water basin, contributing to the overall aesthetic effect of the Japanese ga rden.

During the tea ceremonies of the Momoyama period, temple dedication lanterns were used to provide a dim light. The subtle luminescence of the lantern underscored the unfinished beauty of the tea aesthetic. It is from this ritual that the stone lantern emerged in other Japanese gardens.

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SYMBOLISM GARDEN ELEMENTS STONE WATER BASINS AND STONE LANTERNS

The shape of the stone lantern is not standardized. However, the original dedication lanterns had 6 major parts: 1. Kurin (Ornamental Top) 2. Kasa (Cap) 3. Hibukuro (Light Chamber) 4. Chudai (Middle Stand) 5. Sao (Post) 6. Jirin (Base)

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Garden Plants and Trees

SYMBOLISM GARDEN ELEMENTS GARDEN PLANTS AND TREES

Daichi- ji Garden: Summer, Fall, Winter, Spring

Trees and plants give the Japanese garden its unique ch aracter. While the European garden is colorful and diverse with its trees, bushes and flowers the Japanese garden is predominately green with its almost exclusive use of evergreen trees. When flowering trees are found in the Japanese garden they are usually camelias, specifically the tsubaki and sazanka.

Katsura Imperial Villa

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The Japanese garden was not always monochrome. The classical Japanese garden of the 10th to 12th centuries contained cherry and plum trees in addition to pines and willows. Ornamental flowering shrubs were common not only in the garden but also in the inner courtyard.

SYMBOLISM GARDEN ELEMENTS GARDEN PLANTS AND TREES

However, the influence of the Zen sect and watercolor painting from Southern China transformed the colorful Japanese garden in the Middle Ages. Flowers, flowering plants and shrubs came to be regarded as signs of frivolity and were replaced by evergreen trees that symbolized eternity.

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Fences and Walls

SYMBOLISM GARDEN ELEMENTS FENCES AND WALLS

Shokado, Kyoto

There are three types of fences: the short fence which extends from the house into the garden, an inner fence and an outer fence. The outer fence is the first type you see as you approach the garden. In the example above, the fence is thick and the branches are tightly assembled, serving as an protective outer wall. However, this not the case with every outer fence. Its appearance depends on the type of garden that it surrounds. For example, a landscape garden fence may not be so obvious in order to preserve the illusion of its vast area.

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SYMBOLISM GARDEN ELEMENTS FENCES AND WALLS

Bamboo fences are very popular and range in design. These fences are think in order to be an outer wall. As you can see, the color of the fences are different. In this, way the fence itself acts as an essential factor in garden design. Not only as a colorful backdrop to the plants and flowers that you see with it, the fence also adds texture and patterns.

Here are two images of outer fences that are not opaque. The way in which they are assembled does not block the garden off from its surroundings. As you can see, the branches are assembled diagonally and then held in place with long horizontal branches.

The fences within the garden are not as thick. Such fences emphasize lightness and act as partitions. The materials often used are bamboo, wood and twigs of bamboo or tree. The short fences, or the sodegaki, are screens that allow the gardener to hide unwanted views or objects. They are about 6 or 7 feet high. The sodegaki are made of wood or bamboo and thus, like the other fences, add color and texture to the garden.

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Stones
Stones, like water, are one of the fundamental elements of Japanese gardens. Although there are stones that serve as the material for other features, such as paths, bridges, and walls, each stone is in itself its own element.

SYMBOLISM GARDEN ELEMENTS STONES

The placement of each individual stone is determined by their unique shape and form; some lay horizontally while others stand vertically. In this way, asymmetry in stone arrangement is common to the Japanese garden. Stones are rarely pr esented in the garden alone. They are grouped together in two to five stones of diverse forms. As you can see on the image to the right, there is a tendency to juxtapose large massive stones with flat long stones. The dynamic tension caused by polar shapes break the monotony of the monolithic and monochromatic stones. This organization also creates a balanced image.

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JAPANESE GARDENS - ESTHETICS

ESTHETICS The many unique Japanese concepts and esthetics involved in traditional Japanese gardens stem from Zen Buddhism. Whereas the previous importation of Buddhism had come from Tang China, Zen concepts came from Sung China. Its influence on the art and architecture of the country has been impressive and lasting. Esthetic values which are believed to both Japanese and Westerners to be uniquely Japanese in origin such as simplicity, naturalness, refined elegance, subtlety and the use of the suggestive rather than the descriptive mode of communication are either products of Zen thought or were reinforced by it. It is said to be impossible to describe Zen in words since the doctrine denies this possibility. Under Zen influence the dry garden became one of the dominant types of gardens and stone came to be most important as a part of garden design. What the suiboku painting had expressed with bold brush strokes was achieved by the proper placement of a few rocks and trimmed shrubs to symbolize the grandeur of mountains and nature compressed into a small cosmos. Void or negative space expressed by gravel covers the majority of the ground and is as important to the garden as is the stone arrangement. Irregular shaped, dark colored stones are selected to carry out the concepts of yugen and shibui.

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JAPANESE GARDENS ESTHETICS "ZEN"

Enduring Principles of Zen upon the Japanese Garden As Japan settled down and new intrinsically Japanese forms of Buddhism sprang up, Zen began to fade in importance and the Meiji Edicts suborned it entirely. But the principles it embraces are what set Japanese gardens apart. Lets look at these principles The Zen Aesthetic There are six basic aesthetic principles embraced by Zen

Fukinsei Asymmetry is intrinsic to Buddhist thought. There is no perfection in the world; imbalance is what creates all movement and energy. The exact center is never occupied, not in gardens or paintings or even when you pot a bonsai. This does not jibe with our western traditions of symmetry in all things, balanced, if so on the left then also on the right, so it is a difficult idea for westerners to embrace

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JAPANESE GARDENS ESTHETICS "ZEN"

Kanso Simplicity is a key tenet of Zen. Embracing the everyday, unadorned things in life is to embrace truth. The cleanliness of simple form is a repeated motif in Japanese art, be it painting, flower arranging, or gardening. It is often expressed as wabi-sabi, which we will discuss later. Wabi-sabi also relates to

Koko Venerability. Maturity with an edge of austerity is a hallmark for Zen thought. The patina on an old stone lantern, the feeling that a stone has always been in the garden, or the bleaching of weathered wood are all examples of this principle. It also implies resraint and selection; this is the stern discipline of Zen practice appearing in the garden

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JAPANESE GARDENS ESTHETICS "ZEN"

Yugen Subtlety and mystery is found throughout Zen thought, in the puzzling koans or teaching questions, or in the constant search for personal enlightenment, certainly the most elusive mystery of all times. Probably the most prevalent element of yugen in the garden is the use of miegakure, or hide and reveal, where the whole garden is not shown through a window, just a small piece. Or a bend in the path offers just the barest of hints of what waits around the corner. The play of shadows on the garden is another display of yugen (darkness).

Datsoku A single word translation is poor here, but otherworldliness comes close. It is the sense of a fantasy realm, a transcendence of this plane of existence that is so much part of the Japanese garden. There should be a sense of surprise, of wonder at the garden, what Shunryu Suzuki, the founder of American Zen, called beginners mind or what we often call child-like wonder. As Zen maintains that everything is illusion, this is a very important concept

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JAPANESE GARDENS ESTHETICS "ZEN"

Seijaku Stillness is probably the most central tenet of Zen. From silent meditation to arrival at the still point or enlightenment, this principle the peace and calm that a well done Japanese garden engenders. Bringing different landscape features (that also display Fukinsei, or imbalance) into harmony to achieve equilibrium is the true secret to this art.

Shizen Shizen involves a true naturalness as distinct from raw nature. It is involved with a sense of creativity and purpose distinct from the naive or accidental. Nothing involving Shizen should be forced or self-conscious. In fact true naturalness is a negation of the naive and the accidental. Shizen has about it a sense of artlessness and an absence of pretense or artificiality, but it involves full creative intent and should never be forced. The apparent naturalness and the sense of spontaneous nature so evident in the NIWA is a manifestation of Shizen.

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JAPANESE GARDENS ESTHETICS "ZEN"

Wabi-Sabi & the Japanese Tea Garden The first tea master, Sen no Rikyu, proposed a different aesthetic as a replacement for the ostentatious stylings of the Momoyama Period (sometimes referred to as the Japanese Rococo). Simple, even rustic peasant-like settings replaced the red-lacquered bridges and cut stone hardscapes as the tea garden or Roji (literally Dewy path) became the new garden of choice. While tea had become a pastime of the rich (despite the fact that it too had been introduced by Zen monks), Rikyu adopted the wabi-sabi style to his vision of the tea garden and the ceremony. Rather than a chance to show off expensive antique teapots (as had become the rage among the newly affluent merchant class), Rikyu saw teaism as a wabisabi affair, a purifying ritual.

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