Japanese Gardens - Holistic Representation Of Nature

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Japan is known for its beautiful creation of gardens with the artistic touch of the creator. Mounds of earth and ponds are designed to evoke a proportional representation of mountains and lakes or oceans. These gardens made of rocks and sands are arranged in homage to nature often influencing Buddhist philosophies. Explore the Japanese gardens that mesmerized the world with its design the shows dignity and serenity.

Different styles of Japanese gardens
Japanese gardens aim to balance colour, elements and proportion of area as though they existed naturally. These gardens mix and blend different elements like sand, rocks, water, natural plants, surroundings and ornaments such as water basins, bamboo fences and lanterns (usually made of stones).

The few important styles of Japanese gardens are,

Japanese rock garden
A Japanese rock garden, karesansui , zen garden or waterless rock and sand garden are influenced strongly by the Zen- Buddhist doctrine. This philosophical garden is widely appreciated and practiced by many people around the globe.

The main elements of karesansui are rocks and sand. The sea is made of sand raked in patterns that suggest rippling water. Green plants are less immportant in many karesansui gardens and are made in such a way that it can be viewed from a single point.

It is believed that one can hear the sound of the water patterns ranked in sand while meditating in this garden. Lot of symbolis is used in the garden for instance rock masses represents islands of Japan, the sand replication represents current in the water and the gravel represents ocean. A good example of this type of garden is Ryoanji temple in nortwest Kyoto, Japan.

Tea gardens
Tea gardens are small-enclosed gardens (usually a part of the large garden). It has the following elements, Japanese lantern, crouching water basin, stepping-stones and a waiting place. Fences or walls are the important aspect of these gardens. It secludes the outside world thus helping the observer to be in solitude.

Stepping-stones create a path in which the observer should follow. This passage leads to the water basin through gravel bridge before you enter the teahouse. This path symbolically represents the movement through interior space into the spiritual sense. According to Japanese tradition a teahouse is a house designed for holding Japanese tea ceremonies. The teahouse designed in quiet and calming manner like the countryside

Courtyard Gardens
The first countryside gardens were made in open space between the house and storage buildings. The elements of this garden are similar to that of tea gardens. These are not made for functional purposes but for ornamental purposes.

Open sky and winds play a big role in courtyard gardens. Small number of plants with less shade tolerant feature is used to make these gardens. These designs can be used for creating small spaces on roofs or terraces.

Strolling Gardens
Strolling gardens were influenced by tea gardens. The unique feature of this garden is it never shows all of itself from one spot. These gardens heavily depend on shift in direction and hide and reveal form.

The observer should walk through the garden to fully appreciate the wondrous work. The passage takes observer to each unique area of a Japanese garden. Some areas are made uneven with purpose to prompt people to look down in certain points. However when the observer will look up will see an interesting ornamentation. This Japanese landscape principle of 'hide and reveal' is intended to enlighten and revive the spirit of the observer.

Japanese gardens styles are created in natural way than the western gardens. They add an essence of reality in its creation that signifies traditional symbolism of Buddhist beliefs.