Creating A Japanese Garden

Japanese gardens are designed to portray a scene that mimics nature

, through symbolization and abstraction, by using trees, shrubs, rocks, sand, artificial hills, ponds, and flowing water as art-forms. Often Japanese gardens reduce the scale of the natural environment, which may consist of mountains, rivers, trees, and ponds, through the use of symbolization and abstraction. For instance, the incorporation of white sand or pea gravel in the garden may symbolize a water feature such as a pond, stream or river. Large stones in the sand may symbolize islands.

The basic elements used in Japanese gardening include stone, gravel, water, moss, stones, fences, and hedges. Stones are often used sculpturally, sometimes as lighting features, and bring a presence of spirituality to the garden. According to the Shinto tradition stone embody the spirits of nature. Water itself or symbolic representations of water also play an important role in the Japanese garden. Gravel and sand may be used in the garden to imitate the flow of water.

There are several types of Japanese gardens. Zen garden are meant to be viewed rather than entered. They are comprised of a mix of boulders, gravel or sand, moss and a just a few trees and shrubs. Carefully placed stones may symbolize islands while the gravel or sand, raked into interesting patterns, symbolizes water. Zen gardens help clear the mind are generally contemplative space.

Japanese tea gardens are designed as small ceremonial spaces with both an outer garden and an inner garden. The outer garden is informal and usually consists of a garden path and an entrance to the inner garden. Another stone path moves through the more formal inner garden to a small building where the actual tea ceremony is performed.

Japanese courtyard gardens are designed to be very simple and is usually built to be observed from inside the house through windows. It could, however, be planned so it is a useable outdoor space. Consisting of a few simple elements, such as a small water feature or a dry stream bed, the Japanese courtyard garden blurs the line between indoor and outdoor space.

Before designing and planting your own garden, look through some garden books and search for photos of Japanese gardens online. Japanese gardens are intended to offer a tranquil and reflective experience. A little planning and research will help you design a beautiful landscape which will delight all who visit your garden.

by: John Green

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