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Japanese Gardens
and Landscaping Designs -
Garden design is a central part of Japanese art and has been for generations.
The customary Japanese landscape gardens can be classified by three
groups, Chaniwa Gardens (tea gardens), Tsukiyama Gardens (hill gardens), and
Karesansui Gardens (dry gardens).
Tsukiyama Gardens
(hill gardens)
 To
produce a small reproduction of natural scenery, which is often a recognized
landscape in Japan or China, you will find they use, stones, hills, trees,
streams, flowers, ponds, paths, and bridges. The name Tsukiyama means creation
of artificial hills. Tsukiyama
gardens vary in size and in the way, they are best viewed. Smaller gardens
are made to be enjoyed from a single viewpoint, such as the veranda or walk way
of a temple or shrine, while many of the larger gardens are best
experienced by following a circular strolling path. This will enable you to
enjoy the experience of nature and enjoy the peace and tranquility.
Karesansui Gardens (dry gardens)
Karesansui gardens
duplicate natural landscapes in an abstract way by using gravel, sand, stones,
and from time to time a small number of pieces of moss to represent islands,
mountains, seas, rivers, and boats. Karesansui gardens are powerfully influenced
by Zen Buddhism and used for meditation.
Chaniwa Gardens (tea
gardens)
Chaniwa gardens include a
teahouse where tea ceremonies are held.
Chaniwa gardens include stepping
stones that show the way towards the teahouse, stone lanterns, and a stone basin
where guests purify themselves before partaking in the ceremony. This
purification is very elaborate and significant to the ceremony.
Each stone, shrub, and tree has been
purposely placed and is cautiously maintained to mirror a symbolic and idealized
conception depiction of nature. There is harmony among natural forms, rivers,
waterfalls, islands, seas, and forests, and a balance of feminine and masculine
forces traditionally credited to natural elements.
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