[History] Japanese Garden

Japanese Garden



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 philospohy and religion of
the country. Shinto, Buddhism and Taoism were used in the creation of
diffrent 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.

The history of Japanese gardens



The history of the Japanese gardens goes back
to around the 7th century. The first Japanese gardens, that expressed
Shinto, Buddhism and Taoism visions can be traced back to the Asuka
Period. They were disigned to capture the landscape in its natural
form. From this period the basic rules of designing gardens was
established.





Heian Period is the second very important
chapter in the development of Japanese garden art. Aristocratic style
of gardens where created in front of the mansion with artificial ponds
and islands. Thats were water poetry ceremonies were held. Heian Period
is also know as the time when the first book about garden-making
technique was written.



During the Kamakura Period and Muromachi Period
garden-making techniques improved considerably because of the rise of
the Zen style. Many gardens designed in that time were properties of
succesive shoguns and daymios, who belong to the highest class in
Japanese society. Famous gardens created after Meiji Period were
frequented by business people and politicians. Most of them are opened
to the public now and play a role in city parks.





Basic rules in the design of Japanese gardens



The design of traditional Japanese gardens has a strict guideline. The major guidelines while creating a garden:

• natural: that should make the garden look as if it grew by itself
  
• assymetry: that creates the impression of it being natural
  
• odd numbers: like three, five or seven; that support the effect of the assymetry
  
• simplicity: that follows the idea of 'less is more'
  
• triangle: that is the most common shape for compositions made of stones, plants, etc.
  
• contrast: that creates tension between elements
  
• lines: that can create both tranquility and tension
  
• curves: that softens the effect
  
• openness: that indicates interaction between all elements
  

Basic elements in Japanese gardens



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
  

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.


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.