JAPANESE

GARDENS
Presented By;
ANJU JOHN
ASIMA MOOSAN
SHABANA ABUBACKER
The Japanese garden is probably one of the
most intriguing aspects of Japanese culture
and life.
 Introduction
Japanese gardens are
 representations of nature
 purpose is to capture nature in the utmost
natural way with a touch of artistic feeling.
 have an ancient history influenced by Shinto,
Buddhist and Taoist philosophies- brings a
spiritual sense to the gardens.
 buddhist influence makes the garden a quiet
place, allowing people to look back and reflect
upon themselves, or meditate. essential
elements - water, garden plants, stones,
waterfalls, trees, and bridges – creates
symbolism.

There are five different styles of

Japanese garden :

 STROLLING POND GARDEN

 TEA GARDEN
 THE FLAT GARDEN
 SAND AND STONE GARDEN
 NATURAL GARDEN
 PRINCIPLES OF ZEN GARDEN
‘’Principles which govern the various aspects of the
Japanese Garden comes from the philosophy of ZEN.
No one principle contains the whole meaning on its
own.’’

Fukinsei-asymmetry or dissymmetry
Kanso-simplicity
Koko-austerity,maturity,bare essentials,venerable
Shizen-naturalness,absence of pretense
Yugen-subtly profound,suggestion rather than
revelation
Datsuzoku-unworldiness,transcendence of
conventional
Seijaku-quiet,calm,silent
 Enclosure & Entry:
In Japan, entering a group and becoming a
member is an act of great social importance;
thus entries to gardens are important. Parts
within a garden are also framed largely due to
compressed nature of an urban site. Different
scenes within the garden may be divided by
gates, a grove of trees or a bend or rise in
the path.

 Void Accent:
This is best described by the word”ma”defined as a
space or void.

 Balance:
It is asymmetric, off centered and based on
triads(triangular shape in flower arrangement-sanzon
grouping) symbolising the Buddhist trinity.
 Planes & Volumes:
Japanese garden designers balance plane
surfaces with volumes. A flat garden of stark
raked sand provides stiffness whereas fences,
walls and clipped hedges frame and divide the
ground.

 Symbolism:
Deep meaning is achieved by interweaving
symbolized images for religion, good fortunes
or long life through images of island or
mountain etc.

 Borrowed scenery:
Visual scale of a small garden is enlarged by
incorporating a distant view as an integral part
of the garden.
 Mutate:
This is the process of seeing a new or finding a
new use for an old object. Eg:a stone as a base of a
lantern.

 Path:
A large stepping stone followed by a series of small
stones keeping the eyes cast allows the visitors to
stop and look around at a planned view of the
garden.

 Details & Master planning:

A western garden is developed from the master
plan whereas a Japanese garden is designed from
the details.
 FUNDAMENTAL
 Wabi:
CONCEPTS
 Helps us to see through and beyond the
dehumanizing climate of technological society.
 Helps in achieving a state of mental equilibrium
(form of enlightenment) in the highly urbanized
society.
 understatement- LESS IS BETTER.
 Shibui:
 The literal translation carries the meaning of
stringent qualities of the green persimmon.
 The concept of shibui,involve a lack of clutter and to
be concerned with plain backgrounds and planar
surfaces.
 Sabi

 aesthetic is a meloncholy one evoked by rust and

patina, the look of things after long and loving use
and before age destroys them

 it relates to the ZEN principles KOKO but broadens

its application and extends

 areas look as if naturehad taken over natural

materials-bamboo brush fences,stone,straw,bark
and lichen

 refers to an autonomous beauty in the sense that it

is not achieved by man but rather through a natural
process.
Strolling Pond Garden--Chisen Kaiyou
Skiki
 Being the largest, is
considered the best garden
due to its many pleasing
views from various locations
in the garden.
 It has a water fall with a
moon bridge spanning a
pond.
 It may seem that it is just
filled with water and rocks.
Symbolism : there are two
rocks; one is a tortoise and
the other is a crane
representing long life and
good health respectively.
 Natural Garden
 the Natural Garden is given
its name because rodents
and the birds live there

 it has a cascading waterfall

and pond

 in this garden is a sheltered

building called the
"Azumaya"

 the garden just becomes

part of nature on its own
 Sand and Stone-Ryojin
used as a place for monks to meditate, found in
Zen monasteries

surrounded by a beautiful wall this type of

garden
 rectangular with carefully raked white sand
that is enclosed by a beautiful tile-roofed plaster
wall

it looks "void“-the sand gives off the sense of

space and emptiness

sand clears the visitors' minds of the outside

world, allowing them to make their own
interpretations of the garden, white sand
represents a body of water, and the rocks in the
middle of the sand are the islands of Japan..
developed in the Muromachi Era and
represents Zen spiritualism
Flat Garden-
Hiraniwa  a garden which falls in between the
Sand and Stone and Natural Garden

consists of a sea of raked sand. The

sand is raked in a circular shape,
symbolizing enlightenment and
happiness

the rocks are also set up in a particular

way for a special reason. The visitor
could look at the rock and formulate
his/her own interpretation

there is white sand, evergreen plantings,

moss, both flowering and non-flowering
plants, and grass.
Tea Garden-Rojiniwa
 has two sections: an outer
garden and an inner garden.
There is also a ceremonial
Tea house.
 stones, stone lanterns, and
the traditional stone water
basin all have a symbolic
relationship.
 the inner garden is a private
garden and is to be viewed
only from the Tea House.
This garden surrounds the
Tea house.
 the outer garden (soto roji)
is the waiting area for
guests. The guests wait
here, on a wooden bench
with straw cushions, for
their host to come and greet
them.
 SYMBOLISM IN JAPANESE
GARDENS
 The essence of the Japanese garden is only
complete when it is understood.....
 The understatement and simplicity of design
add dignity and grace to the Japanese
gardens, making a clean and unique
statement.
 The Japanese garden is an interpretation and
idealized conception of nature, accompanied
with the artistic feeling of the creator.
 JAPANESE STONE
LANTERNS ADDS
MYSTIQUE,
TRADITION AND
SPIRITUALITY….

IN JAPANESE GARDENS,
TUFTED MOSS CREATE
A CASCADE OF
TEXTURE AND VISUAL
ENLIGHTENMENT…..
 THE SAND, ROCK AND
STONE ZEN GARDENS
PROVIDES A PLACE FOR
QUIET REFLECTION AND
CONTEMPLATION.

IRIS EDGED YATSUHASHI (EIGHT

FOLD JAPANESE BRIDGE)
GUARANTEE THAT TIME IS TAKEN
TO ENJOY THE SMALL THINGS IN
LIFE THAT ARE SO EASILY AND
QUICKLY OVERLOOKED IN OUR
FAST PACED WORLD."IT IS GOOD
TO HAVE AN END TO JOURNEY
TOWARD, BUT IT IS THE JOURNEY
THAT MATTERS IN THE END."
THE SHINTO RITE OF
PURIFICATION REQUIRED A HAND
WASHING CEREMONY AND STONE
WASH BASINS WERE
INCORPORATED INTO THE TEA
GARDEN.

THE JAPANESE STONE

LANTERN (TACHI-GATA -
PEDESTAL STONE LANTERNS)
ACCOMPANIED WITH THE
CRIMSON COLORS OF THE
CHANGING JAPANESE MAPLE
TREE PROVIDES A VISUAL
FOCAL DELIGHT AND
CREATES AWARENESS OF THE
 THE ROCKS OF THE
ZEN STONE GARDEN
EMULATE ISLANDS IN
A SEA OF GRAVEL,
AS THE SAND IS LAID
OUT IN A RIPPLE LIKE
WAVE EFFECT.

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.
 The Essential Elements

There are many elements that make up a garden. Every element that is in
a garden is there to bring out the best in the garden. All things in the
garden are put there for a reason. Everything in the garden has a
meaning.
ENCES AND WALLS
colorful backdrop to the the short fence which
plants and flowers extends from the house
adds texture and into the garden
patterns  an inner fence
 thick in order to be a an outer fence.
protective outer wall
emphasize lightness
and act as partitions.
short fences, or the sodegaki, are
screens that allow the gardener
to hide unwanted views or
objects about 6 or 7 feet high

The materials
often used are
bamboo, wood
and twigs of
bamboo or tree.
 PONDS
The pond, or the ike, is a fundamental
element in Japanese gardens
it represents the sea, lake, pond or river
in nature
not geometrical in appearance
in order to preserve the natural shapes,
man- made ponds are asymmetrical
the bank of the pond bordered by
stones.

WATERFALLS
passage of the water from the
waterfall or stream to the pond
symbolizes human existence:
birth, growth and death
sound and the appearance of
the water change throughout this
course from being a boisterous
rushing of waves to a serene
silence
 GARDEN PLANTS
AND TREES
predominately green with its almost exclusive
use of evergreen trees
flowering trees found are usually camelias,
influence of the Zen sect -
Summer flowering plants and shrubs
signs of frivolity ,replaced by
evergreen trees that
symbolized eternity
Rainfall

Winter

Spring
STONES
 placement is
determined by their
unique shape and form

some lay horizontally

while others stand
vertically- asymmetry

creates a balanced
image.
 STEPPING STONES AND GARDEN PATHS
 created so that visitors would not have to
walk over the mossy ground
create irregular paths in various patterns
the placement of the stones are calculated
and precise with respect to their relative shape,
color and size
stones placed just a few inches apart or may
be set at alternating distances eg. eight-fold
bridge at Koraku-en
gravel paths are often used for the crunching
sound made by walking on them, they do need
regular maintenance.
stones called step- stones
precede the stepping stones in the
garden
found near the veranda or
entrance of the house or tea room
visitor of the house or room is
expected to place his shoes on the
step- stone before entering.
 STONE
were placed in the garden originally as a
sourceLANTERN
of light… now they are there for
decorative purposes.
there are some up to 18-feet high, called
"pagodas."
the pagoda is five stories tall, with each
story representing a natural element:
earth, water, fire, wind. 1. Kurin (Ornamental Top)
2. Kasa (Cap)
3. Hibukuro (Light Chamber)
4. Chudai (Middle Stand)
5. Sao (Post)
MOON 6. Jirin (Base)
BRIDGE
 found in the Portland
Japanese Garden.
 goes over the Strolling Pond.
 built with an artistic feeling
showing very delicate
workmanship.
 LION
placed at the entrance of the
garden in order to protect the
garden from intruders

there is a male and a female lion

at each entrance

male lion usually has his foot on

a ball; this to signify power
.
represent the yin and the yang:
the two opposing forces: fire and
water.
 DEER
CHASER  a type of water basin

there is a hollow bamboo stick

which, when it fills up, hits the
basin making a sound. This sound
supposedly chases the deer away
and keeps them from drinking the
water.

FISHES
These fish are called koi.
They are in the ponds of the
Japanese Gardens as a
decorative element.
RAIN CHAINS & RAIN
CUPS
 Rain Chains are a perfect
expression of the Japanese
knack for combining aesthetics
and practicality. The principle is
simple; Rain Chains do exactly
what downspouts do, but they do
it in a way that brings pleasure
and delight. Rain swirls and
flows down, creating a
mesmerizing sense of motion
and tranquility. And they are
beautiful on dry days too, as
over time the copper develops a
rich blue-green patina. Rain
chains can be an integral part of
any garden.
 THE KATSURA IMPERIAL
VILLA
 Katsura Imperial Villa was built
in the early Edo Period as a
residence for Prince Hachijo no
Miya Toshihito (1579-1629).

 The garden to the south of the

villa is a stroll garden and also a
boating garden.

 The visitor to Katsura

circumnavigates the garden in a
clockwise direction, keeping the
pond on one's right.

 The first view of the garden is

looking to the south toward the
largest of Katsura's five tea
houses.

 In the foreground of this view is

a "rocky shore" of carefully
chosen pebbles.
TO THE RIGHT IS A THIN
PENINSULA CONSISTING
OF TWO ISLAND LINKED TO
EACH OTHER AND TO THE
SHORE BY STONE SLAB
BRIDGES KNOWN AS
AMANOHASHIDATE.

AMANOHASHIDATE IS A LONG,
NARROW, PINE-COVERED
SAND BAR LOCATED IN MIYAZU
BAY, ONE OF THE THREE MOST
REVERED LANDSCAPES IN
JAPAN.
 A pathway weaves through
the dense growth of
flowering trees and shrubs.

 Along the path are garden

pavilions thatched with
kokera wood shingles and
reeds; there is also a small
Buddhist chapel.

 Walking through the

gardens is like moving
through a maze; the
sequence of spaces reveals
only one small part of the
garden at a time.
 FEATURES
 The irregularity of the
topographical composition
 The design of the garden
paths passing through a
controlled sequence of
spaces of remarkable variety
 The concept of dynamic
color design based on plant
changes season by season
 Artful blending of buildings
and gardens into a perfectly
harmonious whole
THANK
YOU.....
Anju thank god that we are
still alive.
Please don’t do this to us
again.
Please……….
For God sake.