| ese gardening is a cultural form of gardening, that is | | | | and hedges. Rocks are most often used as |
| meant to produce a scene, that mimics nature as | | | | centrepieces and bring a presence of spirituality, to |
| much as possible, by using trees, shrubs, rocks, sand, | | | | the garden. According to the Shinto tradition, rocks |
| artificial hills, ponds and flowing water, as art-forms. | | | | embody the spirits of nature. Gravel is used as, a |
| The Zen and Shinto traditions, are both a large part | | | | sort of defining surface and is used to imitate the |
| of Japanese gardening and because of this, the | | | | flow of water, when arranged properly. Stones are |
| gardens have a contemplative and reflective state of | | | | used to create a boundary and are sculpted into the |
| mind. Japanese gardening is very different, to the | | | | form of lanterns. Water, whether it be in the form of |
| Western style of gardening and most would say it is | | | | a pond, stream, or waterfall, is an essential part of a |
| far more meditational and soul soothing. | | | | Japanese garden. It can be in the actual form of |
| In Japanese gardening, there are three basic methods | | | | water, or portrayed by gravel, but no matter what |
| for scenery. The first of these, is reduced scale. | | | | form water is in, it is crucial to a Japanese garden's |
| Reduced scale, is the art of taking an actual scene | | | | balance. |
| from nature, mountains, rivers, trees, and all and | | | | There are several forms and types of plants, that |
| reproducing it, on a smaller scale. Symbolization, | | | | are signatures of Japanese gardening. The main one |
| involves generalization and abstraction. An example of | | | | is Bonsai. Bonsai is the art of training everyday, |
| this, would be using white sand, to suggest the | | | | average plants, such as Pine, Cypress, Holly, Cedar, |
| ocean. Borrowed views, refers to artists, that would | | | | Cherry, Maple and Beech, to look like large, old trees, |
| use something like an ocean, or a forest as a | | | | but just in miniature form. These trees range from |
| background, but it would end up becoming an | | | | only five centimeters, to one meter high and are |
| important part of the scene. | | | | kept small, by pruning, re-potting, pinching of growth |
| There are essentially two types of Japanese | | | | and wiring of the branches. |
| gardening. Tsukiyami, which is a hill garden and mainly | | | | Japanese gardening is a tradition, that has crossed |
| composed of hills and ponds. The other is Hiraniwa, | | | | over to the fashion conscious west. The Muso |
| which is basically the exact opposite of Tsukiyami | | | | Soseki, poet, said “Gardens are a root of |
| and a flat garden, without any hills or ponds. | | | | transformation”. A Japanese garden, is sure |
| The basic elements used in Japanese gardening, | | | | to bring about many different feelings and is |
| include rocks, gravel, water, moss, stones, fences | | | | definitely a transforming experience. |