| Many people like gardening to relax. Many | | | | boats, seas and rivers. |
| more like gardens to relax in. There is | | | | |
| nothing quite like a beautiful, well tended | | | | Chaniwa Gardens are built for the tea |
| garden to fill you with peace and serenity. | | | | ceremony. They contain a tea house and are |
| Gardens create the sensation that there is a | | | | designed according to the aesthetic |
| protective layer between you and the rest of | | | | simplicity of sado - tea ceremony. Typical |
| the world and that nothing can penetrate it | | | | features of these gardens include stepping |
| without your express approval. Japanese | | | | stones leading towards the house, stone |
| gardens are particularly good at creating | | | | lanterns and a stone basin - tsukubai - so |
| that stillness and that atmosphere of | | | | that guests are able to cleanse themselves |
| reflection. They are hard work to design and | | | | before the ceremony. |
| even harder work to create but the rewards | | | | |
| are boundless. | | | | Traditionally the Japanese believe that |
| | | | stones are beings with spirits that need to |
| It is commonly thought that Japanese gardens | | | | be treated with reverence. They are used to |
| are designed as tranquil getaways that allow | | | | create paths, bridges and walkways and are |
| you to escape from the chaos of life, but the | | | | used to represent mountains. They are placed |
| fact is that they are designed for many | | | | in odd numbers and most of the groupings are |
| purposes. It is true that most are designed | | | | triangular in shape. |
| for quiet contemplation and meditation but | | | | |
| some are meant for recreation, or for | | | | There are no fountains in traditional |
| displaying rare plants or unusual rocks. | | | | Japanese gardens because they believe that a |
| | | | water source should appear to be a part of |
| There are different types of gardens | | | | the natural surroundings. They build their |
| Kaiyu-shiki or Strolling Gardens, which | | | | streams with curves to create a serene and |
| contain a premeditated path, which takes | | | | more natural appearance. You will often find |
| observers through each unique area of the | | | | lanterns next to prominent water basins to |
| garden so that it can be fully appreciated. | | | | represent the female and male elements of |
| Uneven surfaces are used to catch the eye so | | | | water and fire or yin and yang. Some gardens |
| that you will look at particular points. | | | | contain a dry pond or stream; this is because |
| Ornamentation is used, which when seen, is | | | | they have just as much impact as ones filled |
| designed to enliven and revive the spirit. | | | | with water. |
| This type of design is known as the landscape | | | | |
| principle of "hide and reveal". | | | | Japanese gardens contain three elements, |
| | | | stones, water and green plants. According to |
| Other landscape gardens can be categorised | | | | Japanese tradition, gardens contain little |
| into three types: Tsukiyama Gardens or Hill | | | | colour so there are very few colourful |
| Gardens, Karensansui Gardens or Dry Gardens | | | | flowers. If there are colourful flowers, they |
| and Chaniwa Gardens or Tea Gardens. | | | | are usually found near the entrance to the |
| | | | garden. |
| Tsukiyama Gardens: refers to the creation of | | | | |
| artificial hills, they vary in size and in | | | | Japanese gardens are hugely popular |
| the way in which they can be viewed. Small | | | | internationally. There are experts on |
| gardens can be viewed from one viewpoint, | | | | Japanese gardens in virtually every country |
| while larger gardens may be best experienced | | | | in the world. But consider that some Japanese |
| by walking a path i.e. the strolling gardens | | | | Gardens have been in existence for centuries. |
| mentioned above. These garden use ponds, | | | | They have withstood weather, war and all |
| streams, hills, stones, trees, flowers, | | | | manner of other human follies. There is only |
| bridges and paths to create a mini | | | | one nation that has the right to call |
| reproduction of a famous landscape in either | | | | themselves experts on their own tradition of |
| China or Japan. | | | | gardening and they don't have the audacity to |
| | | | do that. They still spend years learning |
| Karensansui Gardens are often used for | | | | their trades from the masters, guarding their |
| meditation, as they are strongly influenced | | | | secrets, carefully studying and adding what |
| by Zen Buddhism. They also reproduce natural | | | | they can to the knowledge base. They remain |
| landscapes but in a more abstract way, by the | | | | students their entire lives and take pride in |
| use of stones, gravel, sand and occasionally | | | | it. |
| moss. These represent mountains, islands, | | | | |