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