Are you feeling calmer already? Photos of Japanese dry landscape gardens near Zen temples always lower my blood pressure, with their peaceful arrangements of rocks, gravel, moss, and the occasional well-trained evergreen tree or shrub. Imagine how nice it would be to have of your own. For inspiration and instruction, we turn to Sakuteiki, the 11th-century Japanese garden design manual that describes how to create the harmonious, controlled landscape of a dry rock garden.
We handpicked for you an impressive collection of ideas and visions all inspired by the Eastern philosophy that explores the connection between nature and human beings. We will commence with the brightest and most mesmerizing examples of traditional Zen Gardens, and we will explore the key elements which compose such gardens. We will also introduce to your attention some contemporary Asian Garden Ideas which can be applied in the backyards of modern houses. Some impressive public spaces inspired by the Zen philosophy will also be explored. And we will finish this article with Mini Zen Gardens’ ideas that can be introduced into the interior decor of any home.
The Japanese rock garden or “dry landscape” garden, often called a zen garden, creates a miniature stylized landscape through carefully composed arrangements of rocks, water features, moss, pruned trees, and bushes, and uses gravel or sand that is raked to represent ripples in the water. A zen garden is usually relatively small, surrounded by a wall, and is usually meant to be seen while seated from a single viewpoint outside the garden, such as the porch of the Hojo, the residence of the chief monk of the temple or monastery.
Astonishing Japanese Rock Garden Ideas For Unique Backyard Design:
Zen rock garden defies the definition of a “garden” in almost every conventional sense. It isn’t a place to find rows of lush trees, an ornate gazebo or a pond filled with beautiful fish. There is no field of green grass but sand, gravel, and a sparse scattering of moss and nondescript shrubs. Nor is there much contrast in colors, as flowers are nowhere to be seen. Before learning how you may design and create a rock garden of your own, it’s crucial to understand how this unique landscaping style has come to be and what fundamental philosophy is behind its creation.
