“A garden is to be a world unto itself, it had better make room for the darker shades of feeling as well as the sunny ones” There is no other quote that represents the idea of Japanese gardens better than this one by William Kent.
The gardens are probably one of the most important part of Japanese art and culture. The tradition of creating gardens that capture the natural landscape has been present since ancient times. During the war, the gardens were the only places that people could find some tranquillity and peace. They brought comfort and harmony.
Every garden is designed with patience. And it’s not as easy as it looks. Every piece is chosen carefully to recreate the world from outside inside the walls of the garden. It takes both time and effort. However, in the same way that nature is always changing, the real Japanese garden is never finished.You might not be able to create a full-on Japanese garden in your backyard, but you can add elements that will make it as close to the original as possible. Here is how.
Paths and walkways
When it comes to Japanese gardens, a lot of things are symbolic. Walkways are the perfect example. Their primary function is to make you think. Walkways represent the journey that is life, and the anticipation of what is about to come. Typical paths in the Japanese gardens lead through the whole garden, often crossing streambeds.
To achieve a similar effect in your backyard, you can use stepping stones. Since you will have to step from stone to stone, it will make you slow down, and appreciate what you’ve done to the space. In contrary to European gardens, which usually achieve balance through symmetry, in Japanese gardens, it is done by asymmetry. If your backyard is not so big, you place the stones in a way that will lead to a shrub border, creating an illusion that it’s continuing on the other side.
Water
Water is one of the crucial elements of a Japanese garden, just as it is essential for human existence. A small pond placed in it represents the sea or ocean. Just as the ocean and sea in nature, the ponds in the garden are also asymmetrical. Fish that are often there, are only used for decoration purposes.
To make your backyard more resembling a Japanese garden, you can add a pond. However, if you decide to have it, remember about the importance of pond aeration. Without it, there is a considerable risk that the fish that are there will die when the cold winter or hot summer comes.
Stones
Stones in a Japanese garden can be used in two ways – as stepping stones, or they can just be freely placed all around the space. Large rocks represent the mountains. They can also represent the figure of Buddha, or strength and power. In a lot of gardens, a big stone is placed at the entrance to symbolize welcome.
You don’t have to bring real stones to your garden – you can just use fake ones. However, you need to remember about harmony, and what rocks can be seen in nature close to each other, and which ones can’t.
Stone can also be used to produce a lantern. Lanterns represent protection from evil, love, and brightness. Thankfully, you don’t have to crave one by yourself. You can just buy one in a store.
Other elements
Bridges, just as stepping stones, represent the journey of life. They are a special place, in which you can stop to admire and enjoy the beauty of the landscape. If you have the money and place to do it, installing a bridge would be a good idea. It can be either arc-shaped, rounded or in zigzags – they always remain in harmony with the nature surrounding them.
Plants are also an essential element of a Japanese garden. Each one has a different meaning. For example, the cherry tree represents the impermanent nature of life, birth and death, beauty and violence. Pine trees, on the other hand, symbolize the hardship. If you have space in your garden, think about planting more than one tree. In smaller gardens, you can plant, for example, bonsai.
Conclusion
Japanese gardens have been an object of human curiosity for a very long time now. People amazed by their beauty desired to have one as well. Now, it is possible. The elements listed above are just some of those that can be found in a real Japanese garden.
Remember to do everything with harmony. Don’t put too many things or colours as that may quickly overwhelm the whole garden. The key to a balance in the Japanese garden is asymmetry.
A Japanese garden is not complicated. However, you need to understand individual elements first to understand the garden as a whole. “A Japanese Garden is not complete until it is understood.”
Be First to Comment