JAPANESE ZEN GARDENS
Welcome to ‘Japanese Zen Gardens ‘ a book that will bring to life these extraordinary art forms.
Zen gardens are gardens that are steeped in hundreds of years of history and tradition together with, in many cases, a significant religious influence. Whether you have visited a Japanese style garden or not, you will certainly find the information in this publication interesting, helpful and inspiring. They can be very small and sit on a table-top all the way through to much larger space gardens which means there is an appropriate Zen garden for everyone’s tastes, space and budgets.
This book is all about ZEN gardens ,detailing their history, meaning, influence and stunning simplicity. A Zen style garden is becoming increasingly desirable and is more than ever at the popular end of garden design. Purists would be regimented in its design and elements but we all have choice and freewill as part of our lives and it by no means a sin to create a garden in a Zen style rather than a one hundred per cent authentic garden.
In addition to all that I have mentioned already, this edition contains specific design tips and instructions on how to simply build a Zen garden in your home with instructions and pictures and the good news is it is nowhere near as daunting as you may think.
In a world full of stress and angst there is nowhere better to relax and contemplate than in a Zen garden and your friends and family will be seriously impressed with your efforts!
You may wish to consider an adaptation of a Zen garden known as a ’Courtyard ‘ garden an incarnation of Japanese gardens that dates back to the 14th century and that today occupy some of the worlds ‘coolest’ homes and public buildings. Discover their facets and meaning with us.
Irrespective of whether you wish to design a garden or not, the answer to the question ‘What is a Zen garden?’ is all here in simple plain English. Over 150,000 people worldwide search for that specific term on Google every month……the answer is right here! Enjoy.
Russell Chard – Publisher ‘Japanese and Zen Gardens’
Copyright Zenibo Marketing Ltd 2013
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A HISTORY OF ZEN GARDENS
THE MEANING OF ZEN GARDENS
TYPES OF ZEN GARDENS
INGREDIENTS IN ZEN GARDENS
MAKING YOUR OWN ZEN GARDEN : WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
BUILDING A SMALL ZEN GARDEN
JAPANESE COURTYARD GARDENS
Whether you’re aware of what a Zen Garden is or not, you have most likely seen one – a tranquil harmonious place with rocks, sand or gravel and manicured plants and shrubs is probably the most renowned imagery of a Zen Garden. These picturesque gardens, ideal for meditating or simply viewing, are seen enwreathing most religious edifices in Japan, like the famous Buddhist temples in Kyoto.
Zen Gardens are characterized as such because of the calmness they invoke, which is what makes them ideal for meditation, reflection and relaxation. Inspired initially by Buddhism and Chinese culture, the word ZEN would be written on soil and sand, which is the root and inspiration of Zen Gardens. But a Zen Garden should have more than one meaning for the viewer. As the Japanese say, “the mind is flexible if we practice flexibility”, thus each garden bears its own interpretation.
But before we elaborate on what a Zen Garden is, means and what comprises it, let’s first take a journey to the past and unearth the roots and derivation of these beautiful gardens.
Each period marks its own significant point in the rise, enhancement and adaptation of Zen Gardens in the Japanese culture. These periods are:
The Han Dynasty
The Asuka Era
The Nara Era
The Heian Era
The Kamakura Era
Although the aspect of Zen Gardens is associated with Japan, it is historically accepted as being a tradition imported from China during what is known as the Han Dynasty (206 – 220 BCE). This recreation, which was more of a philosophy, was adopted by the Japanese and enhanced to their culture. This is why Japanese gardens exemplify a “lighter” version of Chinese ones and generally follow fewer aesthetic rules and design guidelines in the creation process.
The first Zen Garden was created by Chinese Emperor Wu Di, who lived from 140-87 BCE. This garden depicted three small islands and it eventually became a custom to use rocks and greenery in order to form island-like motifs and mimic nature. These particular islands were meant to represent the Isles of the Immortals or Taoist gods, a trend that would be replicated throughout the years.
However, the aspects represented in the gardens of the Han Dynasty period were based on imaginary places, godly realms and mythological landscapes. This imitation of imaginary places went on until the early 600s AD, when the first nature-inspired hill and pond garden was created in Japan by Chinese Emperor Yang Di, who enjoyed good relations with the country.
The Emperor’s overtures were enticing enough for the Japanese to send their own envoy to China - a man called Ono no Imoko. Imoko who immersed himself in Chinese culture and upon his return to Japan brought all that he had learnt with him, including the art of gardening and Buddhism.