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This view from the Symbolic Mountain Lookout in Cowra, NSW shows many of the typical elements Japanesse Gardens of a Japanese garden Stone lantern amid plants. The shape of the Japanes Gardens Japanees Gardens roof will trap and hold a picturesque cap of snow. Karesansui garden at Tōfuku-ji in Kyoto This garden has an abundance of plants, including Jappanese Gardens seasonal flowers. Japanese gardens (Kanji 日本庭園, nihon teien), i.e. gardens in traditional Japanese style, can Japanse Gardens be found at private homes, in neighborhood or city parks, Japannese Gardens at Buddhist temples or Shinto shrines, and Japanee Gardens at historical landmarks such as old castles. Many of the Japanese gardens most famous in the West, and Apanese Gardens within Japan as well, are dry gardens or rock gardens, karesansui. The tradition of the Tea masters Japaese Gardens has produced highly refined Japanese gardens of quite another style, evoking rural simplicity. Japanese Japamese Gardens gardens have Japanesee Gardens also been imitated in Western gardening. Typical Japanese gardens contain several of these elements, real or symbolic: Water An island A bridge Japnaese Gardens to the island A lantern, typically of stone A teahouse Jpanese Gardens or pavilion Japanese gardens might fall into one of these styles: Pond gardens, for viewing from a boat. Sitting gardens, for viewing from inside a building or on a veranda. Tea gardens, for viewing from a path which leads to a tea ceremony hut. Strolling gardens, for viewing from a path which circumnavigates the garden. The karesansui (or karesenzui, kosansui, kosensui 枯山水: "dry landscape") style originate from zen temples. These have no water and few plants, but typically evoke a feeling of water using pebbles and meticulously raked gravel or sand. Rocks chosen for their intriguing shapes and patterns, mosses, and low shrubs typify the karesansui style. The garden at Ryōan-ji, a temple in Kyoto, is particularly renowned. Other gardens also use similar rocks for decoration. Some of these come from distant parts of Japan. In addition, bamboos and related plants, evergreens including Japanese black pine, and such deciduous trees as maples grow above a carpet of ferns and mosses. Shakkei (借景), "borrowed scenery," is a technique used to integrate the garden with mountains, buildings, or other objects outside its boundaries. A middleground element, often carefully maintained plantings, blocks unwanted elements and frames the desired view. This middleground integrates the "borrowed" view into the garden's design. The viewer is encouraged to see all three areas - foreground, middleground, and background - as a single garden. Contents 1 The Use of Stones, Water, and Plantings in Japanese gardens 2 Noteworthy Japanese gardens 2.1 In Japan 2.2 In other countries 2.2.1 Argentina 2.2.2 Australia 2.2.3 Canada 2.2.4 England 2.2.5 Ireland 2.2.6 Scotland 2.2.7 United States of America 3 See also 4 External links The Use of Stones, Water, and Plantings in Japanese gardens Stone lanterns in Monte Palace Tropical Garden on Madeira Though often thought of as tranquil sanctuaries that allow individuals to escape from the stresses of daily life, Japanese gardens are designed for a variety of purposes. Most gardens invite quiet contemplation, but may have also been intended for recreation, the display of rare plant specimens, or the exhibition of unusual rocks. Kaiyu-shiki or Strolling Gardens require the observer to walk through the garden to fully appreciate it. A premeditated path takes observers through each unique area of a Japanese garden. Uneven surfaces are placed in specific spaces to prompt people to look down at particular points. When the observer looks up, they will see an eye-catching ornamentation--this type of design is known as the Japanese landscape principle of "hide and reveal"--which is intented to enlighten and revive the spirit of the observer. Japanese legend attests that stones are actual beings with spirits that need to be treated with reverence. Stones are used to construct the garden's paths, bridges, and walkways. Stones also represent mountains where actual mountains are not viewable or present. They are always placed in odd numbers and a majority of the groupings reflect triangular shapes. Japanese Garden in Cowra, NSW showing the use of stone, water and plants A water source in a Japanese garden should appear to be part of the natural surroundings; this is why one will not find fountains in traditional gardens. Man-made streams are built with curves and irregularities to create a serene and natural appearance. Lanterns are often placed beside some of the most prominent water basins (either a pond or a stream) in a garden representing the female and the male elements of water and fire. In Japanese tradition this is known as yin and yang. In some gardens one will find a dry pond or stream. Dry ponds and streams have as much impact as do the ones filled with water. Green plants are the third element of Japanese gardens. Japanese traditions prefer minimal color so the use of flowers is generally parsimonious. Plants with colorful blooms are mostly used near a garden's entrance. Many plants in imitated Japanese gardens of the West are indigenous to Japan, though some sacrifices must be made to account for the differentiating climates. Some plants, such as sugar maple and firebush, give the garden a palet of color on a seasonal basis. Noteworthy Japanese gardens In Japan A spacious Japanese garden: Hosokawa Gyobu Tei, near Kumamoto Castle An egret rests on a stone lantern in the upper lake of the Japanese Garden in Cowra, NSW, Australia A kaiyu-shiki or strolling garden Hamarikyu Gardens in Tokyo Hosokawa Gyōbu-tei in Kumamoto, Kumamoto Kairaku-en in Mito, Ibaraki Kenroku-en in Kanazawa, Ishikawa Kinuta Park in Tokyo Kōkyo Higashi Gyoen, the East Garden of the Imperial Palace in Tokyo Kōraku-en in Okayama, Okayama Koishikawa Korakuen Garden in Tokyo Ryōan-ji in Kyoto The moss garden of Saihō-ji (the "Moss Temple"), in Kyoto Sankei-en in Yokohama Shinjuku Gyoen in Tokyo Shugaku-in Imperial Villa in Kyoto Ueno Park in Tokyo Urakuen tea garden, Inuyama, Aichi The grounds of the Meiji Shrine, in Tokyo In other countries Argentina The Buenos Aires Japanese Garden (Jardín Japonés de Buenos Aires http://www.jardinjapones.org.ar/portada.htm), of the Fundación Cultural Argentino Japonesa [1]. Australia Cowra Japanese Garden, Cowra, New South Wales Frankston High School Himeji Gardens, Adelaide Melbourne Zoo "Tsuki-yama-chisen" Japanese Garden, Brisbane Canada Nitobe Memorial Garden, Vancouver, British Columbia England Dartington Hall, Devon Harewood House, Leeds Holland Park, London Tatton Park, Cheshire School of Oriental and African Studies, London Ireland The Japanese Gardens at the Irish National Stud, Kildare, Co. Kildare Scotland Lauriston Castle, Edinburgh—garden opened 2002 United States of America Anderson Japanese Gardens (Rockford, Illinois) Chicago Botanic Garden (Glencoe, Illinois) Fort Worth Japanese Garden at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden (Fort Worth, Texas) Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden at Long Beach State Hakone Gardens (Saratoga, California) The Huntington, San Marino, California. Japanese Tea Garden at Golden Gate Park (San Francisco, California) Portland Japanese Garden, Portland, Oregon Japanese Friendship Garden (Phoenix, Arizona) Roji-en Japanese Gardens at the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens (Delray Beach, Florida) San Antonio Japanese Tea Gardens (San Antonio, Texas) Seattle Japanese Garden at the Washington Park Arboretum, Kubota Garden (Seattle, Washington) Seiwa-en at the Missouri Botanical Garden (St. Louis, Missouri) See also Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Japanese garden Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Gardens of Japan Japanese Friendship Garden Tea garden Chinese garden Korean gardens Niwaki Koi External links Japan - Oguchi Teien Green Exterior Jgarden — Japanese Garden Database Meditations on the Japanese Garden Paradise - The Gardens of Tokyo : a portfolio of photographs by Tim Porter Search Term: "Japanese_garden" Categories: Japanese gardens | Japanese style of gardening