Introduction

Essential Aspects
History
Rules in the design
Elements
Design Principles
Types of Japanese Gardens
Examples

The line between garden and

its surrounding landscape is
not distinct.

Gardens incorporate natural

and artificial elements and
thus, fuse the elements of
nature and architecture.

In the Japanese garden, the

viewer should consider
nature as a picture frame
into which the garden, or the
man- made work of art, is
inserted.

The art of gardening is believed to be an

important part of Japanese culture for many
centuries.

The garden design in Japan is strongly

connected to the philosophy and religion of
the country.

Shinto, Buddhism and Taoism were used in

the creation of different garden styles in
order to bring a spiritual and peaceful sense

The first Japanese garden, that expressed Shinto,

Buddhism and Taoism visions can be traced back to the
Asuka Period(7TH century). They were designed to
capture the landscape in its natural form. From this period
the basic rules of designing gardens was established.

Heian Period is the important chapter in the

development of Japanese garden art. Aristocratic style of
gardens were created in front of the mansion with
artificial ponds and islands. In Heian Period the first book
about garden-making technique was written.

During the Kamakura Period and Muromachi Period

garden-making techniques improved considerably
because of the rise of the Zen style

Natural: that should make the garden look as if it grew by itself

Asymmetry: that creates the impression of it being natural

Odd numbers: It supports the effect of the asymmetry

Simplicity: that follows the idea of 'less is more

Triangle: that is the most common shape for compositions made of stones,
plants, etc.

Contrast: that creates tension between elements

Lines: that can create both tranquillity and tension.

Curves: that softens the effect

Openness: that indicates interaction between all elements

Stones are fundamental

elements of Japanese gardens.

Stones used are not quarried

by the hand of man, but of
stones shaped by nature only

Used to construct the garden's

paths, bridges, and walkways.

Represent a geological
presence where actual
mountains are not viewable or
present. They are placed in
odd numbers and a majority of
the groupings reflect triangular
shapes

It represents the sea, lake,

pond or river in nature.
Non geometrical in
appearance; in order to
preserve the natural shapes,
man- made ponds are
asymmetrical.
The bank of the pond is
usually bordered by stones
A fountain is sometimes
found at the bottom of a hill or
hillside or secluded forest.
Wells are sometimes found
in a Japanese garden.

Refers to a relatively small

cave or hollow set
underneath the ground
near a washbasin in the
garden.
The hollow produces a
harp-like echoing sound
effect as water drips into
the hollow. Thus, it provides
a mysterious sound for
people strolling through the
garden.
They are generally located
the at gates of the garden.

Two kinds of stone water

basinskazari- chozubachi, which
is kept near the verandah
tsukubai for tea garden.

Stone lanterns are placed

besides prominent water
basins whose luminance
underscored the unfinished
beauty of the tea aesthetic.

A stone lantern representing four natural elements:

earth, water, fire and wind

Ponds, waterfalls(real or symbolic)

There are three types of fences:

the short fence which extends

from the house into the garden

an inner fence and an outer fence.

Short fences or sodegaki are

screens that hide unwanted views
or objects.

They are about 6 or 7 feet high.

Add color and texture to the

garden.

Materials used are bamboo, wood

and twigs of bamboo or tree.

Usually used in tea gardens.

flat stepping stones served

to preserve the grass as well
as orient the viewer to a
specific visual experience.

step- stones are found near

the veranda or entrance of
the house or tea room. The
visitor of the house or room
is expected to place his
shoes on the step- stone
before entering.

Statues of male and female lions, placed

at the entrance of the garden in order to
protect the garden from intruders,
representing the two opposite forces: yin
and yang (fire and water, male and
female).
The koi fish swimming in ponds, which has
a decorative meaning
Typical Japanese bridge, called a
moonbridge, whose purpose is to reflect
artistic feelings.

Garden of the 10th to 12th

centuries contained cherry,
plum trees, pines and willows.

Flowers, flowering plants and

shrubs were regarded as signs
of frivolity and were replaced
by evergreen trees that
symbolized eternity.

Japanese garden is
predominately green with its
use of evergreen trees.

Scientific Name: Abies Firma

Habitat: Evergreen

Texture: Coarse

Height: 40 to 70

Leaf: 1.5" dark green needles are

notched at base; sharp prickly point

Flower/Fruit: 3.5 to 5" brown

cones

Scientific Name: Acer

capillipes
Habit: Deciduous
Growth Rate: Moderate
Site Requirements: Sun
to partial shade; prefers
moist, well drained soil
Texture: Medium
Form: Round head; low
branches
Height: 30 to 35
Flower/Fruit: Greenish
white flowers on 2.5 to 4"
pendulous raceme;
attractive samara in fall

Scientific Name
Betula grossa
Growth Rate: Moderate
Site Requirements: Sun; moist
well drained soil
Texture: Medium
Form: Pyramidal
Height: 20 to 25'
Leaf: 2 to 4" alternate, simple
leaves; yellow fall color
Flower/Fruit: Nonshowy flowers

Scientific Name:
Carpinus japonica
Growth Rate: Slow
Site Requirements: Sun
to light shade; moist well
drained soil but tolerates a
range of soil types
Texture: Medium
Form: Rounded; densely
branched; wide spreading
branches
Height: 20 to 30'
Leaf: 2 to 4.5" leaves;
yellow to nonshowy fall
color
Flower/Fruit: 2 to 2.5"
fruit

Scientific Name: Cryptomeria

japonica
Habit: Evergeen
Growth Rate: Moderate
Site Requirements: Sun to light,
high shade; rich deep, well drained
soil but will thrive in a range of soil
types
Texture: Fine to medium
Form: Pyramidal; semiformal
Height: 50 to 60'
Leaf: Awl shaped, bright to bluegreen foliage; smooth to the touch;
bronze tones in winter, especially if
exposed to wind.
Flower/Fruit: Small terminal cones

The art of Bonsai involves the

training of everyday shrubs such as
pine, cypress, holly, cedar, cherry,
maple, and beech to look like old,
large trees in miniature form.
The trees are usually less than one
meter high and kept small by
pruning, re-potting, growth
pinching, and wiring the branches.
Bonseki is the art of developing
miniature landscapes which may
include smallest of rock pieces to
represent mountains.

Nature is the ideal that you must strive for. You can
idealize it, even symbolize it, but you must never
create something that nature itself cannot.

Balance, or sumi. The proportions and spaces are

an essential Design principle

The emptiness of portions of the garden. This

space, or ma, defines the elements around it,
and is also defined by the elements surrounding it. It
is the true spirit of yin and yang. Without nothing, you
cannot have something. It is a central tenet of
Japanese gardening.

The concept of wabi and sabi:

Wabi can denote something one-of-a-kind, or the spirit of
something. Sabi defines time or the ideal image of
something. While a cement lantern may be one of a
kind, it lacks that ideal image. A rock can be old and
covered with lichens, but if it is just a round boulder it has
no wabi. We must strive to find that balance

Both the concepts of ma and wabi/sabi deal with

time and space. Where the garden is our space, time is
ably presented by the changing seasons. Unlike the
western gardener the Japanese garden devotee visits
and appreciates the garden in all the seasons.

In spring one revels in the bright green of new buds and

the blossoms of the azaleas.
In summer you appreciate the contrasts of the lush
foliage painted against the cool shadows and the splash
of koi in the pond.
Fall wrests the brilliant colors from dying leaves as they
slip into the deathly hush of winter, the garden buried
under a shroud of snow.
Winters is as much a garden season in Japan as spring.
The Japanese refer to snow piled on the branches of trees
as sekku, or snow blossoms, and there is a lantern
known as yukimi that is named the snow viewing
lantern.

Also known as rock gardens

and waterless stream
gardens.

Influenced by Zen Buddhism

and can be found at Zen
temples of meditation.

Found in the front or rear

gardens at the residences.

No water presents in
gardens. raked gravel or
sand that simulates the
feeling of water.

Plants are much less

important (and sometimes
nonexistent)

Rocks and moss are used to

represent ponds, islands, boats,
seas, rivers, and mountains in
an abstract way.

Gardens were meant to be

viewed from a single, seated
perspective.

Stones are usually off-white or

grey though the occasional red
or black stone were added later.

They strive to make a

smaller garden appear
more spacious.

Shrubs are utilized to

block views of
surrounding buildings.

The garden has the

mountains as part of its
grounds.

Ponds, streams, hills,

stones, trees, flowers,
bridges, and paths are
also used frequently in
this style as opposed to

They are built for tea

ceremonies, which occur in
tea houses.

The styles of both the

house and garden are
based on the simple
concepts of the sado.

There are stepping stones

leading to the tea house,
stone lanterns, and stone
basins where guests purify
themselves before a
ceremony.

The teahouse is screened

by hedges to create a
sense of remoteness.

Courtyards include a modern

alfresco (sheltered outdoor
living) area with a lush

These are large landscape gardens. Often

existing landscapes are reproduced on a
smaller scale, or an imaginary landscape
is created.

SUBMITTED BY:
NIMISHA
NIHARIKA
SHWETA
YASHIKA