Gardens in Japan:
Gardening is an Art:
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| Kenrokuen Garden |
Gardening in Japan is an important aspect of Japanese society, as it has been held in such a high esteem that it was placed on the same level as painting or writing. In the book, the Sakuteiki, or "notes on how to make a garden," includes lessons and steps on what exactly to include, how to position objects, and how to care for the garden in order to keep it as natural of an arrangement as possible. These gardens were sometimes used by rulers and noblemen to express the extent of the power they held. One temple called The Temple of the Golden Pavilion, is one of the many luxurious gardens built by warrior class shoguns eager to adopt the lifestyle of the old aristocracy. Other gardens, such as zen gardens, became great sources of art since rulers became occupied with civil wars and other things. Devised by zen monks, or "ishitate-so", these gardens began to incorporate shelters for tea ceremonies, and the drawings of waves in the sand of the floor. It is important for the gardener to set up a garden in a specific way. There should be no large array of bold colors, though seasonal flowers should be incorporated sparingly. There can be man made objects, sources of water, rocks, and trees. Most importantly, the garden should include a focal point such as a large tree, or center stone. The garden itself must be laid out in an asymmetrical way, creating a sort of spaciousness throughout the garden. It must also not reveal everything at once, having part of it covered by a tree, or rocks to make it seem like it is infinite.
The Importance of Natural Beauty:
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| Butchart Gardens in Autumn |
The most common plant is an evergreen, however, there are also plants such as black pines, and red pines that are often included. Trees provide the framework for gardens, and are often used as the focal point. The use of flowers such as: forsythia, kerria, viburnum, spirea, hawthorn, winter hazel, and witch hazel; naturally placed can give a graceful beauty to the garden. Often included in Japanese gardens are bamboo or different mosses which add an addition of contour to the stones and trees. There should be water either dripping from a stone basin, in a pond, or stream. The addition of rocks give the garden a sense of stability and an essential display of visual weight. The grounds of the garden are normally made up of sand, gravel, or smaller stones.
Famous Gardens:
In Nijo Castle:
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| Garden at Nijo Castle |
In Nijo Castle, there are two gardens. One is called Ninomaru Garden, which is a place of special scenic beauty. It is called a "shoin- zukuri" for the grand scale. In the center of the pond, there is a rock representing one large island: Horai- jima. There are another two islands called Tsuru- jima, and Kame- jima. The original garden was said to have been made by the master garden designer: Kobori Enshu. The other, called Seiryu- en Garden, constructed in 1965. The two areas of the garden are a pond, and a lawn area. The two teahouses are Koun-tei, and Waraku-an, used for receptions for honored guests.
The Temple of the Golden Pavilion:
The garden at this temple has a center of a large pond with islets large and small. Rocks were donated by different lords over many periods. The pond is designed for strolling as the entire garden is listed as a National Special Historic Site and Special Place of Scenic Beauty.
Works Cited:
Golden Pavilion or Kinkaku-ji
Temple, 1397, Kyoto (UNESCO World Heritage List, 1994), Japan, Muromachi
period, 14th century. Photograph. Britannica
ImageQuest, Encyclopædia Britannica, 25 May 2016.
quest.eb.com/search/126_147506/1/126_147506/cite.
Accessed 4 Jan 2017.
Stone lantern, cherry
blossom, Kenrokuen Garden, Kanazawa city, Ishigawa prefecture, Honshu island,
Japan, Asia. Photography.
Britannica ImageQuest,
Encyclopædia Britannica, 25 May 2016.
quest.eb.com/search/151_2589458/1/151_2589458/cite.
Accessed 4 Jan 2017.
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