Japanese Gardens

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Japanese Gardens

• Sreekanth P. S.
• B. Arch IVth Year

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Contents

• Introduction
• Essential Aspects
• Design Principles
• Basic rules in the design of Japanese gardens
• Elements of Japanese Garden
• Types of Japanese Gardens
• Case study
• Bibliography

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Introduction

• 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 sense to the gardens and make
  them places where people could spend their time
  in a peaceful way and meditate.

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Essential Aspects

• 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.

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Design Principles

• 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.

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Formality

• Hill and pond and flat styles can be shin
  (formal), gyo (intermediate) or so (informal).
• Formal styles were most often found at temples
  or palaces,
• the intermediate styles were appropriate for
  most residences, and
• the informal style was relegated to peasant huts
  and mountain retreats. The tea garden is always
  in the informal style.

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Concept of Time and Space

• 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.

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The changes with 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.

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Miegakure or hide and reveal.

• The fence is a tool to enhance the concept of
  miegakure, or hide and reveal.
• Many of the fence styles offer only the merest of
  visual screens, and will be supplemented with a
  screen planting, offering just the ghostly hints
  of the garden behind. Sometimes a designer will
  cut a small window in a solid wall to present the
  passerby with a tantalizing glimpse of what lies
  beyond.
• Even if we enter the house to view the garden we
  may well encounter sode-gaki, or sleeve fences.
  This is a fence that attaches to an architectural
  structure, be it a house or another fence, to
  screen a specific view. To view the garden as a
  whole one must enter it and become one with the
  garden. This is the final step in the true
  appreciation of the garden, to lose oneself in it
  until time and self have no meaning.

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POND
WATERFALL
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Rock an important feature
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Basic rules in the design of Japanese gardens

• 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 tranquility and
  tension
• Curves that softens the effect
• Openness that indicates interaction between all
  elements

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Basic elements in Japanese gardens

• a stone lantern representing four natural
  elements earth, water, fire and wind
• 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).
• water basin known as a deer chaser, which keep
  deer away by making a special sound when filled
  up
• the koi fish swimming in ponds, which has a
  decorative meaning
• typical Japanese bridge, called a moonbridge,
  whose purpose is to reflect artistic feelings.

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Elements of Japanese Gardens

• Ponds, waterfalls, wells, bridges (real or
  symbolic)
• Stepping stones, Garden paths
• Stone water basins, stone lanterns
• Garden plants and trees
• Fences and walls
• Stones

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WATER OR IKE

• 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.

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Paths or tobi-ishi

• 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.

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Water basins lanterns

• Two kinds of stone water basins-
• kazari- 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.

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Plants

• Garden of the 10th to 12th centuries contained
  cherry, plum trees, pines and willows.
• Influence of the Zen sect and watercolor painting
  from Southern China transformed the colorful
  Japanese garden in the Middle Ages.
• Flowers, flowering plants and shrubs were
  regarded as signs of frivolity and were replaced
  by evergreen trees that symbolized eternity.

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Trees in Japanese Gardens

• Japanese garden is predominately green with its
  use of evergreen trees.
• When flowering trees found in Japanese garden
  are camelias, specifically the tsubaki and
  sazanka.

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Japanese Fir

• 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

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Japanese stripped-bark maple

• 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

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Japanese maple

• Scientific Name Acer palmatum
• Growth Rate Slow to moderate
• Site Requirements Light dappled shade evenly
  moist, well drained soil protect from drying
  winds
• Texture Medium to fine
• Form Low dense rounded top spreading branches
  assumes a layered look
• Height 15 to 25'
• Flower/Fruit Small red to purple flowers
  attractive if viewed closely but insignificant
  from a distance

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Japanese alder

• Scientific Name Alnus japonica
• Site Requirements Sun to partial shade range of
  soil types including wet and infertile soil
• Form Slender, narrow upright habit
• Height 12 to 25
• Leaf Oval, narrow leaves
• Flower/Fruit Yellow brown to red brown catkins
  (male flowers) female flowers on short purplish
  brown strobili which persist until winter

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Japanese angelica tree

• Scientific Name Aralia elata
• Growth Rate Rapid
• Site Requirements Sun to partial shade range of
  soil types but prefers moist, well drained soil
• Texture Medium
• Form Irregular to spreading often multi-stemmed
  
• Height 20 to 40
• Leaf 3 to 5.5" compound leaves yellow to
  reddish purple fall color
• Flower/Fruit 12 to 18" white flowers in August
  purple fruit

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Japanese cherry birch

• Scientific NameBetula 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

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Japanese hornbeam

• 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

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Japanese cornel dogwood

• Scientific NameCornus officinalis
• Growth Rate Moderate
• Site Requirements Sun to partial shade range
  of soil types
• Texture Medium
• Form Picturesque multi-stemmed low branches
  oval to round habit
• Height 15 to 25'
• Leaf 4" opposite, simple leaves purple fall
  color
• Flower/Fruit Cluster of short stalked yellow
  flowers with drooping bracts on naked stems in
  early spring .5" shiny red fruit in clusters in
  fall

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Japanese cedar

• 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 blue-green foliage
  smooth to the touch bronze tones in winter,
  especially if exposed to wind.
• Flower/Fruit Small terminal cones

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Fences and walls

• 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.

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Garden Enclosures

• For the garden to be a true retreat, we must
  first seal it away from the outside world. Once
  it is enclosed, we must create a method (and a
  mindset) to enter and leave our microcosm. Fences
  and gates are as important to the Japanese garden
  as lanterns and maples.
• As with most things associated with the garden
  the fence and gates have deep symbolic meaning as
  well as specific function. We are encouraged to
  view the garden as a separate world in which we
  have no worries or concerns. The fence insulates
  us from the outside world and the gate is the
  threshold where we both discard our worldly cares
  and then prepare ourselves to once again face the
  world.

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Courtyards include a modern alfresco (sheltered
outdoor living) area with a lush backdrop of
plants.
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Stones

• 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

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Kasan

• They are artificial mountains usually, built in
  gardens.
• Generally between one and five of the hills are
  built.
• They are made up of ceramics, dried wood or
  strangely-shaped stones.

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Suikinkutsu (Water Harp Hollow)

• 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.
• The excess water running over the edge of the
  tsukubai drops down onto polished pebbles below.
• Below the ground is another large basin, often a
  ceramic vase.

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Bonsai and bonseki

• 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.

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Scenery Methods

• The Japanese garden can include three possible
  methods for scenery
• The first is the reduced scale scenery method.
  The reduced scale method takes actual natural
  elements and reproduces them on a smaller scale.
• The second technique called symbolization and it
  involves generalization and abstraction this
  could be accomplished by using white sand to
  simulate the ocean.
• Borrowed views is a technique that refers to
  artistic use of elements that imply scenes other
  than those actually portrayed. An example of this
  would be a painting of a house in the city with a
  seaside dock in the middle of the street to imply
  a seascape scene.

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ROCKS AND BOULDERS REPRESENTING MOUNTAINS
POOL REPRESENT LAKES.
RAKED SAND REPRESENT OCEAN.
NON RECTILINEAR SHAPED WATER BODY
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TYPES OF JAPANESE GARDENS

• 1.Karesansui Gardens or dry gardens
• 2.Tsukiyama Gardens or hill garden
• 3.Chaniwa Gardens or tea gardens

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KARESANSUI/ DRY GARDENS

• 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.
• The rocks/gravel used are chosen for their
  artistic shapes, and mosses as well as small
  shrubs.
• Plants are much less important (and sometimes
  nonexistent)

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• 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.
• Rocks in karesansui are often associated with
  Chinese mountains such as Mt. Penglai or Mt. Lu.
  Karesansui.
• Stones are usually off-white or grey though the
  occasional red or black stone were added later.

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TSUKIYAMA/HILL GARDENS

• They strive to make a smaller garden appear more
  spacious.
• Shrubs are utilized to block views of surrounding
  buildings.
• The gardens main focus is on nearby mountains in
  the distance.
• 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 a flat garden.

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CHANIWA/TEA GARDENS

• They are built for tea ceremonies.
• Tea house is where the ceremonies occur, and the
  styles of both the hut and garden are based off
  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

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Courtyard Gardens - Tsubo Niwa

• Courtyard gardens are small gardens.
• One tsubo is a Japanese measurement equaling 3.3
  square meters
• The origin of the tsubo niwa lies in the 15th
  century when Japan's economy was thriving. A lot
  of merchants had large house with several storage
  buildings around it. The first courtyard gardens
  were made in the open spaces between the house
  and the storage buildings.
• The elements of a courtyard garden are similar to
  the elements of a tea garden, however more shade
  tolerant plants are used. The design principles
  of traditional Japanese courtyard gardens, are
  very suited for create contemporary small spaces
  on roofs or terraces

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Strolling gardens - Tsukiyama

• These are large landscape gardens. Often existing
  landscapes are reproduced on a smaller scale, or
  an imaginary landscape is created.

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Strolling gardens - Kaiyu-Shikien

• These are pleasure gardens, mostly built during
  the Edo-period. Most of these gardens are now
  public parks

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Case Studies 1. Ryoan Ji temple, Kyoto 2.
Katsura imperial palace garden, Kyoto
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Ryoan Ji temple, Kyoto
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General Details

• Ryoan-ji (or The Temple of the Peaceful Dragon)
  is a Zen temple located in northwest Kyoto,
  Japan. Belonging to the Myoshin-ji school of the
  Rinzai branch of Zen Buddhism, the temple is one
  of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto, a
  UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• An object of interest near the rear of the monks
  quarters is the carved stone receptacle into
  which water for ritual purification continuously
  flows. This is the Ryoan-ji tsukubai, which
  translates literally as "crouch" and the lower
  elevation of the basin requires the user to bend
  a little bit to reach the water, which suggests
  supplication and reverence.

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• To many, the temple's name is synonymous with the
  temple's famous karesansui (dry landscape) rock
  garden, thought to have been built in the late
  1400s.
• The garden consists of raked gravel and fifteen
  moss-covered boulders, which are placed so that,
  when looking at the garden from any angle only
  fourteen of the boulders are visible at one time.
  
• It is traditionally said that only through
  attaining enlightenment would one be able to view
  the fifteenth boulder.

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• The researchers propose that the implicit
  structure of the garden is designed to appeal to
  the viewers unconscious visual sensitivity to
  axial-symmetry skeletons of stimulus shapes. In
  support of their findings, they found that
  imposing a random perturbation of the locations
  of individual rock features destroyed the special
  characteristics.

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KATSURA IMPERIAL PALACE GARDEN, KYOTO

• Lake of 1.25 hectares was dug, hills and islands
  were formed, beaches made, pavilions built and
  planting undertaken.
• Has 16 bridges connecting the lake.
• Lake used for boating parties and the surrounding
  land as a stroll garden, in effect a tea garden
  on an enormous scale.
• The 'Katsura Tree' (Cercidiphyllum japonicum) was
  associated with the God of the Moon and the
  garden has a platform to view its rising.
• There are 23 stone lanterns to light the stroll
  path after dark.
• Stone basins were used for hand-washing before a
  tea ceremony.
• Garden designed not only for meditation (Zen) but
  also for ceremonious courtly pleasures.

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Reference

• Japanese Gardens by Gunter Nitschke
• Slawson, David A. Secret Teachings in the Art of
  Japanese Gardens
• Yagi, Koji A Japanese Touch for Your Home
• Wikipedia.com
• Flickr.com

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Thank you