Japan is one of the most beautiful countries in the world with its exquisite culture, traditions, and beauty. The Japanese are masters of minimalism and simplicity which is evident in their gardens. These gardens serve to deliver a tranquil ambiance through use of natural and subtle aesthetic elements. Japanese architecture and art are some of the most sophisticated in the world. Japanese garden design is beautiful and graceful with Zen philosophy in mind.
In Japan, a garden is an ideal environment for meditation and contemplation. This is where one can indulge their senses and discover the stunning beauty of nature through observation, reflection, and quiet contemplation. A lush landscape full of well-maintained plants, trees, water features and stones enhances one’s inner peace. A subtle yet beautiful creation from nature, a Japanese garden can be found all around Japan.
The careful selection of plants that compliment each other as well as being naturally attractive to humans makes for a perfect fusion between nature and art. These gardens are highly symbolic of ancient traditions. Japanese garden design reveals a deeper understanding and appreciation of the natural world.
Japanese gardens have been a big influence on garden designers all over Japan, spreading the culture and philosophy of Zen Buddhism to the rest of the world. The traditional Japanese gardening style, known as Ryōtei-zan, is at its heart, an approach that harmonizes people with their surrounding environment. This style is characterized by water elements such as koi ponds and streams that interlace throughout the landscape.
The ultimate goal in designing these gardens is to create harmonious ambience for one’s own peace of mind and relax from life’s daily stresses and strains. A Japanese garden provides a tranquility of the mind and soul by providing a place to reflect on past experiences, or contemplate the nature of life and your role in it.
The main objects in a garden are far more powerful than their size would suggest. The flower arrangement, water features and paths can create an oasis in the middle of a busy world. They are places that one can use to meditate, or relax in silence without care. The design of these gardens is quite simple but by using subtle artistic elements they become quite sophisticated. Each element is used skillfully to enhance the ambience of the design.
In creating a Japanese garden, one takes the time to contemplate nature in order to gain an understanding of what is required for a successful result. It takes skill, hard work, and creativity that over time will transform an ordinary garden to an extraordinary Japanese garden.
In these gardens there is always a high level of contrast between plants and stones; the stronger the contrast, the more visually exciting the garden becomes. The result is a powerful and harmonious combination of clean lines, strong geometry and natural elements. In this arrangement there are no ‘horizontal’ plants such as grasses or shrubs. Such plants would be too soft and won’t reflect the geometry of the garden.
The focal point of all Japanese gardens is the feature that represents nature, water, which is always depicted in a calm and peaceful manner. The most important element in a Japanese garden, because it is used to designate the height and location of one’s position within the garden, is the koi pond. This shape has been used for centuries to represent nature. It can be recognized by its flowing koi fish so it is easier to customize into a modern layout.
A simple feature such as a rock formation or waterfall can add emotion to any design and can create an atmosphere of serenity where you feel it needs more character than an ordinary garden would need.
Bottom line
Japanese garden design is a blend of ancient, traditional and contemporary elements. These gardens are more of an artistic value than a functional value. The designers use the same elements every time they create a Japanese garden but they are able to create different designs each time by simply rearranging the size and placement of these items. They add their own individual creativity, style and flair to their gardens that makes them unique and beautiful. You can be sure that with every new design their layout will be different from the previous one so you can be sure that you’ll never see two identical designs for your garden.