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Japanese Gardens: Symbolic Significance

Japanese gardens defy definition. The word 'garden' is woefully inadequate to describe the symbolic significance of authentic Japanese garden design.

A Japanese garden is more than a garden in Western terms; it is essentially a quiet space for meditation, a spiritual retreat composed of natural symbolic elements and a microcosm of the natural world.

Japanese Landscaping: A Western Perspective

A basic understanding of the aims of Japanese garden design is essential if you wish to replicate a meaningful Japanese garden. The following guidelines should help:

Let nature be your guide. Use natural symbols, but never defy the laws of nature. Aim to create a microcosm of nature within a private garden enclosure.
Work with the principle of sumi or balance, which is central to Japanese garden design. No single element should dominate any other element in a Japanese garden; all elements are equally significant in the overall garden design.
Aim to create an illusion of space and continuity, even in the smallest Japanese garden.
Adhere to the principle that 'less is more.' A small rock, for instance, could be used to symbolize a mountain, or a trickle of water could represent a large waterfall.
Don't shy away from bare, unadorned spaces. An open space or ma in Japanese garden design is used to define the surrounding elements.

Formality and Japanese Garden Design

Shin, gyo andso are terms used to describe the degree of formality in Japanese garden design:

shin: formal style public gardens associated with grand edifices such as temples and palaces
gyo: a blend of both formal and informal and a design often seen in stylish private residences
so: informal style found in rural areas and attached to smaller peasant homes.

Did you know that . . .
. . . the Japanese word shakkei (literally, 'borrowed scenery') is a clever technique used by Japanese gardeners to create an optical illusion of spaciousness and continuity? Shakkei involves concealing nearby obstacles with trees and shrubs, thus creating a seamless line of vision and continuity.

Japanese Garden Styles

Japanese garden styles fall into three broad categories, although all Japanese gardens have certain elements in common:

chisen-kaiyu-skiki (hill and pond): This style of Japanese garden was introduced from China and is characterized by a pond (or a raked gravel area to symbolize a pond) in the foreground and a hilly landscape as a backdrop. Hill and pond style gardens are usually stocked with native mountain plants.
hiraniwa (flat): Flat Japanese style gardens are sparsely decorated and use wide open, flat spaces to create an ambience conducive for contemplation.
rojiniwa (Tea Gardens): Built in the informal so style, Tea gardens also incorporate an element of practicality. The main features of Tea gardens are the water basin, the central garden paths called roji and the intriguing garden gates.

Symbolic Elements of Japanese Gardens

Each of the deliberately chosen and carefully placed elements of the Japanese garden has symbolic significance.

Rock (Ishi) and Stones

Rocks are central to the complex symbolism of Japanese garden design. Rocks and stones denote permanence. From a single small rock to intricate patterns and groupings, rocks form the basis of all Japanese garden styles.

'Stone setting' or positioning is crucial and basic rules apply. For example, the main stones or rocks used to create Japanese gardens include tall vertical, small vertical, arched and different shaped horizontal stones.

Stones are typically arranged in groups of three, five or seven. No more than one type of stone is permitted in each group. Stones are often imbued with human characteristics.

Inappropriate positioning of stones, such as horizontal in place of vertical, or the use of misshapen or 'diseased' stones, is considered unacceptable in Japanese garden design.

Water (Mizu)

Water is an important symbolic element of all Japanese garden styles, typically representing the sea. Water also depicts the inevitability of the passage of time.

Water may take the form of a garden pond or a symbolic representation of water using raked gravel or flat river stones to denote a stream or river bed.

In addition, the water cleansing ritual at the water basin is central to the symbolic significance of the Japanese Tea garden.

Garden Boundaries

Japanese gardensare designed as retreats from the outside world, as self-contained places for meditation, sealed from the distractions of daily life. A Japanese garden enclosure is therefore symbolic of such boundaries.

Gates

Entrances and gates to Japanese gardens symbolize entry into a different world or a transition to a more contemplative state of mind.

Bridges (Hashi) and Arches

Bridges are used in Japanese gardens to symbolize different events in our lives that involve passing over from one life to the next. Bridges are synonymous with transition in Japanese garden design.

Fences and Screens

In a Japanese garden environment, fences and screens are positioned to create a sense of anticipation and to hint at the mysterious interior of the garden beyond.

The three main types of fences are short fences that link the house with the garden, an inner garden fence and an outer boundary fence. Fences are positioned using the technique of miegakure which means "to conceal or reveal."

Garden Paths

In Japanese garden design, garden paths are seen as symbolic of the path of life. Garden paths made from stepping stones take on added significance, with individual stones representing different stages in our human existence.

Plants

As with every other element of Japanese garden design, plants are chosen for their symbolic meaning. Plants are used primarily to reflect the passing of the seasons. Indigenous plants are the staples of authentic Japanese style gardens.

Decoration and Ornamentation (Tenkebutsu)

Contrary to popular belief a stone lantern is not an essential accessory for Japanese gardens. Accessories play a minor role in Japanese garden design. Nevertheless, Japanese lanterns, water basins and stupas (domed monuments used for housing relics) can be used to enhance the overall effect.

More Japanese Gardens

Tea Gardens and Zen Gardens are two specific types of Japanese Gardens.

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