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Zen Gardens: Mysterious Gardening Trends

Dry-landscape karesansui gardens ("karesansui" means "a symbol of peace") were introduced into Japan from China in the sixth century. These early Japanese rock gardens were viewed as idealized, utopian landscapes, and later became synonymous with Zen Buddhism (also introduced from China).

Why Choose Zen Rock Gardens?

The stark, dry landscapes of Zen gardens are the antithesis of most Western-style gardens. Comprising mainly rocks, garden stones, sand and gravel, with the occasional dash of greenery punctuating the monochrome setting, Zen gardens are designed primarily for meditation and contemplation.

At first glance, these Zen rock gardens, or even the miniature gravel/sandbox varieties, have a simplicity that may be slightly unnerving to the Western eye, used to the colorful, cluttered gardens where every inch of space is used to the full. After all, a splendid show is the ultimate aim of most gardeners nearer home.

Zen gardens have an altogether different purpose. These pared down Japanese rock gardens are intended merely as a tabula rasa, a starting point for exploring the inner landscapes of the mind.

Above all, Zen gardens aim to provide an environment conducive to meditation. This, surely, is the type of space we all need in our stress-driven everyday lives!

Symbolic Elements

All the various elements found in Zen Japanese gardens have symbolic meaning. Rocks or garden stones, for example, may represent the sky or the earth, depending on whether they are vertically or horizontally shaped garden stones. Gravel and sand are also significant elements, often symbolizing water.

Plants tend to be used sparingly in Zen gardens. Certain plants and trees, however, may be introduced for their symbolic value. Pine trees, with their sharp-edged bark, are a prime example.

Did you know that . . .
. . . Zen gardens are designed around the Buddhist theory that the number three represents the Buddhist Trinity? Three also signifies the sky, earth and humanity.

Zen Gardens: Designed for Meditation

Zen garden design concentrates on creating an abstraction of a garden, using mainly rocks and raked gravel to represent elements of a natural landscape. Garden stones may symbolize water, mountains, rivers and so forth. Garden design, however, must reflect the reality of nature, albeit on a smaller scale.

Symbolism is central to Zen garden design. The very act of raking gravel is symbolic of preparing the mind for a deeper state of contemplation and meditation. The rocks may represent the hurdles we hope to overcome through meditation.

A carefully designed Zen garden provides an ideal environment for problem solving. The main aim of Zen garden design is to eliminate distraction, while inviting those entering the garden to embrace the untamed thoughts of the human psyche, or merely to meditate on the meaning of life.

Create a Backyard Zen Garden Retreat

Transforming a cluttered backyard into a site devoid of distraction and suitable for mediation is easier than you think. Here's how:

demarcation: Your chosen space for meditation must be free of distracting features. The trouble is that most modern backyards are small and usually have several different functions. You can build a Zen garden in a very small space, but what you cannot do is use the allocated space for any function other than the purpose for which it was intended: meditation. Let no one encroach with distracting activities and paraphernalia.
enclosure: Set physical boundaries with paths, hedges, shrubs or wooden fencing. Treat your Zen garden like a private room. Include a passage way or single meandering path leading to your garden so that it complies with the principles of Feng Shui.
entrance: Create a 'doorway' to your Zen garden, cut from an existing hedge, or use a garden arch covered with climbing plants. This entrance will take on symbolic meaning, denoting entry into a world of meditation.
invitation: Introduce an element of mystery. Both the winding path and the intriguing, mysterious entrance should convey a sense of invitation and anticipation. Anyone approaching the garden will feel that their mood is changing and their pace is slowing as that they are about to enter a world of meditation.
balance: Encourage meditation with a focal point such a small raked gravel area, a simple bench, a rock, a bridge or maybe a fountain. Don't clutter your Zen garden, or you risk introducing distraction. Any decoration is best kept simple and, above all, balanced according to theory of Yin and Yang, the masculine/feminine and the positive and negative energies in the universe.

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