24-07-2012, 02:22 PM
Landscape Features of Japanese Gardens
[attachment=28694]
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.
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.
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
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.
[attachment=28694]
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.
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.
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
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.