How to incorporate the serenity & poetry of Japanese garden design into your own garden
In Japanese gardens a harmony of elements distills the essence of the natural world. To step inside one is to be enveloped entirely, to find space for reflection and feel the passing of seasons and time. The Shinto belief that every tree, waterfall, rock, flower, object and creature has its own spiritual divinity is central to the Japanese perspective and this infuses all traditional gardens, from Zen rock gardens, to roji tea gardens, and classical landscape gardens, with a reverential serenity, symbolism, and spirituality that go beyond beauty alone.
A quiet poetry and intent imbue authentic Japanese gardens, and when taking inspiration from them, straightforward mimicry will miss the mark. To capture those same feelings, but with materials that feel naturally suited a specific region, is better than simply buying stone lanterns that feel out of place, or a bunch of Japonicas which say nothing of the topography outside. The elements that give Japanese gardens their calm respite and elegant simplicity can, with delicacy, feel at home in any landscape in the world.
MAY WE SUGGEST: The Japanese trend for forest bathing is catching on in Europe
1/6All stones, great and small
Stones are the bones of many Japanese gardens; they are symbolically and architecturally foundational. In rock gardens derived from the Chinese Zen tradition, sand-like pebbles are raked in rippling waves to conjure oceans; large rocks represent the eternal islands of Buddhism. The use of stone is as practical as it is philosophical, adding a framework and focus to the landscape, not unlike ancient standing stones found in Europe. While raked oceans will always feel awkward in a western garden, the rustic use of stone feels fitting alongside plantings for structure and as a material for steps, paths and seats, lending weight and permanence to an otherwise ephemeral scene.
2/6Shadows of green
Green is the Japanese garden’s neutral pigment, used to paint verdant scenes filled with wind-swept trees sculpted by hand, glossy foliage, gentle fern understories, and pillowy moss floors, punctuated by torrents of seasonal colour: cherry blossoms, iris, maple leaves, chrysanthemums, and camellias. The planting style, using native varieties with long lasting foliage, is seemingly simple but highly intentional, and free from arrogance or ostentation. Bare soil is seen not as a shameful vulgarity, but simply a part of the natural world. Woodland walks and shady corners in Western gardens feel especially suited to this gentle, light-handed touch.
Amy Merrick3/6A meaningful path
Tiptoeing along a stepping-stone path with your head gently bowed is a quietly centering experience, regardless of the destination. The smaller the stone, the more deliberate the steps, and with no room for a friend to walk beside you, one is led into the mindful observation of details like fallen red maple leaves on a mossy carpet. A zig-zag plank path over black, mirrored water shifts your view dramatically with each turn, while a meandering path unfurls the garden slowly, with surprises tucked along the way to an unseen end. A thoughtful path can provide not only a route between places, but also a destination of its own.
4/6Between buildings and gardens
Katei is the Japanese word for home, written by combining the two characters for building and garden; the outside and inside are bound to one another. Large circular windows frame picturesque, ever-changing views, while earthen walls, jewel-box courtyards and sliding doors gracefully eschew exterior boundaries. The tranquil style of roji, or tea gardens, exemplifies this union through a harmonious and rustic thread of pathways, gates, water basins, stone lanterns and mossy thatched pavilions to a create peaceful place for tea ceremonies. By using the same natural materials in both the construction of buildings and gardens, the two are intertwined, growing together as they grow old.
5/6The borrowed vista
The surrounding views in Japanese landscape gardens seamlessly melt into the planted composition to create a unified vision: a complete picture of nature, reduced to human scale. Similar to the English landscape tradition, classical literature and art is prime garden inspiration fodder. The proliferation of moon viewing platforms, inspired by the eleventh-century novel The Tale of Genji, is a particularly romantic example of fusing the garden experience with its view. While it may be eccentric in the extreme to build a moon platform in a Western garden, setting out a peaceful space for contemplation of the sunrise is a simple way to connect more intimately with the world beyond.
Amy Merrick6/6The craftsmanship of utility
If something is going to be seen or used, it should be beautiful, from a roughly-hewn stone basin for washing hands to the broom used to sweep the mossy carpet beneath. The craftsmanship of Japanese garden ornaments, tools and techniques is often a breathtaking display of tenderness, functionality, and care. Concise but effective rope garden fences, stone path markers, or plinths can be found or made with a clever reuse of natural materials, showing that much can be made of little. By prioritizing quality, excellent workmanship, an eye for ingenious solutions, and a heart for simplicity, the hand of the gardener is shown to be as gracious as the garden itself.
