Oriental gardenening

Oriental gardens were created in the same way as a combination of landscape and paintings together with poems - this was the so-called “poetic garden.” The design of Chinese gardens was to provide a spiritual utopia for one to connect with nature, to come back to one’s inner heart, to come back to ancient idealism. Chinese gardens are a spiritual shelter for men, a place they could be far away from their real social lives, and close to the ancient way of life, their true selves, and nature. This was an escape from the frustration and disappointment of the political problems in China. They used plants as symbols. Bamboo was used in every traditional Chinese garden. This is because bamboo represents a strong but resilient character. Often pine is used to represent longevity, persistence, tenacity and dignity. The lotus is used to symbolize purity. The flowering plum is one of the most important aspects of a Chinese garden, as it represents renewal and strength of will. Flowering peaches are grown for spring color, and sweet olive as well. The chrysanthemum is use to symbolize splendor, luster and “the courage to make sacrifices for a natural life”. Peonies symbolize wealth and banana trees are used simply for the sound they make in the breeze.

Rock

Decorative rocks, sometimes termed Chinese scholar’s rocks, are used both for structural and sculptural purposes. The sculptural Taihu rock is especially prized because it represents wisdom and immortality, and is only procurable from Tai Lake, just west of Suzhou.

Water

Chinese gardens usually feature a central pond and several offshooting streams. The softness of water offsets the solidity of the rocks, while also acting to reflect the constantly changing sky above. Goldfish, carp, and mandarin ducks are three of the most commonly raised fauna.

Architecture

The architecture of a garden consists of pavilions for various purposes, walkways, and outer and inner walls. The walls will have moon-shaped doorways and small windows in the shapes of vases.

Pavement

The pavement of a Chinese Scholar’s Garden might include intricate natural patterns or simply dirt depending on the wealth and mission of the owner.

Decoration

Decoration consists of calligraphy carved into rocks or walls, and lattice windows.

Plants

Many garden plants have essential symbolism. Pine trees represent wisdom and bamboo represents strength and upright morality. Plum trees are also extremely valuable to the Chinese for their beautiful pink and white blooms during winter. Chrysanthemums were also extremely well-loved because of their autumn bloom (when most plants wither and die) and symbolizes the perfect Confusician scholar. Peonys symbolizes wealth and power, and the lotus symbolizes purity (also a revered Buddhist plant). Climbing roses, camellias, ginkgos, magnolias, jasmine, willows, sweet osmanthus, and maples were also planted.

The variety of sensory features enhance a garden’s appeal. Windows frame garden views. Trees and flowers provide aroma. Even the intricate designs of pavement and gravel offer tactile enjoyment.

Suzhou (pronounced Sue-Joe), in eastern China is widely known for its numerous private scholar gardens.

Gardens of Japan

Japanese gardens ( Kanji 日本庭園, nihon teien), i.e. gardens in traditional Japanese style, can be found at private homes, in neighborhood or city parks, at Buddhist temples or Shinto shrines, and at historical landmarks such as old castles. Many of the Japanese gardens most famous in the West, and within Japan as well, are dry gardens or rock gardens, karesansui . The tradition of the Tea masters has produced highly refined Japanese gardens of quite another style, evoking rural simplicity. Japanese gardens have also been imitated in Western gardening.

Typical Japanese gardens contain several of these elements, real or symbolic:

• Water
• An island
• A bridge to the island
• A lantern, typically of stone
• A teahouse or pavilion

Japanese gardens might fall into one of these styles:

• Pond gardens, for viewing from a boat.
• Sitting gardens, for viewing from inside a building or on a veranda.
• Tea gardens, for viewing from a path which leads to a tea ceremony hut.
• Strolling gardens, for viewing from a path which circumnavigates the garden.

The karesansui (or karesenzui , kosansui , kosensui 枯山水: “dry landscape”) style originate from zen temples. These have no water and few plants, but typically evoke a feeling of water using pebbles and meticulously raked gravel or sand. Rocks chosen for their intriguing shapes and patterns, mosses, and low shrubs typify the karesansui style. The garden at Ryōan-ji, a temple in Kyoto , is particularly renowned.

Other gardens also use similar rocks for decoration. Some of these come from distant parts of Japan. In addition, bamboos and related plants, evergreens including Japanese black pine, and such deciduous trees as maples grow above a carpet of ferns and mosses.

Shakkei (借景), “borrowed scenery,” is a technique used to integrate the garden with mountains, buildings, or other objects outside its boundaries. A middleground element, often carefully maintained plantings, blocks unwanted elements and frames the desired view. This middleground integrates the “borrowed” view into the garden’s design. The viewer is encouraged to see all three areas - foreground, middleground, and background - as a single garden.

The Use of Stones, Water, and Plantings in Japanese gardens

Though often thought of as tranquil sanctuaries that allow individuals to escape from the stresses of daily life, Japanese gardens are designed for a variety of purposes. Most gardens invite quiet contemplation, but may have also been intended for recreation, the display of rare plant specimens, or the exhibition of unusual rocks.

Kaiyu-shiki or Strolling Gardens require the observer to walk through the garden to fully appreciate it. A premeditated path takes observers through each unique area of a Japanese garden. Uneven surfaces are placed in specific spaces to prompt people to look down at particular points. When the observer looks up, they will see an eye-catching ornamentation–this type of design is known as the Japanese landscape principle of “hide and reveal” — which is intended to enlighten and revive the spirit of the observer.

Japanese legend attests that stones are actual beings with spirits that need to be treated with reverence. Stones are used to construct the garden’s paths, bridges, and walkways. Stones also represent mountains where actual mountains are not viewable or present. They are always placed in odd numbers and a majority of the groupings reflect triangular shapes.

A water source in a Japanese garden should appear to be part of the natural surroundings; this is why one will not find fountains in traditional gardens. Man-made streams are built with curves and irregularities to create a serene and natural appearance. Lanterns are often placed beside some of the most prominent water basins (either a pond or a stream) in a garden representing the female and the male elements of water and fire. In Japanese tradition this is known as yin and yang. In some gardens one will find a dry pond or stream. Dry ponds and streams have as much impact as do the ones filled with water.

Green plants are the third element of Japanese gardens. Japanese traditions prefer minimal color so the use of flowers is generally parsimonious. Plants with colorful blooms are mostly used near a garden’s entrance. Many plants in imitated Japanese gardens of the West are indigenous to Japan, though some sacrifices must be made to account for the differentiating climates. Some plants, such as sugar maple and firebush, give the garden a palet of color on a seasonal basis.

Noteworthy Japanese gardens

In Japan

The Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of the government of Japan designates the most notable of the nation’s scenic beauty as Special Places of Scenic Beauty , under the Law for the Protection of Cultural Properties . As of March 1, 2007, 29 sites are listed, more than a half of which are Japanese gardens, as below;

• Tohoku Region
  • Ruins of Mōtsū-ji Garden ( Hiraizumi, Iwate )
• Kanto Region
  • Rikugi-en ( Bunkyo, Tokyo )
  • Koishikawa Korakuen Garden ( Bunkyo, Tokyo )
  • Kyu Hamarikyu Gardens ( Chuo, Tokyo )
• Chūbu region
  • Kenroku-en ( Kanazawa, Ishikawa )
  • The garden of Ichijōdani Asakura Family Historic Ruins ( Fukui, Fukui )
• Kansai Region
  • Jisho-ji Garden ( Kyoto, Kyoto )
  • Nijō Castle Ninomaru Garden ( Kyoto, Kyoto )
  • Rokuon-ji Garden ( Kyoto, Kyoto )
  • Ryōan-ji Garden ( Kyoto, Kyoto )
  • Tenryu-ji Garden ( Kyoto, Kyoto )
  • The garden of Daishoin in Nishi Hongan-ji ( Kyoto, Kyoto )
  • The garden of Sanbōin in Daigo-ji ( Kyoto, Kyoto )
  • The moss garden of Saihō-ji (the “Moss Temple”) ( Kyoto, Kyoto )
  • Daitoku-ji Garden ( Kyoto, Kyoto )
  • Ruins of Kongōhōin Garden ( Kyoto, Kyoto )
  • The garden of Daisenin in Daitoku-ji ( Kyoto, Kyoto )
  • The garden of Konchiin in Nanzen-ji ( Kyoto, Kyoto )
  • Jōruri-ji Garden ( Kizugawa, Kyoto )
  • The garden of Sakyō-Sanjō-Nibō-no-Miya in Heijō-kyō ( Nara, Nara )
• Chūgoku region
  • Kōraku-en ( Okayama, Okayama )
• Shikoku Region
  • Ritsurin Park ( Takamatsu, Kagawa )
• Ryūkyū Islands
  • Shikina-en ( Naha, Okinawa )

( Bold faces specify World Heritage sites.)

In other countries

Argentina

• The Buenos Aires Japanese Garden ( Jardín Japonés de Buenos Aires http://www.jardinjapones.org.ar/portada.htm ), of the Fundación Cultural Argentino Japonesa.

Australia

• Cowra Japanese Garden, Cowra, New South Wales
• Frankston High School
• Himeji Gardens, Adelaide
• Melbourne Zoo
• “Tsuki-yama-chisen” Japanese Garden, Brisbane

Canada

• Nitobe Memorial Garden, Vancouver, British Columbia

England

• Dartington Hall, Devon
• Harewood House, Leeds
• Holland Park, London
• Tatton Park, Cheshire
• School of Oriental and African Studies, London

Ireland

• The Japanese Gardens at the Irish National Stud, Kildare, Co. Kildare

Scotland

• Lauriston Castle, Edinburgh —garden opened 2002

United States of America

• Anderson Japanese Gardens ( Rockford, Illinois )
• Chicago Botanic Garden ( Glencoe, Illinois )
• Fort Worth Japanese Garden at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden ( Fort Worth, Texas )
• Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden at Long Beach State
• Hakone Gardens ( Saratoga, California )
• The Huntington, San Marino, California.
• Japanese Tea Garden at Golden Gate Park ( San Francisco, California )
• Morikami Japanese Gardens and Museum in ( Delray Beach, Florida )
• Portland Japanese Garden , Portland, Oregon
• Japanese Friendship Garden ( Phoenix, Arizona )
• Roji-en Japanese Gardens at the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens ( Delray Beach, Florida )
• San Antonio Japanese Tea Gardens ( San Antonio, Texas )
• Seattle Japanese Garden at the Washington Park Arboretum , Kubota Garden ( Seattle, Washington )
• Seiwa-en at the Missouri Botanical Garden ( St. Louis, Missouri )