Japanese Garden Lecture

日本庭園

Japanese Garden la concept & style

Wednesday, May 1, 13

the Origin The character of most of today's famous gardens owe much of their development to the influence of

Zen Buddhism which was brought from China in the thirteenth century and became a major influence in Japan in the two following centuries. (kawana)

Wednesday, May 1, 13

the Origin ZEN represents “MEDITATION� and is

informed in various practices such as calligraphy, painting, garden design and archery.

These practices share the same purposes -

enlightenment.

Wednesday, May 1, 13

Japanese & Chinese

ZEN belief & Geometry

- Composition complimentary of “oppositeness�

- Yin/Yang - Yin = Negative Force = Female = Voids & Fluids - Yang = Positive Force = Male = Masses & Solids - 5 Elements = Earth, Wood, Water, Gold, Fire

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Japanese Garden Keywords harmonious

symbolism

natural

calm

Wednesday, May 1, 13

Culture & Nature

Ryoan-ji

Zen garden of Soami 1499, Kyoto, Japan Muromachi Period

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Ryoan-ji’s

Kare San Sui . dry garden .

traditional Sand and Stone garden called “Kare-san-sui” (dry garden) or “Zenniwa is the most abstract form of the Japanese Gardens. Typically found in Zen monasteries, the gardens took on a very simple form raked sand represents the ocean stones represent gods, mountains or animals.

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Ryoan-ji’s

Kare San Sui . dry garden .

Wednesday, May 1, 13

“Ryogintei, a rectangle of moss and stones viewed from the veranda of the abbot's house. The group of stones in the center of the garden is thought to represent Mt. Horai, the mythical home of Taoist immortals.”

Monks meditate at Karesansui (symbolic dry garden) to seek enlightenment from stone and sand at Ryoan-ji temple garden.

Ryoan-ji’s

Kare San Sui . dry garden .

The best example of Karesansui is the stones garden of the Ryoan-ji temple in the northwestern Kyoto. It did not include any plant, pond, or tree. It is located in the southern part of the hojo's residence, and is surrounded by a low wall.

“The garden composes of 15 stones set in a small field of white gravel. The stones are arranged in five groupings of 5, 2, 3, 2, and 3, and are so placed that viewed from any vantage point there is always one rock hidden from view. The garden is fondly called the 'garden of emptiness', and while it is a sublime place to meditate on the emptiness of all worldly phenomena, it is a rare day that the garden is empty of groups of noisy tourists. Sadly this is the case at many sacred places in these times of easy tourism. The best time to visit Ryoan-ji therefore is on the worst of days; the winter months, a weekday, in the pouring rain.”

Wednesday, May 1, 13

Ryoan-ji’s

Kare San Sui . dry garden .

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Wednesday, May 1, 13

Ryoan-ji’s

Kare San Sui . dry garden .

N “The eastern-most group of stones. For those who would like to see the Ryoan-ji stones as representing mountainous islands, this combination of a large rock dominating two smaller ones recalls Chinese theories of mountain landscape painting.” ("ryoan-ji" )

Wednesday, May 1, 13

Ryoan-ji’s

Kare San Sui . dry garden .

N “A view of the group of rocks closest to the southern wall..” ("ryoan-ji" )

Wednesday, May 1, 13

Ryoan-ji’s

Kare San Sui . dry garden .

N “The three groups of stones at the western end of the garden..” ("ryoan-ji" )

Wednesday, May 1, 13

Ryoan-ji’s

Kare San Sui . dry garden .

N The fourth group of rocks (counting from the eastern end of the garden). Some interpretors of the garden would like to see this combination as representing a boat with a square sail. ("ryoan-ji" )

Wednesday, May 1, 13

Culture & Nature

Kinkaku-ji Temple of Golden Pavillion 1955 Kyoto, Japan

Wednesday, May 1, 13

Culture & Nature

Kinkaku-ji Temple of Golden Pavillion 1955 Kyoto, Japan

“Kinkaku-ji”, official name as “Rokuon-ji”, or "Temple of the Deer Park." The present pavilion is actually a modern reconstruction as the original one was destroyed in 1950.

The temple converted to Zen temple due to Yoshimitsu's death in 1409. The pond garden to the south of the pavilion probably dates back to the 13th century, as part of shinden estate. Yoshimitsu may have added rocks and islands in an effort at evoking

ZEN typology, in which alternating seas and mountain ranges form the basic structure of the universe.

Wednesday, May 1, 13

Culture & Nature

Kinkaku-ji Temple of Golden Pavillion 1955 Kyoto, Japan

Wednesday, May 1, 13

The Golden Pavilion is set in a magnificent Japanese strolling garden (kaiyu-shiki-teien or a landscape garden in the go-round style). The location depicts the idea of borrowed scenery that combines the outside and inside to create an extension of the views surrounding the pavilion and connecting it with the outside world. The pavilion extends over a pond, called Kyoko-chi (Mirror Pond), that reflects the building. The pond contains 10 smaller islands. Rock Composition represents Zen Typology. “The bridges, and plants are arranged in a specific way to represent famous places in Chinese and Japanese literature. Vantage points and focal points were established because of the strategic placement of the pavilion to view the gardens surrounding the pavilion. A small fishing deck (tsuridono) is attached to the rear of the pavilion building, allowing a small boat to be moored under it.The kinkaku-ji grounds were built according to descriptions of the Western Paradise of the Buddha Amida, intending to illustrate a harmony between heaven and earth.The largest island in the pond represents the Japanese islands. The four stones forming a straight line in the pond near the pavilion are intended to represent sailboats anchored at night, bound for the Isle of Eternal Life in Chinese mythology.� (Bowdoin)

Culture & Nature

Kinkaku-ji Temple of Golden Pavillion 1955 Kyoto, Japan

One of the six major islands ornamenting the pond. Some rocks may have been added when Yoshimitsu acquired the property.

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Wednesday, May 1, 13

Culture & Nature

Kinkaku-ji Temple of Golden Pavillion 1955 Kyoto, Japan

The pine-planted islands are bordered with large edging stones (gogan ishigumi), a functional device in that they prevent the erosion of the soil at the water's edge. They may also be considered an evocation of the rocky coastline of Japan.

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Wednesday, May 1, 13

Culture & Nature

Sanpo-In House of Three Treasures 1115, Kyoto, Japan

Wednesday, May 1, 13

“Sanpo-In Garden is a special historic and scenic spot. In 1598, ruler of Japan, Toyotomi Hideyoshi Culture & Nature ordered specialists, Takeda Baishoken to arrange the garden. It was on the occasion of Hanami at Daigo. (hanami is the cherry-blossom party.) The scenic stone "Fujito Ishi" which is also called "Sengoku ishi" was moved from the Jurakudai, Hideyoshi's residence. This garden is classified into so House of Three Treasures called excursion type in which one can walk around. Nevertheless, you can see a waterfall, islands, and bridges in the garden from the Main Drawing room. A smaller depth seems to have been arranged for 1115, Kyoto, Japan the whole view which you can get from the building. The dynamic plan of stones arrangement reflects the personality of Hideyoshi. This Sanboin, moreover, has the other wonderful gardens.

For instance, there is a karesansui(dry garden) type of garden located between the tea room called 'Chinryutei' at the back of the waterfall and the Hondo. (A Karesansui type of garden expresses the scenery of hills and waters without using water.) Next to this garden, there is an interesting garden called "Sakazukushi" which is arranged only with moss and white sand.� ("Sanboin" )

Sanpo-In

Wednesday, May 1, 13

Sanpo-in Temple Garden was laid out by order of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the ruler of Japan toward the end of the 16th century, as a place to enjoy cherry blossom viewing. The garden is 5,280 square meters, and is designed so that visitors can enjoy changing scenery while walking around it.

However, priority was placed on the view seen from within the building. It is said that when House of Three Treasures Hideyoshi visited here on a preliminary inspection, he himself designated the site of the pond at the 1115, Kyoto, Japan center of the garden. Hideyoshis orders were to create a larger pond than the one that exists today.

The actual pond constructed after Hideyoshi's death was reduced to about half the size of what he had instructed. Many stones used for the garden were transported from his residence, Jurakudai.

Today, visitors can enjoy views of the garden while walking along a corridor. An island in the center of the pond, a reclaimed island, and the bridges which span them provide visitors with different perspectives depending on the angle.'

Culture & Nature

Sanpo-In

Wednesday, May 1, 13

Culture & Nature

Sanpo-In House of Three Treasures 1115, Kyoto, Japan

Wednesday, May 1, 13

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Culture & Nature

Sanpo-In House of Three Treasures 1115, Kyoto, Japan

Wednesday, May 1, 13

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Sources Kawana, D. K. (n.d.). In the traditional japanese garden.

Retrieved from http://www.thejapanesegarden.com/ esthetics.html The theory of elements. (n.d.). Retrieved from http:// library.thinkquest.org/25983/PRINCIPLES_OF_CHINESE_MEDICINE.HTM Ryoan-ji, kyoto. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://sacredsites.com/asia/japan/ ryoan_ji_kyoto.html Japanese gardens, the karesansui. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.asiawelcome.com/ JapaneseGardens03.html Kinkaku-ji. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://learn.bowdoin.edu/japanesegardens/gardens/ kinkaku/kinkaku-ji.html Sanboin. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.daigoji.or.jp/e/vihara/sanboin/index.html

Wednesday, May 1, 13