Symbolism in a Zen garden

The primary structure of a Japanese garden is determined by the architecture that contains it; that is, the framework of enduring elements such as buildings, porches and terraces, paths, tsukiyama (artificial hills), and stone compositions. It is ideal to place in small areas or places without enough light or ventilation required for a traditional garden.

There is a wide range of Zen thought in the Japanese garden. Here are some key elements as examples:

doors (torii), fences, straw ropes and cloth banners served as signs to demarcate the steps.

bridges(hashi), crossing the bridge was analogous to passing from one world to another. As Zen influence came to the fore, bridges took on the more Taoist meaning of passing from the world of man to the world of nature, a passage from this plane to a higher plane.

Water (Mizu) Buddhism always regarded water as the most suitable metaphor for human existence, gushing forth, gaining strength as it races downhill to quietly disappear into the sea (reborn again as rain). In garden ponds, create a “negative” space in the garden where nothing else resides.

Plantations. Although Zen actually narrowed down the plant palette when it arrived, there are still some Zen ideas in plantings. Large bamboos are often found in temple gardens, as canes are a perfect example of the principle of mushin or “empty heart” (empty heart provides strength through flexibility). Plums are a recurring Zen theme, blooming without leaves, often while snow is still on the ground (symbolizing resilience and rebirth). Pine is known as mutsua sound similar to the word for ‘wait’, so it is placed in the garden as a symbol of strength and patience

sanctuaries they were more of a mental construct than physical locations, a place that existed in the mind rather than a place that could be seen. The sanctuary is a stage of spirit. It is also a place where humans and spirits meet.

sand or gravel represents water. Raked or unraked, symbolizing sea, ocean, rivers, or lakes.

The act of raking gravel in a pattern reminiscent of waves or rippling water has an aesthetic function. Zen priests practice this raking as well to help their concentration. Achieving perfection of lines is not easy. Rakes are made according to ridge patterns as desired and are limited to some of the stone objects located within the gravel area. however, patterns are often not static. Developing pattern variations is a creative and inspiring challenge.

stones they are the main design elements in the Japanese garden. They are considered more important than trees to the Japanese, perhaps due to a strong desire for eternity, and the stones represent the eternal elements of nature. In Japanese garden design, stones are used in combination with other stones or sand to imply a natural scene or to create an abstract design. The shapes of natural stones have been divided into five categories called five natural stones. The characters for wood, fire, earth, metal, and water were used by the Japanese to represent stone elements and apply to five classes of stone forms:

1. Taido: wood. vertical heights. Implied tall trees. Also called body stones, placed at the back of a pool.
2. Reisho: metal. Vertical drop. It implies the stability and firmness of the metal. Often grouped with tall uprights. It is sometimes called soul stones.
3. Shigyo: fire. Arching. Branches that are shaped like fire. These types of branches are called stone atmosphere and pee stones. It is often placed in front and next to other forms.
4. Shintai: water. Horizontal flat gold. Called base level stones or stone of the mind and body. Typically used for harmonization in rock bands.
5. Kikyaku: earth. Reclining. They are often known as root or prostate stones. It is usually placed in the foreground to create an appearance of harmony.

The Zen Garden message is that each divided area remains representative of all of nature; the fence helps us recognize the division and the garden should remind us of the whole. The gates in the fences are very much like the bridge in deep meaning; the phrase “going through the gate” is a metaphor for becoming a monk.

Transition between one state of existence and the next.