By Mira Locher
Foreword by Terunobu Fujimori

 

 

In comparison with Zen Gardens, the complete works of Shunmyo Masuno.

Is it worth to buy both books or do I favor one over the other?

You can read my detailed review about Zen Gardens, the complete works of Shunmyo Masuno here.

Zen Garden Design is again covering the works of Shunmyo Masuno, one of the leading designers for Japanese gardens of our time and, when believing him, the last and only Zen master creating real Zen gardens.

(Without judging, I would like to note that there is a Zen monastery in Germany whose founder studied Zen in Japan and also creates beautiful gardens.)

Contents:
This book is separated in three main parts. Gardens in private residences, Condominium Landscapes, and Public and private Spaces. Between every part is an extra chapter.

We are starting with a foreword by Terunobu Fujimori, a well-know name in the world of Japanese design, about The Complexity of Zen Gardens. The introduction follows with a word to The Nature of Reality and A Note on Language.

The first interlude is about Cultivating Consciousness. It is talking about Shunmyo Masuno‘s Philosophy and Process of Garden Design.

The second interlude is a Conversation with Shunmyo Masuno and Terunobu Fujimori about Designing with Ephemeral Materials and Enduring Nature.

Endnotes, a Glossary, the Bibliography, and Acknowledgements are following.

All in all we can say that the new book, published in 2020, features many overseas projects, mainly in China.
Since materials and culture differ (and Shunmyo Masuno always takes the owner of a garden or the people visiting into consideration), the gardens often have a special touch and you see that they are not located in Japan.

For people outside of Japan, who want to build a Japanese garden, this book will be definitely interesting, while for people interested to see pictures and plans of gardens located in Japan with the typical Japanese flair, the other book, published in 2012, might be better.

Every shown garden is, again, explained in detail with many pictures and a bird‘s eye view drawing. Through these explanations we gain knowledge about what has driven Masuno to this design and what kind of thoughts he had about the garden and the owner. Usually, he uses Buddhist ways of thinking or Zen proverbs to implement into the garden design. One example is when he uses the five senses to create the sixth sense in Buddhism – ikon (intuition). This is called rokkonshōjō.

I think the first interlude about Shunmyo Masuno‘s philosophy was similarly explained in the first book. It is about his opinion how useful the knowledge and mind of Buddhism and especially Zen Buddhism is when creating a Japanese garden. He sees himself as the last remaining garden designing zen priest, a profession that was once very common.

Shunmyo Masuno‘s garden are to appreciate beauty. Appreciate nature. Appreciate one‘s self within the garden. Every garden shall create a space fitting the one looking at it. And on the other side, only people who appreciate this beauty and nature will hire Shunmyo Masuno to create their garden.

This is leading to a relationship between Shunmyo Masuno and the owner of the garden, where Masuno can almost do as he likes. While always taking the owner into consideration he can create a garden that fits both: the site where the garden is constructed and the human watching it.

As garden designers, we like to get hints in what direction the garden should go, but we also like some freedom in choosing plants and elements. We like to ask the owner for their trust in advance.

All in all, this is a very nice book to learn what hints can be used to create stunning gardens and how Zen teachings can play a role in it. It might also give a hint why foreigners can build beautiful Japanese gardens, but why many of them lack some spirit. Behind a true Zen garden stands so much more than balancing elements and plants alone.

If you have the chance, I would recommend to get both books. However, like I already mentioned above, if you are more interested in Japanese gardens in Japan, then „The Complete Works of Shunmyo Masuno“ would be better for you. If you are interested in Japanese gardens outside of Japan and an interesting talk between Shunmyo Masuno and the architect Terunobu Fujimori, this book might suits you better!

If you got interested, I would be happy if you could click on the Amazon affiliate link below!

Zen Garden Design: Mindful Spaces by Shunmyo Masuno – Japan’s Leading Garden Designer
Author: Mira Locher, Shunmyo Masuno
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Zen Gardens: The Complete Works of Shunmyo Masuno, Japan’s Leading Garden Designer
Author: Mira Locher
Price: $27.49
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An Introduction to Zen Buddhism
Author: D.T. Suzuki
Price: ~$8.00
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Treehouses, Towers, and Tea Rooms: The Architecture of Terunobu Fujimori
Author: Mauro Pierconti
Price: ~$61.00
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