Behind the image of the karesansui garden
The Kamakura and Muromachi eras hold the answer to my third question of dry landscape gardens – is there more to their compositions than the restraint and unnaturalness that they project? Zen Buddhism and the Hidden Nature of Rocks The effect upon these karesansui (“withered mountain-water”) gardens from the practice of meditation from Zen Buddhism […]
On the relationship of traditional Japanese gardens to nature. Is a balance between the gardener and nature important and is equilibrium sought within their creation?
Man and Nature: The Early Philosophy of Japanese Gardens Through the act of creating a garden, there is an inherent manipulation of nature. However, in the early forms of Japanese gardening, this was undertaken in order to serve nature and the deities that lived within the ‘garden objects’, such as rocks. It is true that […]
Reasons for traditional Japanese gardens, in consideration of religious beliefs and recreation over time
The Origins and Evolution of Traditional Japanese Gardens The first thing that must be appreciated when referring to the ‘traditional Japanese garden’ is that this spans a great history of many different eras, possibly to the origins of tangible culture upon this island. Thus, the history of gardens incorporates many evolutionary forms from their simplistic […]
A brief look into the history and concept of a traditional Japanese garden
Exploring the History of Traditional Japanese Gardens I would like to leave with the following short series of posts about the history of traditional Japanese gardens. During my time at RJG, I delved into their realms to begin understanding the complex reasons and methods behind their creation and composition. To begin this series, I would […]
Thank you for reading & goodbye for now…
Sadly my time here at RJG has come to an end, all too quickly! I would like to leave with a little note of thank you and my parting thoughts… Why I Came to Japan to Study Gardens Why did I come to Japan to study gardens? Because here, gardening is not just about gardens. […]
Environmental Benefits of Traditional Japanese Gardens
Introduction: Conservation Through Gardens I wanted to write a short blog highlighting what I think is a great attribute of traditional Japanese gardens: their environmental benefits and thus an important dimension for the continued and enhanced conservation efforts. This first struck me because of an affinity I feel between them and a Site of Special […]
Gardens Above: Tokyo’s Rooftop Gardens
Searching for a New Style of Garden Recently I ventured around Tokyo in search of a relatively new style of garden. I wanted to explore the differences that have taken place between the creation of traditional Japanese gardens and contemporary ones. The Japanese have a reputation for being creative, not least in the garden – […]
Hamarikyu Garden Tokyo – A Modern Concept of Shakkei
Visiting Hamarikyu In December last year I visited Tokyo’s Hamarikyu Edo era garden, which lies low on the original coastline of the city. It is a relatively large garden spreading in the mounds of man-made mountains, across a tidal pond, duck-hunting grounds and salt fields beneath the cities towering heights. It was primarily a pleasure […]
Traditional Machiya Townhouse in Tokyo Setagaya
Late last year, we had a surprise visit to a traditional machiya (townhouse) in Tokyo. The Charm of Wood in Japanese Homes I love houses made from hand-hewn stone, but those built from carved wood hold a different kind of specialness. Wood carries delicate aromas and a sense of shifting time. Its exposed growth lines […]
Kyoto Garden Tour 2015 — Day 3: Shigemori, Koke-dera & Secret Gardens
The final day of our Kyoto garden tour was full of contrasts — from modern interpretations of Japanese gardens to moss-covered temples steeped in ancient tradition. Matsuno-taisha — Shigemori’s Modern Gardens We began at Matsuno-taisha, one of Japan’s oldest Shinto shrines, founded in 701 AD. The shrine’s gardens were designed by Mirei Shigemori (1896–1975), a […]