Japan's Zen Gardens: The art of setting stones

A look at the concept behind Japan's beautiful Zen Gardens and what sets them apart

Gardens are a major art form for the Japanese and the country is renowned for miniature abstract and stylised landscapes. These gardens evoke images of a cherry blossom tree in the background and rocks covered with moss and a weather-beaten concrete path leading to a place of serenity. An element that sets them apart is the sense of space and calmness they offer.
There are certain design principles that are applied to create these landscapes and one of the most popular concepts is that of dry landscape gardens also known as the Zen Gardens. Zen Buddhists introduced this concept in the sixth century and they chose to create spaces for meditation where water was usually unavailable. They constructed dry streams, ponds and waterfalls using sand or small rocks to represent water features. These gardens are typically built in small, flat spaces with a sense of enclosure formed by walls or natural features, such as an ocean or mountain backdrop and plant use is minimal. They are generally made of white sand, fine gravel or pebbles, carefully gathered into stylised patterns.
Considered to be minimalist art, these gardens use traditional materials in new ways to focus the Zen sense of timelessness and dynamic harmony and can often evoke a feeling of mystery. The idea behind these gardens is to appreciate natural beauty without any artifice.
These gardens are often found in temple complexes and are intended to calm the mind and draw it away from everyday concerns, creating a spiritual space. A common element spotted in these gardens is Hashi (bridges) that serve as a symbol of transition. They also feature lanterns that have become symbolic of the gardens themselves.
A great example of this is Ryoan-ji, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of Japan's most famous temples. It was designed in the 15^th century and its rock garden is considered to be a perfect expression of the principles of Zen. It features distinctive large rock formations arranged in linear patterns to facilitate meditation.
The gardens usually follow the below principles of design and reflect the feeling of Zen. These include:
Kanso: It translates into simplicity or elimination of clutter and involves expressing ideas in a simple way. It works on excluding the non-essential items in order to have more clarity.
Fukinsei: It means asymmetry or irregularity. The idea of controlling balance in a composition through irregularity is central to the Zen aesthetic as it makes it more dynamic.
Shibui: This principle means being beautiful by being understated, having simple designs and being minimalist and elegant.
Shizen: Meaning naturalness, this principle involves absence of pretence or artificiality.
Yugen: It means to suggest rather than reveal. A Zen garden is usually said to be a collection of symbolic elements.
Datsuzoku: This means freedom from habit and escape from the ordinary. This principle describes the feeling of surprise and a bit of amazement when one realises they can have freedom from the conventional.
Seijaku: This means tranquillity or solitude and the gardens are ultimately created for visitors to experience a state of calm.