What Is A Zen Garden

Despite this the term is often used to refer to the japanese tradition of rock gardens where a few simple and natural elements are combined to create a tranquil stark and symbolic garden.

What is a zen garden.

Making a zen garden is one way to create a meditative space in the yard. The principles are simplicity naturalness and austerity. The japanese rock garden 枯山水 karesansui or dry landscape garden often called a zen garden creates a miniature stylized landscape through carefully composed arrangements of rocks water features moss pruned trees and bushes and uses gravel or sand that is raked to represent ripples in water. Of all the variants of buddhism zen is among the best known and most popular.

Zen gardens are also referred to as japanese rock gardens or by the proper name. It s comprised mostly of sand and rocks while other types of japanese gardens can be lush with shrubs koi ponds bridges etc. These features add a sense of distance and you can use them as a focal point to aid meditation. Each element placed in one s garden signifies a certain principle for example white sand traditionally represents the purity of thought while water represents stillness.

A zen garden can also contain a simple bridge or path and lanterns made of rock or stone. It s not difficult to create a constantly changing work of art that is visually pleasing. Therefore it represents a gateway to the garden of the mind. A zen garden is a refuge that can be placed in nearly any space.

A japanese zen garden is conceived and created from the meditative inspiration of the gardener and contemplating one is a doorway to meditation for the viewer. While some gardeners exploit color theory taking advantage of the calming effect of cool colors such as blue and lavender you can achieve the same purpose with a more elaborate design for enjoying serenity in the backyard. Some zen gardens are large sweeping creations that encompass acres while some are tiny desktop gardens that take up no more room than a notebook. The zen garden is a synthesis of the foundations of the tradition that tends toward lightness.

A zen garden cannot be entered as a traditional garden can. While zen gardens are a type of japanese garden not all japanese gardens are zen gardens. A zen garden is the western world s label for a japanese rock garden and many proponents of these eschew the name. In the cultures of the west this may be because zen buddhism has been one of few traditions of eastern thought introduced to the west by distinguished personalities.

Later the monks use zen gardens to teach zen principles and concepts. A zen garden is usually relatively small surrounded by a wall and is usually meant to.