There are the French style gardens or the English style gardens, very well known throughout history. On the other side of the world, however, Japanese gardens have also expanded. Who would not spend hours and hours looking at one of these Zen gardens?
We show you some ideas and recommendations to make your own Japanese garden at home. We will tell you a bit about the origin of these beautiful gardens up to the importance of certain elements.
The origin of these Japanese gardens
Originally, these Japanese gardens were created as an exclusive space for the ruling elites in Japan. They were places where “important” people found, or at least sought, calm during wartime. Today, although being a person of the government elite is not a requirement, they are still seen as places for recollection, meditation and reflection. Just by observing images of Japanese gardens, one can perceive sensations that invite relaxation and an encounter with oneself.
Very natural zen gardens
It should be noted that these Zen gardens find a clear focus on nature. Although a Zen garden is a space created by man, these oriental gardens try to imitate or symbolize natural elements. Therefore, artificial materials such as plastic are not welcome in Japanese garden design. Above all, always look for noble and natural materials such as wood or stone.
The four key elements
For a Japanese garden, there are four key elements that should never be missing: rocks or stones, water, plants and ornamentation. They are essential pieces in this puzzle that must always be placed carefully and following oriental design principles, which defend symmetry, balance and symbolism.
Sand and stones in zen gardens
While it is common to see talk of Japanese gardens or Zen gardens, in reality, the latter are a type of Japanese garden. They are small spaces within typical Japanese gardens that are based on a pile of sand and stones. The sand represents calm and tranquility. Thus, experts say it should be distributed throughout the area. The rakes, which many people have seen, are responsible for removing the sand to bring order. As for the largest stones, they would represent the obstacles we find in life.
The karesansui
Many claim that concepts such as the Zen garden are the invention of Westerners. The real name and the origin of all this is the Karesansui. This is a type of Japanese garden used exclusively for meditation. It is a dry garden, but includes, besides sand and rocks, some vegetation such as grass or moss.
Garden fountains
Water is also an essential element. It is related to energy and to the movement of energy. Including a stream or fountain in your Japanese garden will bring energy into your home. We love garden fountains, and there is no denying how relaxing it is to hear the water fall.
How about Japanese gardens? Would you like to have one? Or at least create a small Zen garden in some corner of your backyard? We hope these proposals will inspire you. Thanks for following us!
