Japanese Garden: Man and Nature Zen

Il Japanese garden, represents the concrete example of the fusion between the anthropized aspect and nature. It is a space designed with quality and harmony, which boasts an ancient tradition worthy of note.
In fact, the extraordinary nature of Japan consists in its ability to guarantee high quality standards in everything that man creates.

From everyday objects to architectural artifacts, the craftsmanship and attention to detail are unique.

As with architecture, designers conceive urban space green as a human-scale Zen environment, designed to fit coherently into the context, in full respect of nature.

Let's see then in this little trip to Japan, as art and garden are able to become a perfect combination of the sacred and the profane.

Origins of the Japanese Garden

Symbol of a deep-rooted culture, the characteristics of which are manifested in each of its typologies, the Japanese garden presents itself in a very different way from the one widespread in the West.
The origins of these green spaces, always designed with care and dedication, date back to the 6th-7th centuries, during which the Asuka period developed, characterised by flourishing trade with China.
It was from China that the first construction techniques came that influenced the art of the Japanese garden.

In the subsequent Heian period (8th-22nd century), new, more indigenous styles began to spread that made use of elements typical of Japanese tradition.
Finally, it is with the Edo period that the art of the Japanese garden is enriched through the inclusion of elements from nature: bodies of water, stone bridges and green hills from which to admire the surrounding landscape.

Peculiarities of the Japanese Garden

In Japan, meditation is an important part of daily life. For this reason, the garden is designed to be a zen space suitable for practicing it, where the mind and body can find refreshment.
To this end, it is common practice to study in detail each element that constitutes the green environment and insert it into the whole with a specific function and symbolic meaning.
Sinuous shapes, dimensional and silhouette contrasts, natural elements and essentiality prevail.

One of the aspects that characterizes the Japanese garden is the absolute respect for the environment and nature. This peculiarity is manifested with the use of sustainable techniques and 100% eco-friendly materials.
To name a few, pergolas and wooden furniture, flowerbeds with stones, stone containment solutions, wood and rope protection systems.
Everything is eco-friendly and there is no plastic or non-recyclable material.

Despite the different typologies, the garden in Japan is generally conceived to always include within it four natural elements considered fundamental since the origins.
Let's see what they are.

ROCCIA

It is the first of the four elements of nature, fundamental to the Japanese garden and, besides being always present, it has a double meaning, symbolic and functional.
In fact, since the very beginning, the Japanese world considered rock a sacred component, linked to divinity.
Today, the gardens with stones They use rocks to create paths, bridges, rest areas and even to build symbolic mountains and islands.

With the aim of creating such landscape components, we proceed with care in choosing the stones, analyzing their dimensions, silhouette and colors, chosen mainly in dark tones.
Preference is given to irregular shapes and imperfections, a tangible sign of the authenticity of this natural element.
The essential rule is to arrange the stones in an asymmetrical way but forming a harmonious whole, so as to transmit the idea of ​​a natural and random action.

WATER

Although not always present, sometimes due to lack of supply, water is nevertheless considered an essential element in the garden.
For this reason, Japanese designers have introduced the “karesansui”, gardens where water is not physically present but the idea of ​​it, provided through the use of other elements.
Examples of this include gravel paths that mimic the flow of rivers and rocky banks that emulate waterfalls.
Where available, water is present in artificial lakes of varying sizes, around which there are paths and hills from which to enjoy countless observation points.

VEGETATION

It requires a constant and meticulous maintenance on the part of man to always be impeccable.
In fact, it is remarkable how many people are involved in the management of meadows, waterways and vegetation, in order to constantly preserve the beauty and uniqueness of nature.
Depending on the season, the vegetation dresses the Japanese garden with different looks and colors, making it always fascinating.
In autumn, orange prevails and warms the atmosphere, in winter the white of the snow makes the garden even more introspective and sacred, a true zen place.
In spring, however, the color explodes with the cherry blossoms and in summer the green of the plants refreshes and purifies the surrounding air, transmitting a sense of peace and relief.

LANDSCAPE ELEMENTS

We have seen how natural elements play a very important role in this type of environment, both from a spiritual and practical point of view.

However, this is not the only component, since a series of landscape elements, created by the hand of man but always in full respect of nature, contribute to completing the green space.
Examples of these include shrines, lanterns, tea houses, birdhouses and many other artifices used for specific purposes.
If you visit one of the famous gardens located in Japan, it is common to observe the stone lanterns. Introduced with the tea ceremony, they represented essential stages along the path that led to the tea house. Sometimes, these ornaments take on the appearance of real mausoleums, closely linked to the Buddhist religion.

One of the essential aspects of the Japanese garden is the relationship between man and nature that is recovered through contemplation. Thanks to the conception of the garden as “zen space”, silence and sacredness prevail.
In fact, these are environments designed to be real sensory paths, capable of offering an immersion in nature. The only sounds that interrupt the silence are those of the flowing water and the rustling of lush leaves.

Furthermore, maximum attention is paid to the use of space with the aim of making it appear larger than it actually is.
To this end, small bridges are often built from which to enjoy perspective views of the context or paths that take different and sudden directions. Both solutions in fact contribute to having the perception of larger and more varied areas.

To view an example of a Japanese garden in Italy and specifically in Rome click here

Koraku-en Japanese Garden, Okayama

This garden, located in Okayama Prefecture, dates back to 1700 and is one of the few examples of a natural historical site. In fact, it preserves and offers visitors a collection of paintings belonging to the Edo period.
The park, which was born as a noble garden and then became public domain. Destroyed due to an air raid on Okayama during the Pacific War, it was rebuilt in a timely manner thanks to the documents preserved in the Ikeda archive.
With a dual historical and aesthetic value, it is included among the three most valuable gardens in all of Japan.

Located along the banks of the Asahi River, it is characterised by a curvilinear shape and is surrounded by a lush green band that extends along its entire perimeter.

Over the course of history it has been the subject of continuous “restorations” which have led to the addition of numerous perimeter buildings and groves and artificial lakes, distributed in the central area and created to enrich the view.

The garden, built by the Japanese feudal lord Ikeda Tsunamasa, became a place of recreation for nobles who could spend their free time in contact with nature.
Today, the park is composed of three lakes with sinuous shapes, the largest of which is in a central position. Along the edges are distributed some buildings of different sizes and surrounded by thick vegetation.
A hill rises in the centre of the garden: once you reach the top you can enjoy an overall view of the park and its scenic beauty.
In a mirror image, along the banks of the Asahi River, stands Okayama Castle, which was restored in the mid-1900s.

Kenroku-en Japanese Garden, Kanazawa

It is one of the most valuable gardens in Japan, dating back to the Edo period (1603-1868) and located in Ishikawa Prefecture, also famous as the “Garden of the Six Elements".
In fact, six aspects were taken into consideration for the project: spaciousness, solitude, artifice, antiquity, waterways and panoramas.

It was originally conceived as a Japanese garden surrounding Kanazawa Castle and only later was it the subject of continuous renovations and additions, until it became today a splendid complex with a very complex nature.

Anthropized aspects

Let's now see what the artificial elements of the park are:

• Midori-taki waterfall: faithfully resembling a natural waterfall, it flows into the pond on which it develops;
• Yugao-tei teahouse: characterized by a large building, it was built in the mid-1700s;
• uchihashi-tei teahouse: built entirely of wood, a portion of it is suspended over the water;

• Kotojitoro Lantern: Generously sized, this lantern is located along the Kasumigaike pond, featuring a fountain with a 3,5 m high jet of water. It is a classic example of the fusion of artifice and water;
• Meiji War Memorial: Along the perimeter of the garden, you come across this imposing bronze statue, a tribute to the heroic deeds of Prince Yamato Takero.

The yukizuri

A peculiarity that distinguishes this garden is represented by the appearance that it assumes during the winter season.
In this regard, the Karasaki-no-matsu pine is the most majestic and famous shrub in the garden. In order to protect its branches from snow during the winter season, gardeners began to mount the “yukizuri”, a traditional Japanese protective system.

Composed entirely of ropes, the structure has a conical shape and stands on the entire length of the tree.
It starts by planting medium-large section bamboo poles, from which the ropes are stretched to protect the branches from the weight of the snow and the consequent collapse that would lead to their breakage. In addition to being a functional and very fascinating system to see in the Japanese garden, yukizuri represents a stratagem to protect nature while fully respecting it. In fact, this solution uses 100% eco-friendly materials. Sometimes, in winter, the ropes are illuminated and in the evening a spectacular scenario is recreated composed of installations that stand out in the snowy landscape.

Finally, it is important to point out how the structures are designed according to the type of tree to be protected. The dimensions and the type of elements that compose them vary according to the specific need, with a view to shaping themselves as an auxiliary element and not extraneous to the tree.

Sustainable solutions

As well as snow protection systems for tree branches, there are numerous solutions aimed at preserving the plant variety of nature in Japanese gardens. One of the main objectives is to make them microcosms designed on a human scale with zero environmental impact.
An example of this is the support for large tree species that risk dying over time.
In fact, when walking through urban parks, it is common to observe how, thanks to the sensitivity nurtured towards the ecosystem, trees are not cut down or protected with the aid of impactful systems. In fact, only measures that are shaped with the natural environment are used.

Even the furniture, walkways, fences and drainage systems are all made of wood and stone and do not use non-recyclable materials.

To learn more about sustainable technologies and naturalistic engineering click here

If you are planning a trip to the Land of the Rising Sun, a visit to the Japanese garden It is essential to immerse yourself in tradition and learn not only about its design techniques, but also about the spiritual value of these places and the sense of peace that they are able to convey.