Zen gardens (Kare-San-Sui): Harmonious symbiosis of art and nature

Zen gardens , also known as Japanese stone gardens, are true masterpieces that combine art and nature in a unique harmony.

The Zen garden, a true symbol of Japanese culture, fascinates the whole world through its simple beauty and its deeply rooted philosophy. These places of  contemplation and meditation , which "Kare-San-Sui" or "Dry Gardens" or sometimes also " Sekite I" , invite you to think and serenity.

For many gardeners, stones - in addition to naked snails, mosquitoes and weeds - represent a real plague that needs to be eliminated. In Japan, on the other hand, some of the most fascinating gardens are designed exclusively from rocks and stones. As the author Lafcadio Hearn commented in the 19th century:

To understand the beauty of a Japanese garden, you have to understand the beauty of the stones. ”

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But what is the special aesthetics of these gardens? Together we discover the origins of this ancient art, its unique characteristics and  the most beautiful examples that can be visited during a stay in the country of the rising sun. From the symbolic gardens in Kyoto to the hidden treasures in Fukuoka, we embark on a Zen trip through the Japanese archipelago.

In the second step, we deal with how you can implement this Far Eastern concept for your own garden. And we ask ourselves how precise tools like Makita Messer can play a role in your care?

What is a Japanese Zen garden?

A Japanese Zen garden represents a harmonious, minimalist and symbolic interpretation of nature , which dispenses with the use of water and flowering plants. Rather, these gardens are characterized by the concise formation of stones, clear lines and sparsely used plants, such as moss. At the heart of this garden design is the endeavor to naturalness and clarity; Geometric shapes and superfluous decorations are specifically excluded.

The central elements of a Zen garden comprise the hugged sand or gravel, which acts as a symbol of water, as well as stones, represent the mountains or islands. The artistically designed patterns in the sand invite the viewer to immerse yourself in a meditative attitude. This reduced aesthetics of black and white not only promotes meditation and contemplation, but is also inspired by the monochrome painting of the song dynasty .

Thus, the Zen garden invites you to deep introspection and creates a space for calm and reflection in our often hectic world.

The philosophy behind Zen gardens

However, these stone gardens offer more than mere aesthetics. The researcher and art historian Langdon Warner , who served as a model for the figure of Indiana Jones, once noticed that Japanese gardens are designed so that

Kare-San-Sui embody the highest truths of religion and philosophy as well as other cultures have used the arts of literature and philosophy ”.

The design of a Zen garden is based on principles that are closely linked to Zen Buddhism . The focus is on the creation of a room that promotes inner silence and clarity. The focus is on the symbolism : gravel, which is resolved into wave patterns, symbolizes water; Stones stand for mountains or islands. Every component has a deeper meaning and invites the viewer to think about the essence of nature and the relationship between people and the environment.

Zen gardens follow the idea of ​​the Wabi-Sabi , an aesthetics that emphasizes the beauty of the imperfect and admiringly. At the same time, order and precision in the design is essential.

The roots and origin of the Japanese dry gardens

The tradition of the Zen gardens, which goes back to the 12th century , is inextricably linked to the temples and monasteries of Zen Buddhism in Japan. Their development is closely linked to the philosophy of Zen, a Buddhist school, meditation and the departure of material possessions.

According to a statement by Steve John Powell and Angeles Marin Cabello, Sekitei with BBC Culture for the first time during the Kamakura period (1185–1333) after Zen Buddhism came to Japan in late 13th century. These gardens developed further in the Muromachi period (1333-1573). The Zen emphasized the importance of meditation and a reduced, careful way of life. In the Muromachi era, zen-related arts such as calligraphy, tea ceremony, flower arrangement, martial arts and landscape design experienced an upswing. Some samurai now devoted themselves to the Zen-inspired practices of the tea ceremony and garden art .

In contrast, the gardens of the Heian era (794–1185) were complex replicas of Buddhist paradise. The nobles of the Imperial Court enjoyed going booting in the middle of this magnificent backdrop. But with the change of power in the Kamakura period, the Samurai class gained influence. Zen was quickly received by the samurai, which identified with the principles of simplicity, self -discipline and the search for the true self without being distracted by abundance and material goods.

In addition, some samurai were involved in the arts inspired by Zen such as the tea ceremony and landscape design, including Ueda Soko (1563-1650), which not only developed his own style of the tea ceremony, which is still practiced today, but also designed the impressive Shukkees Garden in Hiroshima .

Japan's outstanding Zen garden designer Masuno Shunmyo , a Zen priest from the 18th generation, explained the connection between Zen and the art as follows:

Ascetic Zen practice is found an emotion of the mind that cannot be disclosed or understood directly. Therefore, you have to find ways to tell others. This means that the Zen priest has traditionally turned to classic arts such as calligraphy, Ikebana and stone placement. "

Another meaningful dry garden is the garden of the Ryoan-Ji temple in Kyoto , whose creator remains hidden. The mysterious arrangement of the stones and sand has been captivating both visitors and experts for centuries and invites you to meditation and personal thinking.

The inner space measures 30 by 10 meters and is framed in the north by a temple building with a seat terrace. Surrounded by a wall on the south and west side, this space is wrapped in a symbolic infinity made of fine gravel, in which 15 stones are apparently arbitrarily placed in five groups. The viewer can not recognize any position more than 14 stones at the same time.

The harmoniously curved lines represent natural watercourses and create an illusion of endlessness, while the focus is on the stone groups and at the same time loses the vastness of the gravel sea. A phenomenal and masterful design!

Central elements in a Zen garden

The design of a Zen garden is largely influenced by the conditions on site and personal preferences. However, there is not much space to change a small garden into a relaxing oasis of calm. In advance, think about which elements are important for you and which atmosphere you want to generate. The ideal location for your Zen garden can be both in the front yard and in a certain area of ​​an already created garden.

Optimally, choose a place near a hedge, a simple privacy screen or a garden wall. The central elements of a Japanese garden - stones , plants and water - create a harmonious unit that puts the viewer into a meditative state.

gravel

The element of water is basically replaced by gravel . In order "movement" into the overall picture, the gravel surfaces are regularly rated to create different patterns and lines with a lot of care. Great lines represent the gentle flow of the water, while wave -shaped structures the movements of lakes or oceans against mirrors n.

Gravel surfaces that are organically winding around single plants or shrubs are particularly natural. Granite, slate or marble gravel beds skillfully attract attention. Make sure not to combine too many different grains and colors; The use of a uniform color promotes the calm elegance of your garden .

Stones

Stones in different sizes and shapes within the gravel surfaces symbolize island groups in the sea or mountain landscapes. Waterfalls can be reproduced by a clever arrangement of rocks. Particularly hard rocks such as granite or basalt prove to be versatile materials; Let yourself be inspired by the regionally available rock types.

Avoid a mix of different stones and rely on the minimalist effect . Your stone groups should always consist of an odd number to create visual tension. A little tip: flat stones are ideal as steps that lead the viewer safely to the other side.

Pagodas , stone lanterns and Buddha statues can also be integrated harmoniously into the garden design-this applies: less is more.

Plant

In the area of ​​plants, they have freedom to follow their intuition. Ferns , bonsa bums , conifers and evergreen molded trees such as pine, juniper, yew and cypresses perfectly complete the Asian total work of art.

Traditionally, moss types Sternmoos, for example, are suitable for partially shaded locations, while book herb or Andean pads are more suitable for sunny locations.

A targeted selection of flowering plants such as Magnolia or Japanese azaleas artistically rounds off the harmonious overall picture and brings color accents into your oasis of calm.

The following video gives you a lot of inspiration, impressions and suggestions for a Zen garden on the way:

Optional additions

Privacy screen

To design a secluded garden area, surround it with a wall, a fence, a privacy screen made of bamboo, lattice elements or a formal hedge.

Statues / sculptures

A statue can serve as a source of inspiration for meditation and become a central eye -catcher. These typically include Buddha figures or Japanese lanterns . Place it in a striking place in the garden.

Way

A path can lead visitors to the garden or lead through the gravel area to make care easier. Choose materials that form a contrast to the larger stones and gravel, such as steps in darker colors. When ordering the way, think about how he influences your experience in the garden. Does he lead the view through the room or does he draw attention to special elements?

A straight path conveys a more formal atmosphere, while a winding path offers opportunities to linger and observe.

Seats

Zen gardens are designed to be viewed from a certain point of view. Place a stone bench or a comfortable chair in a place where you can best enjoy the garden.

Water

Although water is not part of a classic Zen garden, the sound of running water can create a calming atmosphere that supports meditation. A bubbling fountain or an Asian -designed waterfall can drown out the urban noise.

Race

An accurately cut lawn can also complement the aesthetics of a Zen garden well. The sharp lines and clean edges contribute to the harmony of the overall picture. With Makita knives , which are known for their reliability and precision, this works effortlessly. These knives make it possible to cut the lawn evenly and precisely, which not only improves the visual appearance, but also makes care easier.

The knives are made of robust material and remain sharp even with regular use. Their efficiency ensures that the work is done quickly without the quality of suffering. A neatly cut lawn highlights the other elements of the Zen garden and reinforces their effect. The combination of traditional garden art and modern technology shows how tradition and innovation can go hand in hand.

lighting

A often neglected aspect of garden design is the lighting; It ensures an aesthetic stimulus and makes it possible to spend time outdoors even in the evening. Light away paths, statues or put lighting accents on trees, for example with a pagoda lantern or rock garden lantern.

How to create your own Zen garden

For many people, the garden represents a special retreat where you can find peace after an arduous working day. This idea can be further developed to design an individual area in Japanese Zen style for contemplative retreat.

The design of a Zen garden requires a fine feeling for aesthetics and balance. Unlike in a conventional garden, the focus is not on the lush plant splendor, but the subtle beauty of stones, moss and sand. Nevertheless, if available, the lawn plays an important role. He frames the garden and forms a contrast to the minimalist elements.

A Zen garden should create a meditative atmosphere. This is achieved by a clear structure and symmetry. The lawn, if it is part of the garden, must be flawlessly cut to support the calm, clear lines. This is exactly where the importance of high -quality tools comes into play.

The following tips will help you in this way.

Select a location

Which area of ​​the garden is ideal for a meditation room? How big should this room be? Choose a flat, quiet corner or a narrow side garden that is well suited to make a pleasant place to meditate. Perform preliminary measurements to make the future space tangible.

Research thoroughly

To collect inspiration for the design of your space, you browse various sources such as the Internet, books and visit local gardens with Zen rooms.

Create an ideas board or a list of the properties you want to integrate.

Use basic principles

Zen gardens are based on seven essential principles: strict (coconut), simplicity (kanso), naturalness (Shinzen), asymmetry (fukinei), secret or subtlety (yugen), magical or unconventional (datsuzoku) and silence (seijaku).

Your Zen garden should most or all of these concepts against mirrors n.

Sketch a design

Create a rough drawing to imagine your finished room. With a more extensive project, it could make sense to consult a professional landscape architect. If you want to use larger stones, it is important to determine in advance where they should be placed because it can be tedious to move them later.

Stay flexible

Although authentic Zen gardens usually contain only a few plants and no water features, there are numerous variations in Zen design in which water and plants can play a more important role. Do not be afraid to experiment with different styles.

Design it inviting

Select the aspects of Zen garden care that promises you the most and design the garden according to your taste. Create a place where you would like to spend time.

Take into account the scale

Use materials that match the size of the garden room and the rest of the garden. Larger stones can quickly be overwhelming in a small room, while small stones can be lost in a spacious landscape.

Keep it simple

A Zen room should be simple and neatly designed to create a feeling of calm. Choose a gentle color scheme that calms the mind and creates a relaxing atmosphere.

The care of a Zen garden

Maintaining a Zen garden is just as an art as its design. It requires patience, precision and an eye for details. The gravel has to be used regularly to renew the patterns, moss and stones have to be cared for, and the lawn, if available, must always be in an impact.

The use of high -quality tools such as Makita Messer makes this work considerably easier. Carefully cut plantings ensure that the Zen garden retains its clear structure and achieves the desired effect. Proper care is essential to maintain the aesthetics and the meditative atmosphere of the garden in the long term.

The time you spend in your garden should by no means be perceived "working hours" Each element of this green retreat is of particular importance and thus deserves its attentive care. The careful care of the plants, shrubs and shape trees is particularly essential. The time you invest in gardening is not only valuable for nature, but also for your own soul and your body.

It is less about the final result than the meditative and decelerating experience of working in the garden. The occasional rake or the careful drawing of the "water" lines into the gravel area can have a soothing calm on your mind. Also when collecting leaves, the weeds of weeds or cleaning the paths, you will find the opportunity to dive deeply in your thoughts and give both the body and mind with soothing breaks.

Zen monks see a significant part of their meditation practice in the daily care of the garden. They teach us to trust the peculiarities of nature and to enjoy the gentle sounds of the wind and the rustling of the leaves.

In this harmonious harmony with the environment, the true potential of gardening unfolds as a source of inner calm and reflection.

Joachim Rodriguez y Romero

Owner and managing director of Kunstplaza . Publicist, editor and passionate blogger in the field of art, design and creativity since 2011. Successful conclusion in web design as part of a university degree (2008). Further development of creativity techniques through courses in free drawing, expression painting and theatre/acting. Profound knowledge of the art market through many years of journalistic research and numerous collaborations with actors/institutions from art and culture.

www. kunstplaza .de/