KARESANSUI
Garden design is taken very seriously by the Japanese and master garden designers are highly respected.
A few years ago an international workshop on the concept of Dry Landscape Gardens was presented at the Kyoto Institute of Technology. A lengthy paper was presented that stated, in part, “Traditional concepts in the garden aesthetic remain difficult or even impossible to articulate, perhaps since they are rooted so deeply in phenomenal awareness and intuition.” Another key point that was made: ” ….the visual percept on infinity is achieved with a finite, limited number of rocks.” It has been said that to a Zen Buddhist the stones are not as important as the space between the stones. A Karesansui is basically designed space. Many visitors find that the Meditation Garden gives them a sense of tranquility and calmness. The key may just be the mystery of it all.
AN ANCIENT TRADITION
The familiar Japanese garden was modeled after Chinese gardens that historically go back over two thousand years and contain a pond, trees, rocks, and plants: lots of green.
The first mention of a Dry Landscape Garden was found in an 11th century Japanese garden manual which stated, “A garden without a stream or pond where one arranges rocks.”
The oldest Dry Landscape Garden still in existence is found at the Ryoanji Zen Temple in Kyoto and was built around the year 1600. You have probably seen pictures of this garden in magazines.
COLORS AND CONTRAST
Traditionally these gardens contain grey to black stones with moss at their base and raked white gravel to give the impression of water and Islands. These Islands are where the immortal gods reside according to the ancient Shinto religion.
Our design is a little different. The 11th century garden manual also mentions that the garden should resemble a local scene in nature, so instead of black stones we used local Monzogranite that is so spectacular in Joshua Tree National Park.
Because white gravel would be too severe under our bright desert sun, we are using a light tan gravel called Barstow Gold. This achieves the proper contrast with the stones.
PRECISELY PLACED STONES
The stones have not been placed haphazardly, as there are many rules to be followed. Stones shall be placed in groups of 2, 3,or 5. The stones in the group and the groups themselves should form an approximate triangle. The total number of stones shall be of an odd number: 5, 7, 9, etc.
The master stone, usually the largest stone, is placed near the right or left edge near the center line of the garden, and dictates the total design. The stones of a group shall be of different sizes, placed at an uneven distance from each other and not in a straight line.
Whatever position the stones were found in nature must be replicated in the garden. A stone found horizontal or upright must be placed in that position, and stones must be natural and unaltered. It was believed that the spirit of the stone would be lost if these requirements are not met.
Another important aspect of the Japanese garden is what is called a “borrowed view,” the view beyond the garden. Our borrowed view is the magnificent Joshua Tree National Park.
DEDICATION OF THE GARDEN
On Sunday December 5, 2010, two monks from the Wat Santi Buddhist Forest Meditation Center in Landers helped dedicate the garden with chants and blessings. Approximately 50 people gathered for the dedication and blessing of the garden.
The garden – which was made possible by a generous anonymous donation – is open at all times for meditation and contemplation. The Huntington Library and Botanical Gardens in San Marino, California and the Japanese gardens in Portland, Oregon may be the only public gardens of this type in the U.S.
A few years ago an international workshop on the concept of Dry Landscape Gardens was presented at the Kyoto Institute of Technology. A lengthy paper was presented that stated, in part, “Traditional concepts in the garden aesthetic remain difficult or even impossible to articulate, perhaps since they are rooted so deeply in phenomenal awareness and intuition.” Another key point that was made: ” ….the visual percept on infinity is achieved with a finite, limited number of rocks.” It has been said that to a Zen Buddhist the stones are not as important as the space between the stones. A Karesansui is basically designed space. Many visitors find that the Meditation Garden gives them a sense of tranquility and calmness. The key may just be the mystery of it all.
AN ANCIENT TRADITION
The familiar Japanese garden was modeled after Chinese gardens that historically go back over two thousand years and contain a pond, trees, rocks, and plants: lots of green.
The first mention of a Dry Landscape Garden was found in an 11th century Japanese garden manual which stated, “A garden without a stream or pond where one arranges rocks.”
The oldest Dry Landscape Garden still in existence is found at the Ryoanji Zen Temple in Kyoto and was built around the year 1600. You have probably seen pictures of this garden in magazines.
COLORS AND CONTRAST
Traditionally these gardens contain grey to black stones with moss at their base and raked white gravel to give the impression of water and Islands. These Islands are where the immortal gods reside according to the ancient Shinto religion.
Our design is a little different. The 11th century garden manual also mentions that the garden should resemble a local scene in nature, so instead of black stones we used local Monzogranite that is so spectacular in Joshua Tree National Park.
Because white gravel would be too severe under our bright desert sun, we are using a light tan gravel called Barstow Gold. This achieves the proper contrast with the stones.
PRECISELY PLACED STONES
The stones have not been placed haphazardly, as there are many rules to be followed. Stones shall be placed in groups of 2, 3,or 5. The stones in the group and the groups themselves should form an approximate triangle. The total number of stones shall be of an odd number: 5, 7, 9, etc.
The master stone, usually the largest stone, is placed near the right or left edge near the center line of the garden, and dictates the total design. The stones of a group shall be of different sizes, placed at an uneven distance from each other and not in a straight line.
Whatever position the stones were found in nature must be replicated in the garden. A stone found horizontal or upright must be placed in that position, and stones must be natural and unaltered. It was believed that the spirit of the stone would be lost if these requirements are not met.
Another important aspect of the Japanese garden is what is called a “borrowed view,” the view beyond the garden. Our borrowed view is the magnificent Joshua Tree National Park.
DEDICATION OF THE GARDEN
On Sunday December 5, 2010, two monks from the Wat Santi Buddhist Forest Meditation Center in Landers helped dedicate the garden with chants and blessings. Approximately 50 people gathered for the dedication and blessing of the garden.
The garden – which was made possible by a generous anonymous donation – is open at all times for meditation and contemplation. The Huntington Library and Botanical Gardens in San Marino, California and the Japanese gardens in Portland, Oregon may be the only public gardens of this type in the U.S.