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Japanese gardens ( Kanji 日本庭園, nihon teien) in the tradition of Japan can be found at private homes, in neighborhood or city parks, at Buddhist Temple s or Shinto Shrine s, and at historical Landmark s such as old Castle s. Many of the Japanese gardens most famous in the West, and within Japan as well, are Zen Garden s. The tradition of the Tea Master s has produced highly refined Japanese gardens of quite another style, evoking rural simplicity.

Typical Japanese gardens contain several of these elements, real or symbolic:

  • Water

  • An island

  • A bridge to the island

  • A lantern, typically of stone

  • A teahouse or pavilion


Japanese gardens might fall into one of these styles:

  • Strolling gardens, for viewing from a path

  • Sitting gardens, for contemplating from one place, such as the tiny ''tsuboniwa'' found in '' Machiya '' (traditional wooden townhouses).



Many or sand. Rocks chosen for their intriguing shapes and patterns, mosses, and low shrubs typify the ''karesansui'' style. The garden at Ryōan-ji , a temple in Kyoto , is particularly renowned.

Other gardens also use similar rocks for decoration. Some of these come from distant parts of Japan. In addition, Bamboo s and related plants, evergreens including Japanese Black Pine , and such deciduous trees as Maple s grow above a carpet of Fern s and Moss es.

''Shakkei'' (借景), "borrowed scenery," is a technique Japanese gardeners use to make a small garden seem more spacious. By judiciously planting shrubs to block the view of nearby structures, they encourage the viewer to look up toward the mountains, and to think of them as part of the garden.


NOTEWORTHY JAPANESE GARDENS


In Japan

In the United States
, near Kumamoto Castle ]]

In Australia


In Canada


See also



External links