In Kyoto I saw a number of Zen temple gardens and jotted down some commonalities which may be useful in the construction of a Zen garden. The gardens I visited were of immense history and place and I couldn’t help feeling awed to be in their presence. My comments may be useful for that weekend gardener wanting something of Zen [...]
“Maybe Zen is separate from nature. I think so. Zen seems to want to capture nature and not let go. Nature sits out there and Zen comes to meet with it. Knowing nature will respond with her secrets freely given and Zen aware these secrets are given accepting they will be cherished, respected and obeyed. The laws of nature cannot [...]
No doubt travel broadens the mind. Visiting temple gardens in Kyoto in March 2008 was initially confusing because I couldn’t work out if the site was Yin or Yang. This could be a lifetime study. I’ll have to do some more traveling. What an excuse!! In March, the gardens appear dormant and I suggest in their Yin phase influenced predominantly [...]
A great attribute of the Japanese stroll garden is the versatility in material use and construction detail of the walking pathway. I should know, I’ve recently ‘’strolled’’ within 34 of them in Kyoto. I consider the construction detail of the pathway contributes greatly to the stroll garden experience. The pathway leads the body along its route and guides the eye [...]
A pleasant Sunday was spent wandering the streets and lanes of Gion in Kyoto, Japan and viewing temples such as Kiyomizu Temple and the quaint Entouin Temple and of course viewing gardens seen along the way. The Japanese and their families enjoying and I think they love Sunday, the Temples, lunch and the street life. I was feeling jealous of [...]
You can’t see the whole garden of the temple from any point at any one time and if you could you can’t see the 15 stones at any one time. Some say the composition of materials tells the story of a tiger leading her cubs across a stream. But whatever the appeal and attraction, the Ryoan-Ji Temple Garden of Kyoto [...]
Mosses evoke a sense of permanence and fragility about the garden environment and when displayed as a broad carpet, provoke uninterrupted focus onto individual plants, stones and symbolic features. Yeah but, isn’t that what they are supposed to do!! We tend to treat their presence as a left over feature in the design, but are they? In many Japanese Gardens [...]
I’m sure maintaining a Japanese garden is a necessary evil and necessary evil for any garden. I hope so, because you either thrive on carrying it out or loath it. In the Arashiyama District of Kyoto in Japan, I visited a couple temple gardens in need of maintenance. Maybe they were off the tourist routes and had other demands on [...]
Life, health and flow….. I’ve heard of these three essentials before and having all three definitely helps create the perfect garden. But the Ryoan-ji Temple garden in Kyoto takes the cake where 15 stones are set within a sea of pebble. No other intrusion and this garden promote life, health and flow. It’s probably the essential garden to base gardens [...]
My first experience visiting a Kyoto temple stroll garden was the Sento Imperial Palace with myself and about 30 other non English speaking people being led by a Japanese speaking guide (I inadvertently took the non English guided walk). He motioned with his hand to follow and turned left then continued on a loop around the central focus (pondage) returning [...]