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Intimacy and unity with nature in the style of ancient Japan. DIY Japanese-style garden Miniature Japanese-style garden

A harmonious combination of human influence and natural elements is the goal of each park complex. This harmony is most fully reflected in the traditions of the Land of the Rising Sun, so the Japanese-style garden has survived centuries of change and is popular even today.

Deep into history

The first written sources in which the hieroglyph "field" (garden) is found date back to the eighth century AD. At first, this term meant a certain space, without natural or artificial fences. Later, man-made elements appeared - fences, pebbled paths, small architectural structures.

The concept of the Japanese garden is associated with painting. The stunning color schemes of the gardens of the Heian period coincided with the rise of the Yamato-e school. The appearance of Buddhist monasteries and temples fell on the era of samurai - pomp and decorativeness gave way to conciseness and monochrome, the era of a dry landscape has come.

The combination of the incongruous marked the so-called tea garden - another direction of Japanese garden art, which arose already in the 16th century.

Japanese garden - principles of style creation

Three pillars on which the park complexes of temples and palaces are based:

  • the indispensable combination of water and stone, symbolizing the masculine and feminine principles in Eastern philosophy;
  • naturalness of plants, stone blocks, decorative design;
  • asymmetry of the landscape with an emphasis on one or more individual details of the composition.

Additional conditions for the structure of the Japanese corner include the presence of an open area, the use of discreet, harmonious color shades.

Photo: landscape design of a summer cottage

Garden styles

In modern landscape design, there are four types of Japanese-style garden design. These variations are successfully used to organize the space.

  1. - a small part of the yard or house with an open roof.
  2. - a site with a minimum of plants. It is not difficult to create such a site, but the decorative design will be relatively small.
  3. . This landscape complex differs from the European park tradition familiar to us. A characteristic feature is the maximum use of natural plants and forms, as well as following the seasons.
  4. - characterized by the combination of two types of green spaces with different landscapes. In shady corners, there is certainly a pavilion - wabi, in which the tea ceremony takes place - tyanoy.

Let's consider each of these green corners in more detail and highlight the principles of their creation.

The garden appeared during the development of urban architecture of the early Middle Ages. The name itself speaks of the diminutiveness of the landscape composition - the word "tsubo" means a small area, 3.3 square meters. m.

Such a garden is located both in tiny areas of the courtyard in the open air and indoors.

Photo of a classic tsubo:

The main goal of laying out a miniature garden is to let light and nature into the limited urban space.. Plantings for a green corner are selected depending on the cardinal points. For example, sun-loving plants are not planted in the northern part, and moss compensates for the lack of flowers.

The territory of the tsubo is laid out with stones, leaving a small piece of land for planting. In the center of the composition there are several plants corresponding to the style of the building. The easiest way to create such a Japanese garden in a summer cottage is to install a tsukubai lantern, make paths from “flying stones” - tobiishi and harmoniously arrange several plants.

Users often search:

The lack of light is compensated by lamps, lanterns or an ingenious gallery of mirrors that saturate the boring walls of a city house with bright and warm sunlight. Decorative lighting will be a small touch that completes the composition of the tsubo.

This is a poetic interpretation of an archaic motif - the search for the islands of eternal youth and immortality. Ancient legends are reflected in the structure of the rock garden. Although landscape design does not pay enough attention to Japanese philosophy, it continues to use the age-old principles of building stone gardens.

For the Japanese, stone has never been a building material - only an object of worship and admiration. Echoes of the cult attitude to stone blocks are presented in the classical methods of arranging compositions. When creating an oriental design, boulders are placed in the following ways:

  • Mount Horai - one stone in the middle of the pond as a symbol of this distant peak.
  • Mount Xumi is a composition of three stones located in a reservoir or on a small hill.
  • The Three Jewels is a placement method based on Buddhist traditions.
  • Crane and turtle islands - repeat folk tales and legends in the landscape of the garden.

The Japanese attach great importance to the choice of stones. Since boulders are often used in groups, it is not the shape of a single object that is important, but the harmony of the composition. The design of the Japanese garden welcomes the inclusions of ancient stones covered with mosses and lichens, with rounded outlines. According to the beliefs of the Japanese, such blocks bring peace and harmony to the house, without them it is impossible to design a garden in the style of the Land of the Rising Sun.

When creating a composition, they adhere to clear principles for arranging stones. The difficulty lies in the correct placement of the main boulder crowning the entire landscape design. The remaining elements naturally frame the central boulder, creating miniature compositions symbolizing islands or mountain ranges. A Japanese-style garden gives vent to fantasy, but at the same time dictates its own rules.

It is not customary to place stones in an ascending or descending line - the Japanese do not like artificial symmetry. Do not combine river, mountain and sea stones in one composition.

In order for the boulders to stand steadily, they are dug in. To hide defects and chips, a low-growing shrub or grass is planted near the stone composition. Plants for the Japanese rock garden are selected in wild, modest color shades.

The appearance of this territory is the most familiar to the European view: open space, water flow and a lot of green spaces. Both evergreen and deciduous trees grow in shady corners - this is how the alternation of flowering of each seedling depending on the season is achieved.

A good addition to the trees is trimmed bushes of boxwood, rhododendron, cotoneaster, etc. Such plants, if necessary, hide the walls of houses, garbage containers or compost structures (if the garden is planned to be placed in the country). And vice versa, the decorated bushes serve as a natural frame for the view of the river bank or the endless field.

Of great importance in the garden of trees is given to decorative elements - hedges, bridges, lanterns, gates ... As a rule, internal barriers are made light and airy using a wooden picket fence or bamboo. But the external fences are made of stones and decorated with tiles.

Part of the traditional Japanese tea ceremony. Its main purpose is to create the necessary atmosphere of peace and tranquility. Its area is not large and imitates a fragment of the mountainous area where the eastern sages settled.

At the far end of the garden is the tea ceremony hut, the chashitsu. This is a small ascetic house, reminiscent of the dwelling of the sages. Both the appearance and the interior of this building are very concise. It is believed that this is the only way to achieve true harmony and tune in to contemplation.

The garden itself seems to prepare a person for the ceremony, being the boundary between the vain world and the territory of spirituality.

It is decorated in a restrained style close to nature. Plants and stones are arranged in a natural, as if chaotic order. Lighting should be weak, barely sufficient to see the path.

Lanterns - an indispensable attribute of the Japanese garden, are used both for decoration and for lighting the area. At first, decorative lamps were present only in tea gardens, but later they became the hallmark of any Japanese-style landscape design. As a rule, only one lantern is installed, made of stone. Pedestal models - tachigata - brightly illuminate the surrounding area. The luminous flux of hidden lanterns - ikekomigata - is directed downwards.

Photo: the bridge performs a decorative function

Bridges in a Japanese garden do not always serve as a crossing to the other side - rather, they are used as another design element. Unlike Chinese or European designs, the Japanese bridge is flat, sometimes not designed for walking at all. Extremely decorative is the Yatsuhashi bridge, built of eight elements - stones or wide boards.

The details of the structure are stacked in a zigzag, so it can be difficult to walk along it. Such bridges fit well into the landscape park, are installed over artificial ponds, hollows with wet ground or directly above the lawn.

Japanese gardens can tell a lot about the character of the inhabitants of the Land of the Rising Sun. And for Europeans, it is a magnificent combination of light, greenery, stone and water, a kind of door to understanding the culture and traditions of the East.

Video: miniature Japan on the site

A harmonious combination of human influence and natural elements is the goal of each park complex. This harmony is most fully reflected in the traditions of the Land of the Rising Sun, so the Japanese-style garden has survived centuries of change and is popular even today.

Deep into history

The first written sources in which the hieroglyph "field" (garden) is found date back to the eighth century AD. At first, this term meant a certain space, without natural or artificial fences. Later, man-made elements appeared - fences, pebbled paths, small architectural structures.

The concept of the Japanese garden is associated with painting. The stunning color schemes of the gardens of the Heian period coincided with the rise of the Yamato-e school. The appearance of Buddhist monasteries and temples fell on the era of samurai - pomp and decorativeness gave way to conciseness and monochrome, the era of a dry landscape has come.

The combination of the incongruous marked the so-called tea garden - another direction of Japanese garden art, which arose already in the 16th century.

Japanese garden - principles of style creation

Three pillars on which the park complexes of temples and palaces are based:

  • the indispensable combination of water and stone, symbolizing the masculine and feminine principles in Eastern philosophy;
  • naturalness of plants, stone blocks, decorative design;
  • asymmetry of the landscape with an emphasis on one or more individual details of the composition.

Additional conditions for the structure of the Japanese corner include the presence of an open area, the use of discreet, harmonious color shades.

Photo: landscape design of a summer cottage

Garden styles

In modern landscape design, there are four types of Japanese-style garden design. These variations are successfully used to organize the space.

  1. - a small part of the yard or house with an open roof.
  2. - a site with a minimum of plants. It is not difficult to create such a site, but the decorative design will be relatively small.
  3. . This landscape complex differs from the European park tradition familiar to us. A characteristic feature is the maximum use of natural plants and forms, as well as following the seasons.
  4. - characterized by the combination of two types of green spaces with different landscapes. In shady corners, there is certainly a pavilion - wabi, in which the tea ceremony takes place - tyanoy.

Let's consider each of these green corners in more detail and highlight the principles of their creation.

The garden appeared during the development of urban architecture of the early Middle Ages. The name itself speaks of the diminutiveness of the landscape composition - the word "tsubo" means a small area, 3.3 square meters. m.

Such a garden is located both in tiny areas of the courtyard in the open air and indoors.

Photo of a classic tsubo:

The main goal of laying out a miniature garden is to let light and nature into the limited urban space.. Plantings for a green corner are selected depending on the cardinal points. For example, sun-loving plants are not planted in the northern part, and moss compensates for the lack of flowers.

The territory of the tsubo is laid out with stones, leaving a small piece of land for planting. In the center of the composition there are several plants corresponding to the style of the building. The easiest way to create such a Japanese garden in a summer cottage is to install a tsukubai lantern, make paths from “flying stones” - tobiishi and harmoniously arrange several plants.

Users often search:

The lack of light is compensated by lamps, lanterns or an ingenious gallery of mirrors that saturate the boring walls of a city house with bright and warm sunlight. Decorative lighting will be a small touch that completes the composition of the tsubo.

This is a poetic interpretation of an archaic motif - the search for the islands of eternal youth and immortality. Ancient legends are reflected in the structure of the rock garden. Although landscape design does not pay enough attention to Japanese philosophy, it continues to use the age-old principles of building stone gardens.

For the Japanese, stone has never been a building material - only an object of worship and admiration. Echoes of the cult attitude to stone blocks are presented in the classical methods of arranging compositions. When creating an oriental design, boulders are placed in the following ways:

  • Mount Horai - one stone in the middle of the pond as a symbol of this distant peak.
  • Mount Xumi is a composition of three stones located in a reservoir or on a small hill.
  • The Three Jewels is a placement method based on Buddhist traditions.
  • Crane and turtle islands - repeat folk tales and legends in the landscape of the garden.

The Japanese attach great importance to the choice of stones. Since boulders are often used in groups, it is not the shape of a single object that is important, but the harmony of the composition. The design of the Japanese garden welcomes the inclusions of ancient stones covered with mosses and lichens, with rounded outlines. According to the beliefs of the Japanese, such blocks bring peace and harmony to the house, without them it is impossible to design a garden in the style of the Land of the Rising Sun.

When creating a composition, they adhere to clear principles for arranging stones. The difficulty lies in the correct placement of the main boulder crowning the entire landscape design. The remaining elements naturally frame the central boulder, creating miniature compositions symbolizing islands or mountain ranges. A Japanese-style garden gives vent to fantasy, but at the same time dictates its own rules.

It is not customary to place stones in an ascending or descending line - the Japanese do not like artificial symmetry. Do not combine river, mountain and sea stones in one composition.

In order for the boulders to stand steadily, they are dug in. To hide defects and chips, a low-growing shrub or grass is planted near the stone composition. Plants for the Japanese rock garden are selected in wild, modest color shades.

The appearance of this territory is the most familiar to the European view: open space, water flow and a lot of green spaces. Both evergreen and deciduous trees grow in shady corners - this is how the alternation of flowering of each seedling depending on the season is achieved.

A good addition to the trees is trimmed bushes of boxwood, rhododendron, cotoneaster, etc. Such plants, if necessary, hide the walls of houses, garbage containers or compost structures (if the garden is planned to be placed in the country). And vice versa, the decorated bushes serve as a natural frame for the view of the river bank or the endless field.

Of great importance in the garden of trees is given to decorative elements - hedges, bridges, lanterns, gates ... As a rule, internal barriers are made light and airy using a wooden picket fence or bamboo. But the external fences are made of stones and decorated with tiles.

Part of the traditional Japanese tea ceremony. Its main purpose is to create the necessary atmosphere of peace and tranquility. Its area is not large and imitates a fragment of the mountainous area where the eastern sages settled.

At the far end of the garden is the tea ceremony hut, the chashitsu. This is a small ascetic house, reminiscent of the dwelling of the sages. Both the appearance and the interior of this building are very concise. It is believed that this is the only way to achieve true harmony and tune in to contemplation.

The garden itself seems to prepare a person for the ceremony, being the boundary between the vain world and the territory of spirituality.

It is decorated in a restrained style close to nature. Plants and stones are arranged in a natural, as if chaotic order. Lighting should be weak, barely sufficient to see the path.

Lanterns - an indispensable attribute of the Japanese garden, are used both for decoration and for lighting the area. At first, decorative lamps were present only in tea gardens, but later they became the hallmark of any Japanese-style landscape design. As a rule, only one lantern is installed, made of stone. Pedestal models - tachigata - brightly illuminate the surrounding area. The luminous flux of hidden lanterns - ikekomigata - is directed downwards.

Photo: the bridge performs a decorative function

Bridges in a Japanese garden do not always serve as a crossing to the other side - rather, they are used as another design element. Unlike Chinese or European designs, the Japanese bridge is flat, sometimes not designed for walking at all. Extremely decorative is the Yatsuhashi bridge, built of eight elements - stones or wide boards.

The details of the structure are stacked in a zigzag, so it can be difficult to walk along it. Such bridges fit well into the landscape park, are installed over artificial ponds, hollows with wet ground or directly above the lawn.

Japanese gardens can tell a lot about the character of the inhabitants of the Land of the Rising Sun. And for Europeans, it is a magnificent combination of light, greenery, stone and water, a kind of door to understanding the culture and traditions of the East.

Video: miniature Japan on the site

Japanese garden in the country

If you are close to oriental motifs in the design of the garden, then for sure you will not be indifferent to the Japanese garden. If you dare to organize it on your site, then you will have a haven of peace and tranquility, where you can always hide from the bustle of the city.

Japanese garden in the country

However, in fairness, I admit that creating a real Japanese garden is quite an expensive pleasure. Therefore, you should not aim at large areas, you can simply organize a small corner, no more than 4-6 square meters, in your garden.

Japanese garden in the country - paths

Gardeners share two types of Japanese gardens - hilly and flat. You can choose between them in favor of the direction that best suits you according to the landscape of the site.

Japanese garden in the country - steps

The plain Japanese garden is located on a flat area, its entire composition is visible from any point in the garden. But a hilly garden can open differently from different points of view, in which the hills form the main part of the landscape.

Usually, five hills are arranged in a Japanese garden, one of which is higher than the surrounding ones. It symbolizes Mount Fuji, which the Japanese consider sacred.

Lantern in a Japanese garden

Five Principles of Japanese Garden Design

Use five fundamental principles when organizing a garden that will make it truly Japanese.

The first principle is the asymmetry of landscape design. This is the basis of the nature around us, from which the Japanese try to take all their design ideas.

Pond in a Japanese garden

The second principle is the absence of random details that will confuse the organization of the garden. Any element of the site must be placed meaningfully and carry a certain symbolism.

Pine tree in a Japanese garden

The third principle is that the plants and stones chosen for the garden should be discreet in color, but expressive. They should be chosen according to the shape, usually the elements of the Japanese garden have a clear, regular and slightly rounded structure. The arrangement of plants and stones should be contemplative.

The fourth principle is that usually the ground around the plants is either rammed or covered with fine gravel. In recent years, lawn grass has been planted, and the Japanese are trying to avoid large green lawns. They always have something stuck in the middle of the green carpet - a bush, a stone composition, etc.

The fifth principle - try not to compact the landings, leave some free space between all the elements. Stop yourself from wanting to make a lot of flower beds, flower beds and plant a lot of trees.

Trees in a Japanese garden

Selection of plants for the Japanese garden

The correct selection of trees and shrubs is especially important for the Japanese garden. Japan has a peculiar climate and many plants are simply not grown here. But there is adapted for Central Russia, which can be planted in a Japanese garden.

For example, the Japanese cherry tree, known to everyone for its beautiful flowering - sakura, can be replaced with an ornamental variety of plum, steppe almond or felt cherry.

Cold-hardy varieties can also beautify your Japanese garden. The Japanese maple, unfortunately, is not quite suitable for our climate, but instead of it you can plant a black elderberry with beautiful leaves and a crown shape.

Bonsai in a Japanese garden

A little about bonsai trees. Ready-made bonsai is not cheap, but you can grow it yourself, for example from pine. It is enough to pinch pine shoots every year and in 5-7 years you will have an elegant tree.

Most importantly, when you are faced with the choice of plants, remember that less is better. Leave more free space in the garden in order to emphasize the conciseness of the landscape.

Japanese garden space

Japanese garden video

We recently visited a real Japanese garden. In the Botanical Garden of Prague, in the Czech Republic, there is a corner of Japan. It's very beautiful and contemplative. I invite you to take a walk with us!

You can create a quiet corner for a relaxing holiday on the site with the help of Japanese-style landscape compositions, which are characterized by an abundance of green plants, gravel-covered areas and small ponds. Such compositions are becoming increasingly popular and are appropriate even in small areas.

In the garden, the project of which we present, you can think about the eternal, sitting on a bench hidden under sakura (small serrated cherry), or simply enjoy the rustle of bamboo leaves (fargesia umbellata). A narrow gravel path from the bench leads to the center of the site, where a flower garden is located on a hill. Sagina awl-shaped grows here, framed by azaleas with bright red flowers. All eyes in this garden are attracted by a bonsai-shaped mountain pine planted next to the bench. Next to it, right in front of the hedge of fargesia umbellata, which protects from prying eyes, hydrangeas are planted, charming in July-August with white inflorescences-caps. The company of hydrangeas is made up of xiphoid irises, growing in the coastal, flooded zone of the reservoir. Blooming flowers anemones of the Japanese hybrid variety Rosenschale announce the arrival of autumn. And two fan-shaped maples with dark purple leaves help create bright colorful spots.

A narrow lawn and shrubs look dull and colorless. To turn the site into a favorite place to relax, you need a clear plan for its arrangement, as well as a lot of new plants.

Small garden in Japanese style

1. Fargesia umbrella(Fargesia murielae) ‘Simba’: bamboo with bright green leaves and stems; a plant up to 2 m high and wide loves partial shade, moist air and does not form root offspring (!); height of seedlings 60-80 cm; 4 copies
2. large-leaved(Hydrangea macrophylla) ‘Lanarth White’: white umbellate inflorescences adorn the shrub almost all summer in July-August; the plant in height and width reaches 1.2 m; 2 copies
3. Cherry serrated(Prunus serrulata) ‘Kiku-shidare-zakura’: small tree with picturesque hanging shoots; double flowers bloom in abundance in spring before the leaves appear; a plant up to 5 m high puts up with almost any soil; the height of seedlings varies from 1.5 to 2 m; 1 copy
4. Sagina subulate(Sagina subulata): a moss-like plant forms a dense dense cover, which is strewn with small white star-flowers in June-July; perennial 5 cm high grows well both in sunny areas and in partial shade; 200 copies
5. Japanese anemone(Anemone japonica) hybrid variety ‘Rosenschale’: large pink cupped flowers with a dark edge adorn the plants in September; propagate perennials up to 80 cm high by dividing rhizomes; 10 copies
6. fan maple(Acer palmatum) ‘Dissectum Garnet’: undersized,
but a wide shrub up to 2 m high with dark purple carved leaves; it is best for the plant to allocate soil with good water permeability; seedlings 0.8-1 m high; 2 ind.
7. Azalea ‘Canzonetta’: bright red flowers up to 6 cm in diameter delight gardeners from late May to mid-June; in autumn, the leaves do not fall off, but acquire a bronze-green color; plant 30 cm high; 15 copies
8. mountain pine(Pinus mugo) 'Humpy' bonsai shaped: evergreen compact tree that needs regular pruning; crown diameter 60-80 cm; 1 copy
9. iris xiphoid(Iris ensata) ‘Variegata’: blue flowers bloom in June-July; perennial is also decorative due to variegated whitish-yellow-green leaves; a plant with a height of 30 to 60 cm is perfect for decorating a coastal, fairly humid zone of a reservoir; 7 copies
Colorful flower beds backwards
When it comes to rural gardens, most of us imagine lush flower beds of herbaceous perennials, annual flowers and ornamental shrubs, surrounded by low wooden fences.

In this variant of the design of the plot, plants typical of a rural garden that bloom in summer are used: peony, lupine and poppy. They are planted in two flower beds near the heavily growing flowerbed rose ‘Donauprinzessin’. It pleases with dark pink flowers several times during the summer. Roses and peonies look good together not only in a flower garden, but also in a vase. Among the luxurious star flowers, discreet evergreen boxwoods, shaped in the form of balls, are planted. Against the background of a picket fence painted in light blue, giant plants look impressive - uiTOK-po3a’Nigra’ with dark purple flowers, stately Chinese miscanthus and several sunflowers that can be grown from seeds on their own.

The flower beds are framed by the Cantabrigian geranium ‘Biokovo’, which has a compact shape and retains its green leaves even in winter. Leaves adorn the garden until the snow hides them. Countless small white flowers of Cantabrigian geranium bloom in June-July. A wide lawn path leads to a cozy seating area under a scab-resistant ‘Topaz’ apple tree. The apple tree plays the role of the main tree of the garden.

Making a flower garden in the backyard

1. sunflower annual(Helianthusannuus): self-grown seedlings; 10 copies
2. stem-rose(Alcea rosea) ‘Nigra’: dark purple flowers adorn the biennial in July-August; the plant prefers sunny areas, nutrient-rich soils and is able to propagate by self-sowing; 12 copies
3. Deutsia kalimnetsvetkovy(Deutzia x kalmiiftora): ornamental shrub
with arched hanging shoots; in June, dense clusters of white-pink flowers appear on a plant up to 1.5 m high; 2 copies
4. Apple tree ‘Topaz‘: a medium-sized tree that bears sweet-sour fruits with red-orange stripes in September; the variety is relatively undemanding to growing conditions and is resistant to diseases such as scab; 1 copy
5. Miscanthus sinensis(Miscanthus sinensis) ‘Silberteder’: an ornamental grass with arcuate hanging leaves;
in September, inflorescences of a luxurious silver color appear; plant 2 m high; 4 copies
6. Lupine (Lupinus) ‘Kastellan’: fragrant flowers of a combined white and blue color bloom in June-July; flowers are excellent cut; herbaceous perennial ideal for rustic gardens; pruning after the first flowering promotes the formation of new flowers in late summer; plant 80 cm high; 15 copies

On a note:

In all its glory, lupine appears at the end of June, when numerous, butterfly-like flowers begin to bloom at the bottom of long peduncles. To significantly extend this wonderful period, regularly cut off fading flowers in inflorescences before seeds are formed. Then new shoots will grow in the lupine and inflorescences will form, which will bloom in August. This plant prefers a sunny position and thrives in slightly acid to neutral soil with good water permeability.

7. Geranium cantabrigiana(Geranium xcantabrigiense) ‘Biokovo’: fragrant white flowers appear in June-July; a plant 20 cm high has wintering leaves; 50 copies
8. Flower bed rose ‘Donauprinzessir’: dark pink double flowers are formed several times a season; flowers are well cut; plant up to 90 cm high; 4 copies
9. Boxwood evergreen(Buxus sempervirens): ball-shaped shrub that needs regular pruning; plant 25-30 cm high; 3 copies Yu Mak oriental (Papaver orientale) ‘Lauffeuer’: plants of this variety do not need to be tied up, because the shoots do not fall apart; light red flowers bloom in June and do not fade for a long time; plant 50 cm high; soon after flowering leaves and stems die off;
10 copies
10. Paeonia lactiflora 'Sarah Bernhardt': Terry light pink fragrant flowers adorn the herbaceous perennial in June; so that the flower stems do not fall to the ground, substitute supports for them; plant 1 m high; 3 copies

Japan is a country with unusual traditions and original culture. One can talk for hours about the ceremonies and customs of this great people. Nothing is created here just like that, each creation, whether it be simple origami or ikebana, has a whole prehistory of appearance and necessarily its own philosophy of execution. A person is arranged in such a way that everything unusual attracts his attention, so Japanese motifs quickly and firmly settled in American and European interiors. And if the internal delights are not always available for viewing, then the Japanese-style garden, laid out in the open space of the estate, will not let you pass by without looking at its peaceful beauty. Sometimes it is difficult to cope with the desire to push the gate, sit on a stone bench and immerse yourself in thoughts about the eternal.

The history of the origin of the Japanese garden

The formation of the style of the Japanese garden began in the distant X-XI centuries and lasted almost five hundred years. During this period, certain canons were developed, which landscape designers certainly adhere to today. Since Japan is located in a difficult climatic zone and has a difficult terrain, the gardens turned out to be very unusual. The fact is that their basis is not trees at all, as many imagine, but ... stones. Plants, on the other hand, were added to its territory in minimal quantities, or they were completely dispensed with. Japanese-style gardens in front of the Mikado Palace and in the ancient monasteries of the country can be called a real work of art. In their space one can feel the breath of epochs. When the Europeans were first lucky enough to see these unusual creations, they really wanted to recreate something similar in their homeland. For this, Japanese masters were initially ordered and spared no expense for the delivery of original materials. Today, such landscapes are no longer a curiosity and can only cause genuine delight with the originality of execution.

Japanese style garden concept

The main feature of the Japanese garden style is the deep inner harmony generated by unity with nature. When creating such a landscape, one should not strive for symmetry, because it serves as a sign of unnaturalness and demonstrates the impact on human nature. The main elements used in the design are:

  1. Stones.
  2. Water.
  3. Plants.

When laying out a garden, it is very important to observe the harmony of the elements. Japanese craftsmen consider stones to be the skeleton of the garden, and water to be its blood. They prefer to give the composition a complete look, widely using secondary elements, in the list of which:

  1. Bamboo fences.
  2. Bridges.
  3. Arbors.
  4. Lanterns.
  5. Gates.
  6. Bells.

These small architectural forms often play the role of highlights and bring real comfort to the overall atmosphere. Under the conditions of our climate, it is rational to saturate the landscape with a large number of plants characteristic of a particular natural zone, because Asian exotics simply do not survive in the temperate zone. When creating reservoirs, they tend to avoid making them the correct shape. Their outlines always have smooth and, most importantly, natural curves. Only in this case they will be able to convey the energy of tranquility and peace. It is correct to replace the artsy fountains in the Japanese-style garden with small waterfalls, but if there is an irresistible desire to decorate it with a fountain, then by no means pretentious, otherwise the idyll of naturalness will be violated. In gardens of a modest area, large elements in the form of boulders, immense trees and massive benches are not used. Will not tolerate such a design and a riot of colors. In the Japanese style, green color prevails, and the rest of the spectrum can be present only in the form of small dotted inclusions in a minimal amount.

Music of the stones of the Japanese garden

In the traditional interpretation, the stones are laid out diagonally, starting from the left corner of the allocated space.

The Japanese garden is often called the Rock Garden because it is these natural elements that form its structure and remind people of strength and resilience. Composing them into a composition is not an easy art. In the traditional interpretation, the stones are laid out diagonally, starting from the left corner of the allocated area. The number of stones used must be odd. The composition certainly uses raw stones of various shades. Over the years, they will become overgrown with moss and merge even more harmoniously with the natural landscape. It is customary to plant plants around the stones. A Japanese-style garden composition may contain groups of stones, where boulders are laid out mixed with small elements. Sculptures made of polished and painted stone in a calm color will fit well into the structure of the garden. But perhaps the most favorite part of such a garden will be the winding paths of assorted stones, because walking along them is an indescribable pleasure.

The life-giving energy of water

It is impossible to set up a Japanese garden without such an attribute as water. Only fountains and ponds, waterfalls and streams can fill the space with movement and volume. A bridge is certainly erected over the water surface. Do not be discouraged if the conditions do not allow you to equip even the simplest alpine hill. The absence of a lake will perfectly replace a dry stream. Its formed channel is laid out with smooth pebbles with glitter or gravel, and if the accents are correctly distributed, a real feeling of the presence of water is created. Water-loving plants planted along the banks will help to give greater naturalness to the landscape.

Plants for the Japanese garden

A selection of plants for a Japanese-style garden is performed according to the principle of a wave. This means that in any season in such a landscape there should be something to admire. In the warm season, one flowering group of plants should immediately be replaced by a new flowering site. Since the essence of the Japanese garden is to recreate the world in miniature, its landscape cannot do without undersized plants like juniper, rhododendron, dwarf firs, Karelian birch. They are combined with powerful giants - elms, oaks, pines. You can saturate the space with fruit trees, which will give incredible aesthetic pleasure at the time of flowering. Apricots, cherries, plums are quite capable of replacing Japanese sakura with the beauty of their flowers. As for herbaceous plants, large-leaved species will look more advantageous in a Japanese garden. It can be:

  1. Fern.
  2. host.
  3. Rogersia.
  4. Chrysanthemums.

You can not ignore the traditional Asian bamboo and bonsai. Moreover, the latter can be entered into the design right in the pots.

Decorative romance of the garden

The best decorative elements of a Japanese-style garden will be stone sculptures and miniature pagodas made of stone or wood. Along the alleys you can put low lanterns and neat stone benches. Hang iridescent bells on the trees, perfectly repeating the song of the wind and bringing peace. The main thing is not to overdo it with man-made materials, otherwise the garden will lose its semantic meaning.

Bridges in Japanese philosophy

For most of us, a bridge is a structure designed to move over an obstacle. In gardens created in the Japanese style, this is only a decorative element that carries a semantic load. In this landscape, bridges symbolize the path of life. As usual, they are made of valuable wood, which is distinguished by the brightness of its color. Such bridges can be decorated with stones, randomly spreading them along a curved path. A path of small, oblong-shaped stones leading to the bridge will make his presence even more organic. On the sides of such an alley, it is advisable to break numerous small flower beds. Standing on such a bridge, it is impossible to refrain from thinking about the meaning of life.

Relief variety of Japanese gardens

Equipping spacious areas for the samurai philosophy is not a problem. There is where to roam. But is it really possible to carry out a modern design of a summer cottage in this style? Quite! Professional designers can lay out a modest Japanese-style garden in a flat and hilly way. The creation of planar compositions will require sand, small stones and moss. The garden of Reanlsey is made in this way. The raked sand symbolizes the sea waves and the vast water area, along the perimeter of which moss is randomly spread out and stones are randomly scattered. In hilly terrain, greenery can be omitted. Mountains, sand, pebbles and structural stones will help create a good landscape - the main thing here is to arrange everything correctly. An elongated boulder with a vertical installation will symbolize a mountain peak, and flat cobblestones paved around - its slopes. Pebbles and sand are used to reproduce the illusion of the presence of a body of water.

Features of landscape lighting

You can understand the essence of the art of creating a Japanese-style garden only by immersing yourself in its atmosphere.

A Japanese-style garden will never be complete without thoughtful lighting. In large gardens, tachi-gata will certainly be used. These lanterns are from one and a half to three meters high and can illuminate large areas. Near the tsukubai, you can often find hidden-type lanterns - ikekomi-gata. Their light is directed downwards, which allows you to maintain an atmosphere of twilight and mystery. The contour of the ponds is marked with tiny oki-gata, and yakimi-gata can be installed near other bodies of water.

You can understand the essence of the art of creating a Japanese-style garden only by immersing yourself in its atmosphere. In Russia, this can be done in the Main Botanical Garden. A corner of Japan here was reproduced in 1987, listed as a kind of tea garden, and has a special atmosphere that is nice to plunge into in any season. Walking along it, a person spiritually prepares for the tea ceremony.

Japanese style garden

Conclusion

The process of creating a Japanese garden, although notable for its considerable complexity, is still incredibly exciting. It is clear that our conditions do not allow us to recreate an ideal garden in the Japanese style, reflecting all national canons, but you can try to get closer to the original. If you have a goal and time, then you may well be able to express your worldview in stone and water, as well as show the whole depth of the Slavic soul. When laying out the stones, listen to your heart, and then the corner of the Land of the Rising Sun will become not only a real decoration of your site, but also a great place to relax.

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