View source for Japanese garden

[[Image:04. Japanese Garden, Cowra, NSW, 22.09.2006.jpg|thumb|right|250px|This view from the Symbolic Mountain Lookout in [[Cowra, New South Wales|Cowra, NSW]] shows many of the typical elements of a Japanese garden]]
[[Image:Rikugien5.jpg|250px|thumb|right|Stone lantern amid plants. The shape of the roof will trap and hold a picturesque cap of snow.]]
[[Image:TofukujiGarden1.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Karesansui garden at Tōfuku-ji in Kyoto]]
[[Image:ErinjiGarden.jpg|thumb|250px|right|This garden has an abundance of plants, including seasonal flowers.]]

'''Japanese gardens''' ([[Kanji]] 日本庭園, nihon teien), i.e. gardens in traditional Japanese style, can be found at private homes, in neighborhood or city parks, at [[Buddhist]] [[temple]]s or [[Jinja (shrine)|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 dry gardens or [[Japanese rock garden|rock garden]]s, ''karesansui''. The tradition of the [[Tea ceremony|Tea master]]s has produced highly refined Japanese gardens of quite another style, evoking rural simplicity. Japanese gardens have also been imitated in Western gardening. 

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:

* Pond gardens, for viewing from a boat.
* Sitting gardens, for viewing from inside a building or on a veranda.
* Tea gardens, for viewing from a path which leads to a tea ceremony hut.
* Strolling gardens, for viewing from a path which circumnavigates the garden.

The ''karesansui'' (or ''karesenzui'', ''kosansui'', ''kosensui'' 枯山水: "dry landscape") style originate from [[zen]] temples. These have no water and few plants, but typically evoke a feeling of water using pebbles and meticulously raked [[gravel]] 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, Kyoto|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, [[niwaki|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 used to integrate the garden with mountains, buildings, or other objects outside its boundaries.  A middleground element, often carefully maintained plantings, blocks unwanted elements and frames the desired view.  This middleground integrates the "borrowed" view into the garden's design. The viewer is encouraged to see all three areas - foreground, middleground, and background - as a single garden.

== The Use of Stones, Water, and Plantings in Japanese gardens ==
[[Image:stone_lantern_madeira_jg.jpg|thumb|250px|left|Stone lanterns in ''Monte Palace [[Tropical Garden]]'' on Madeira]]
Though often thought of as tranquil sanctuaries that allow individuals to escape from the stresses of daily life, Japanese gardens are designed for a variety of purposes.  Most gardens invite quiet contemplation, but may have also been intended for recreation, the display of rare plant specimens, or the exhibition of unusual rocks.
 
Kaiyu-shiki or Strolling Gardens require the observer to walk through the garden to fully appreciate it.  A premeditated path takes observers through each unique area of a Japanese garden.  Uneven surfaces are placed in specific spaces to prompt people to look down at particular points.  When the observer looks up, they will see an eye-catching ornamentation--this type of design is known as the Japanese landscape principle of "hide and reveal" -- which is intended to enlighten and revive the spirit of the observer.

Japanese legend attests that stones are actual beings with spirits that need to be treated with reverence.  Stones are used to construct the garden's paths, bridges, and walkways.  Stones also represent mountains where actual mountains are not viewable or present.  They are always placed in odd numbers and a majority of the groupings reflect triangular shapes.

[[Image:02. Japanese Garden, Cowra, NSW, 22.09.2006.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Japanese Garden in [[Cowra, New South Wales|Cowra, NSW]] showing the use of stone, water and plants]]
A water source in a Japanese garden should appear to be part of the natural surroundings; this is why one will not find fountains in traditional gardens.  Man-made streams are built with curves and irregularities to create a serene and natural appearance.  Lanterns are often placed beside some of the most prominent water basins (either a pond or a stream) in a garden representing the female and the male elements of water and fire.  In Japanese tradition this is known as yin and yang.  In some gardens one will find a dry pond or stream.  Dry ponds and streams have as much impact as do the ones filled with water.

Green plants are the third element of Japanese gardens.  Japanese traditions prefer minimal color so the use of flowers is generally parsimonious.  Plants with colorful blooms are mostly used near a garden's entrance.  Many plants in imitated Japanese gardens of the West are indigenous to Japan, though some sacrifices must be made to account for the differentiating climates.  Some plants, such as sugar maple and firebush, give the garden a palet of color on a seasonal basis.

== Noteworthy Japanese gardens ==
===In Japan===
[[Image:HosokawaGyobuTei.jpg|thumb|250px|right|A spacious Japanese garden: [[Hosokawa Gyobu Tei]], near [[Kumamoto Castle]]]]
[[Image:03. Japanese Garden, Cowra, NSW, 22.09.2006.jpg|thumb|right|250px|An egret rests on a stone lantern in the upper lake of the Japanese Garden in [[Cowra, New South Wales|Cowra, NSW, Australia]]]]
[[Image:Rikugien3.jpg|thumb|250px|right|A kaiyu-shiki or strolling garden]]

The [[Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (Japan)|Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology]] of the government of [[Japan]] designates the most notable of the nation's scenic beauty as '''Special Places of Scenic Beauty''', under the [[Law for the Protection of Cultural Properties]]. As of March 1, 2007, 29 sites are listed, more than a half of which are Japanese gardens, as below; 

* [[Tohoku Region]]
** Ruins of [[Mōtsū-ji]] Garden ([[Hiraizumi, Iwate]])
* [[Kanto Region]]
** [[Rikugi-en]]  ([[Bunkyo, Tokyo]])
** [[Koishikawa Korakuen Garden]]  ([[Bunkyo, Tokyo]])
** Kyu [[Hamarikyu Gardens]]  ([[Chuo, Tokyo]])
* [[Chūbu region]]
** [[Kenroku-en]]  ([[Kanazawa, Ishikawa]])
** The garden of [[Ichijōdani Asakura Family Historic Ruins]]  ([[Fukui, Fukui]])
* [[Kansai Region]]
** '''[[Ginkaku-ji|Jisho-ji]] Garden ([[Kyoto, Kyoto]])'''
** '''[[Nijō Castle]] Ninomaru Garden ([[Kyoto, Kyoto]])'''
** '''[[Rokuon-ji]] Garden ([[Kyoto, Kyoto]])'''
** '''[[Ryōan-ji]] Garden ([[Kyoto, Kyoto]])'''
** '''[[Tenryu-ji]] Garden ([[Kyoto, Kyoto]])'''
** '''The garden of Daishoin in Nishi [[Hongan-ji]] ([[Kyoto, Kyoto]])'''
** '''The garden of Sanbōin in [[Daigo-ji]] ([[Kyoto, Kyoto]])'''
** '''The [[moss]] garden of [[Saihō-ji]] (the "Moss Temple") ([[Kyoto, Kyoto]])'''
** [[Daitoku-ji]] Garden ([[Kyoto, Kyoto]])
** Ruins of [[Kongōhōin]] Garden ([[Kyoto, Kyoto]])
** The garden of [[Daisenin]] in [[Daitoku-ji]]  ([[Kyoto, Kyoto]])
** The garden of Konchiin in [[Nanzen-ji]] ([[Kyoto, Kyoto]])
** [[Jōruri-ji]] Garden ([[Kizugawa, Kyoto]])
** The garden of Sakyō-Sanjō-Nibō-no-Miya in [[Heijō Kyō|Heijō-kyō]] ([[Nara, Nara]])
* [[Chūgoku region]]
** [[Koraku-en|Kōraku-en]] ([[Okayama, Okayama]])
* [[Shikoku]] Region
** [[Ritsurin Park]] ([[Takamatsu, Kagawa]])
* [[Ryūkyū Islands]]
** '''[[Shikina-en]] ([[Naha, Okinawa]])'''

('''Bold faces''' specify World Heritage sites.)

===In other countries===
====Argentina====
*The [[Buenos Aires Japanese Garden]] ([[Jardín Japonés de Buenos Aires]] http://www.jardinjapones.org.ar/portada.htm), of the [[Fundación Cultural Argentino Japonesa]] [http://www.jardinjapones.org.ar/fundacion.htm].

====Australia====
*[[Cowra, New South Wales#Japanese Garden|Cowra Japanese Garden]], [[Cowra, New South Wales]]
*[http://www.japaneselifestyle.com.au/garden/japanese_garden_frankston_hs.html Frankston High School]
*[[Himeji Gardens, Adelaide]]
*[http://www.japaneselifestyle.com.au/garden/garden.html Melbourne Zoo]
*[[Brisbane Botanic Gardens, Mount Coot-tha#Japanese Garden|"Tsuki-yama-chisen" Japanese Garden]], Brisbane

====Canada====
*[[Nitobe Memorial Garden]], [[Vancouver]], [[British Columbia]]

====England====
*[[Dartington Hall]], [[Devon]]
*[[Harewood House]], [[Leeds]]
*[[Holland Park]], [[London]]
*[[Tatton Park]], [[Cheshire]]
*[[School of Oriental and African Studies]], [[London]]

====Ireland====
* The [http://www.irish-national-stud.ie/japanese.html Japanese Gardens] at the Irish National Stud, [[Kildare]], [[Co. Kildare]]

====Scotland====
*[[Lauriston Castle]], [[Edinburgh]]—garden opened 2002

====United States of America====
*[[Anderson Japanese Gardens]] ([[Rockford, Illinois]]) 
*[[Chicago Botanic Garden]] ([[Glencoe, Illinois]]) 
*[[Fort Worth Japanese Garden]] at the [[Fort Worth Botanic Garden]] ([[Fort Worth, Texas]])
*[[Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden]] at [[Long Beach State]]
*[[Hakone Gardens]] ([[Saratoga, California]])
*[[The Huntington]], [[San Marino]], [[California]].
*[[Japanese tea garden at Golden Gate Park|Japanese Tea Garden]] at [[Golden Gate Park]] ([[San Francisco, California]])
*[[Portland Japanese Garden]], [[Portland, Oregon]] 
*[[Ro Ho En|Japanese Friendship Garden]] ([[Phoenix, Arizona]])
*[[Roji-en Japanese Gardens]] at the [[Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens]] ([[Delray Beach, Florida]])
*[[San Antonio Japanese Tea Gardens]] ([[San Antonio, Texas]])
*[[Seattle Japanese Garden]] at the [[Washington Park Arboretum]], [[Kubota Garden]] ([[Seattle, Washington]])
*[[Seiwa-en]] at the [[Missouri Botanical Garden]] ([[St. Louis, Missouri]])

==See also==
{{commonscat|Japanese garden}}
{{commonscat|Gardens of Japan}}
* [[Japanese Friendship Garden]]
* [[Tea garden]]
* [[Chinese garden]]
* [[Korean gardens]]
* [[Niwaki]]
* [[Koi]]

==External links==
*[http://www.lcv.ne.jp/~oguteien/index2.html Japan - Oguchi Teien Green Exterior]
*[http://www.jgarden.org/ Jgarden — Japanese Garden Database] 
*[http://www.mojg.org/ Meditations on the Japanese Garden]
*[http://www.tokyo-gardens.com/ Paradise - The Gardens of Tokyo : a portfolio of photographs by Tim Porter]
*[http://www.aboutjapanesegardens.org/ About Japanese gardens: Pictures and links]
*[http://www.discover-indo.tierranet.com/japanart004.htm Art & Culture of Japan:Japanese gardens with Pictures]

[[Category:Japanese gardens| ]]
[[Category:Japanese style of gardening| ]]