Traditional Japanese

Gardenes
• The Japanese garden is designed to be a
representation of nature and to impart a sense of
simple, unspoiled beauty.
• Its style therefore contrasts with that of a Western
garden, which relies on shaping nature into a kind
of geometric beauty.
Hira-niwa (flat gardens)
During the Heian period (794–1185)

• Flat Gardens, or Hira-niwa, Are Constructed Without Hills or

Water.
• The flat areas in the foreground are usually made of gravel,
sometimes sand or pebbles also, that symbolize water and
movement
• The key point to this style of Japanese garden composition
is balancing the flat horizontal plane with the upright volume
of pruned shrubs and trees, rocks, and other garden
ornaments.
• The designer is aiming to create layers of depth, which has
a lot to do with the Japanese concept of Ma, or spatial design
• The Ground Is Usually Covered With Pebbles, Raked in Circles and
Straight Lines to Give the Impression of Ripples.
• Hira-Niwa flat gardens were originally more of a residential garden and
could also be seen next to temple residence halls
• These Gardens Contain Stones, Trees, Stone
Lanterns and Wells and Are Representative of the
Seaside or of Grand Lakes.
• Carefully Selected and Placed Groups of Stones
Symbolize Islands; Sometimes a Waterfall Is
Suggested by Upright Oblong Stones.
• most often found in Buddhist temples as objects of
contemplation.
• The Garden Design Is Very Subtle; Stone Placement
Oftentimes Suggests Far off Lands and Mystical
Locales.
• For this time period (Edo Period, 17th – 18th
centuries)
• Many Modern Flat Gardens Have Wells and Stone
Lanterns.

The wells usually have a purpose in these gardens:

purification of those who wish to observe the
gardens.
CHARACTERS
• Horizontal plane

• Upright volume of
Shrubs and trees

• garden is that it is often

seen from one viewing point
Elements
• Stones
• Stone lanterns
• Water basins
(oblong)
• Wells
Tsukiyama (hill gardens)
• Tsukiyama-sansui, means hills and water:
Tsukiyama refers to the creation of artificial hills.
• This Garden Is Like a Three-dimensional Picture.

• Traditional Gardens Were Viewed From Only One

Point, Modern Gardens Are Designed With Winding
Paths to Fully Display the Garden Paths Are
Carefully Made of Selected Flat Stones.
• Hills, ponds, streams, stones, bridges, flowers,
plants and long winding paths can all be found in a
Hill Garden, with the aim to facilitate a peaceful
stroll
• Water Is Important and Nearly Every Garden
Contains a Waterfall and a Pond. Waterfalls Are an
Essential to Direct Water Down the Hill and Provide
Great Symbolism.
• The Islands Have Are Rocks As Their Base and Dirt
Piled Neatly on Top for Plants to Grow.
• Sometimes a Garden Designer Includes a Bridge to
an Island. If So, There Is Often a Stone Lantern or
Other Worship Object.
• This Type of Layout Is Designed to Give the
Appearance of Great Distance and Expansiveness,
As If the Whole World Were Contained in This
Garden.
• Some Suggest This Is Because There Is So Little
Space in Japan.
• A More Philosophical View Is the Creators of These
Gardens are Presenting the Essence of Nature
Reduced Its Essential Components.