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We owe it to centuries of Japanese culture. Consider the additional concepts of wabi-sabi and kintsugi that have helped Westerners appreciate the beauty of imperfection. Japan introduced delicious edible offerings to foodies everywhere: sushi and ramen, of course, but also tonkatsu, okonomiyaki, matcha, and onigiri.
Another gift that Japan has given to people all over the world is Zen Buddhism. We will leave the debate on its definition - is it a religion, a philosophy, a practice, a way of life, all of that? - For another time. Today we will focus on the Zen aesthetic, which is simplicity, beauty, peace and unity with nature. Organizational expert Marie Kondo helped transform our interiors into hallowed minimalist spaces; Now, zen-inspired garden design ideas offer a similar service to our outdoor spaces.
1. Sand shovel
Karenagare , or washed sand, is a popular creation of Zen gardens. This is largely because office zen sand gardens, complete with a shallow tray, lots of sand, maybe a few small rocks, and a miniature rake, graced many executive offices in the '90s.
White sand is traditional, but gravel is also suitable. Xeroscape is a formless landscape material that makes sense in any space. Incorporating subtle patterns into the sand or gravel in your zen garden can produce surprisingly impressive results. The collection process is also a moving meditation.
Try stepping on the sand to create wavy lines that will symbolize and remind you of water and its movement. Or create a geometric pattern and flatten the sand into straight lines to enclose a flower bed or sculptural bouquet.
2. Mountains of gravel
That Japanese poetry is in a giant pile of sand. Kyoto's Silver Palace, an ancient temple and garden that attracts tourists from far and wide, has such an appeal. This perfect cone of sand is more than 6 meters high and looks like the reflection of the full moon in a pond at night. This is where the name Kogetsudai comes from, meaning "moon viewing platform".
Recreate the elevation of this tall house with sand, gravel, or small rocks to draw attention to your yard (although you can build your moon viewing deck a bit smaller than original).
3. Dry waterfalls
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A dry waterfall is a contradiction in terms, but not in semantics. A beautiful composition of stones, gravel and sand - caretaki - creates the illusion of water. It's a perfect focal point if your garden has a gentle slope, but even if your lawn is flat you can use large stones to create a contrasting height where the 'water' 'flows' down.
4. Fish friends
Like adult goldfish, large, brightly colored koi are both fascinating and soothing to the eye. But unlike their carnival cousins, koi and the pond they inhabit require a lot of attention and care. To add these wonderful creatures to your Japanese-style garden, start by learning how to build a pond in your garden. Take your time to learn about the great varieties of koi and how to care for them. Sure, carp ponds are hard to maintain, but they're worth it to make a spectacular centerpiece to your zen garden.
5. Trim trees carefully
The zen garden is not as dependent on plants as most western gardens. But that does not mean that there is no vegetation. In fact, the carefully trimmed trees and shrubs speak of symmetry, order, and simplicity without clutter. While bonsai trees, by definition, are planted in containers to be artificially small, even trees that grow straight out of the ground can be manipulated to display a certain aesthetic, so fire up those hedge trimmers.
Don't worry if you don't like pruning branches: cherry trees are a great shortcut if you want to evoke that classic Japanese spring feeling. They are also not difficult to grow, although for the most success you will need to find a variety that is either indigenous or suitable for your growing area.
6. Mini-bridge
Zen Buddhism is based on metaphors and symbols, and one of the most beloved metaphors in its philosophy is the bridge metaphor. Bridges do much more than provide dry passage over a body of water. They represent all kinds of transitions: from the inside out, from the man-made to the natural, from the earthly to the spiritual, and finally from this temporary level of existence to the eternal.
Some zen bridges are painted red to symbolize sacred transformation. Others are left unfinished to flourish with age and fulfill the promise of wabi-sabi.
7. Bamboo Items
Bamboo, the fast-growing and environmentally friendly bamboo, has come a long way. A longtime staple of Asian landscapes, the South Sea retains an exotic glow for many Americans thanks to its association with tiki bars and Trader Joe's. Bamboo is a versatile and durable material used for everything from flooring to bedding, but if you're designing your own zen garden, you'll want to keep it in its natural state. This means planting bamboo (to make it a natural fence, if you prefer) or planting it as a gate, wall, gazebo, gazebo, or pagoda. If you plant it, you have to figure out how to contain it: this weed grows fast and is aggressive.
8. Current source
Take it from the Buddhists where water represents the eternal flow of life by placing a fountain. One of the most popular designs in Japanese culture is the shishi odoshi, which you can see in Tarantino's Kill Bill. A bamboo tube balanced on one end, a shishi-odoshi, is filled with water from a spring at the top until it tips over and empties into a well below. The rattle that is produced when the bamboo hits a strategically placed rock is intended to scare away wild animals: Although "shishi-odoshi" literally means "scary deer," many people find the source of the scary deer fascinating and meditative.
Another variant? Turn on the soothing sounds of H20 creating a source with everything at your fingertips. Whether you have stone planters, copper pipes, paving stones, scrap wood, or large garden stones, all you need to make your own ZEN is an inexpensive water pump.
9. Night lighting
Originally, zen gardens were only lit by moonlight, so any artificial light you decide to add should be barely visible. Traditional Japanese toro lanterns may be made of stone, wood, or metal; they can be suspended, buried and placed on a foundation. Today, gardeners can get into their zen with eco-friendly solar lanterns. Consider using it as track lighting or choose large, cleverly placed lights to brighten but overpower the decor.
10. Garden gate
To emphasize awareness of the deliberate transition to a peaceful garden setting, consider adding a gate to enclose your space. The Sanmon gate is one of the architectural elements of Buddhist temples, designed to separate the sacred and the mundane, the outside world of the temple precincts. Because they are symbolic, sanmons cannot physically prevent entry or exit, as our patio doors do. Instead, her wide-open entrances represent the transformative power of transitioning from one medium to another.
A more practical alternative to a zen garden is the Niwamon, a traditional Japanese wooden roof gate (see above). Many Westerners are familiar with the torii gates, which are simple, easy, and often red in color. Although they are associated with Shinto and not Buddhism, you can certainly include them in your garden if you like the way they look.
11. japanese maple
If you choose a red torii gate as the focal point of your zen garden, a Japanese maple tree with bright purple leaves will bring balance. On the other hand, if your space is mostly green and gray, Japanese maple can provide a much-sought-after pop of color. But these amazing trees don't just come in shades of red—they can also be orange, yellow, burgundy, plum, green, teal, and pink. Whichever shade you choose, a compact, compact tree should be relatively easy to grow. Some varieties are so small that they can be grown as bonsai or in pots. This can be a good solution if your climate is not suited to the needs of Japanese maples or if your garden is too small.
