| Zen gardens are very unique landscaping designs that | | | | reflects this relativistic relationship with a set of simple, |
| are also known as "Japanese Rock Gardens." . The | | | | natural symbols that are easy to work with and |
| word "Zen" means "dry" and the Japanese word for | | | | peaceful to behold. The relationship between light sand |
| this type of garden is karesansui, meaning dry | | | | and dark stone is another important symbolic element, |
| landscape. Consisting almost exclusively of stones and | | | | and directly correlates to the concepts of yin and |
| sand, this type of garden became very popular in | | | | yang. It must be emphasized that black is NOT a |
| Japan during the Shogun era (1185-1573AD), when | | | | symbol of evil in the Eastern World, but instead |
| feudal lords sought to landscape their estates in | | | | represents the receptive elements of the mind. In a |
| emulation of Buddhist temples. Monks frequently used | | | | similar way, white has nothing at all to do with our |
| such gardens to represent complex Universal truths in | | | | moral concept of good. It symbolizes the mind's ability |
| simple forms, and they frequently used them as places | | | | to express itself through intentional action. The careful |
| of meditation to calm and clear their minds. | | | | placement of darker stones in lighter sand (or vice |
| Although American popular culture commonly refers to | | | | versa) is therefore never intended to represent a clash |
| anything that looks Japanese or Eastern as a "Zen | | | | of opposites. Instead, it is meant to represent the dual |
| garden," a true karesansui never contains water. | | | | nature of the mind as it perceives reality through |
| Instead, it uses gravel and sand to symbolize water. | | | | contemplation, then acts upon it through intention. |
| Usually the gravel is white or near white in coloration, | | | | One famous Japanese text even goes so far as to |
| although this is not a hard-fast rule in landscaping. The | | | | state that the most important element of Zen |
| reason that sand and gravel are used as water | | | | gardening is the placement of stones. The text goes |
| substitutes is because they can be intricately sculpted | | | | on to say that rocks should always be positioned |
| in ways that water cannot. Using only a rake, a | | | | where the most attractive side faces the viewer. It |
| landscaper can depict ripples, sea waves, rushing | | | | also states emphatically that there should be a greater |
| rivers, or still, quiet lakes. Every so often, the gardener | | | | number of horizontal stones (or "chasing stones" as |
| will alter these patterns to reflect the Buddhism belief | | | | they are called in Japan) than there are vertical stones |
| that the only thing constant in the Universe is change | | | | (called "running stones" in the text). Again, this helps |
| itself. Even those things that appear to be the most | | | | emphasize the rising force of intent coming up from |
| fixed of forms are slowly being altered by unseen | | | | the depths of the mind. Intent is mystery in Buddhism, |
| forces all around us. In many Buddhist temples even to | | | | but its effects are clearly evidenced by action. |
| this day, monks remind themselves of this truth by | | | | The philosophical function of rocks is complimented on |
| raking the sand in their Zen gardens while they | | | | the practical level practical level by decoratively |
| meditate, seeking a still mind in the perfection of linear | | | | arranging them to represent objects that are |
| form, and creative insight in curved patterns of motion | | | | commonly found in Nature. Ancient Japanese texts on |
| that wrap harmoniously around alternating forms. | | | | the subject recommend creating such features as |
| In most Zen gardens, rocks take the place of | | | | mountains, lakes, seashores, rivers, and cliffs out of |
| vegetation. This is another aspect of their design that | | | | rocks of varying sizes. The only vegetation typically |
| makes these landscapes highly unique. Stones | | | | found in an authentic Zen garden is moss, which is |
| carefully placed in the sand create focal points in the | | | | trained to grow over rocks in emulation of forests |
| endless fluidity that surrounds them, allowing an infinite | | | | growing along river banks, lakeshores, and |
| variety of wave forms to accent their structure and | | | | mountainsides covered in forests. Very small shrubs |
| positioning. Buddhist monks, long before Einstein, | | | | are used at times to frame a Zen garden, but only as |
| understood the relationship between matter and | | | | a perimeter element, and seldom, if ever, as a central |
| energy. The interplay of sand and stone directly | | | | one. |