PART I: History of traditional Japanese garden
Origin of traditional Japanese garden: Shinden zukuri
The earliest Japanese garden style can be traced back to the Heian era (794 – 1185), during which time gardens were designed as part of the “寝殿造り (shinden-zukuri)” style mansion for ancient Japanese aristocrats. Shinden-zukuri was a shallow U-shaped residential units consisted of the main unit and wings. The main unit, the shinden or the master bedroom unit at the bottom of the U-shape (# 1 in the below example), was connected with other units using corridors. The entire building area surrounded a garden, most of which was a large pond with islands connected by bridges.
As water was the most important element for shinden-zukuri garden, ancient aristocrats chose sites near rivers and dug a creek to their places. The creek typically entered from the back of the building (which usually faced North-east), flowed under a corridor and poured into the pond that faced south.
The structure of shinden-zukuri, or traditional Japanese architecture in general, was supported by pillars and beams with no load-bearing walls. In absence of unremovable walls, shinzen-zukuri buildings were semi-open to the surrounding environment. Depending on the weather and activities, the residents would open rooms so that they could be connected to gardens. Naturally, shinden room, or master bedroom, had the best garden view. The area in front of the room was covered with white sand so that it could be used for various party activities. Then there was a large pond with small islands connected by vermilion bridges. The entire landscape was often designed to mimic famous scenic places in China or Japan.
Origin of traditional Japanese garden: Jodo shiki (style) garden
Over time, shinden-zukuri style gardens evolved to reflect Buddhism’s “Pure Land (jodo)” belief. The Pure Land, which was believed to be in the West, was a painless, suffering-less, peaceful place where Buddhas went after transcendence. Because the society back then was unstable and difficult to survive, high-ranking aristocrats invested in building religious facilities that would re-create the Pure Land so that they could go there when they died. Compared to shinden-zukuri garden, water had more meanings and religious importance as it was now the bridge between human’s world and the Pure Land. The horizontally expansive, calm water surface would reflect religious facilities and the surrounding environment, making the entire place look as if it was the Pure Land in the real world.
The format of shinden-zukuri and jodo-style gardens became a foundation of traditional Japanese landscape design. By 17th century, the entire landscape became expanded and refined as 池泉回遊式庭園 (chisen kaiyu-shiki teien – stroll-around-the-pond style garden). It placed a pond (often a complex-shaped body of water with small tributaries) at the center, and surrounded it with winding lanes, gazebos, tea houses and temples.
With humid climate, Japan maintained water-oriented garden styles throughout its history, both before/after the emergence of karesansui. In Japan’s oldest surviving garden design manual (作庭記, Sakuteiki) during Heian era (794-1185), you can find a couple of key design principles:
一、形により、池のすがたにしたがひて、よりくる所々に、風情をめぐらして、生得の山水をおもはへて、その所々はさこそありしかと、おもひよせ—たつべきなり。
Design by leveraging the natural landscape to create a pond. Focus on re-creating natural beauty of water and plants by taking care of different elements.
一、むかしの上手のたてをきたるありさまをあととして、家主の意趣を心にかけて、我風情をめぐらして、してたつべき也。
Rely on your own creativity after studying past/present examples and by respecting owner’s wishes.
一、国々の名所をおもひめぐらして、おもしろき所々を、わがものになして、おほすがた、そのところになずらへて、やハらげたつべき也。
Get inspiration from famous scenic places and borrow elements as appropriate.
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