Japanese Gardens have been a treasured art form in Japan for centuries, and are very much influenced by the ancient and intricate garden designs of China.

The exacting tradition, linked to the related and equally disciplined arts of calligraphy and Japanese ink brush painting, is historically passed down from sensei, or master, to apprentice.

Even though Japanese Gardens have been influenced by the West since the late 19th century, there are some elements that are considered typical, and in some respects, necessary to the art form. Water, either real or symbolic is a must. Bridges or stepping stones frequently cross a pond or stream element to an island, or perhaps to a tea pavilion. Rocks or stone arrangements create waterfalls, dry or wet. Hedges, fences or traditionally styled walls create an enclosure around the miniature landscape.

There are three basic traditional styles of Japanese gardens. The Karesausui gardens are dry landscapes in which different shades and shapes of rocks and gravel, as well as exactingly placed mosses and shrubs are used to represent ponds, islands, rivers, seas, boats and mountains in abstract form. Raking stretches of gravel or sand creates the illusion of moving water. This type of garden is for meditation and is frequently found at Zen temples. » Read more: Japanese Gardens – Tranquility Personified