Stone garden at Gyokudou Art Museum
Japanese rock gardens (枯山水) developed closely with Zen Buddhism in the Muromachi Period (室町時代 14th - 16th century) departing from the Chinese influence. Rock gardens were the places for meditation.
Originally, gardens were designed to symbolise Ho(u)raisan (蓬莱山), which is a mythical island mountain in the sea inhabited by immortals. It is like a Taoism version of paradise. The mountain was made by a stonework while the sea by a pond. It was a Japanese invention to substitute the expanse of white sand for the water. This kind of metaphoric technic is called Mitate (見立て), which is a key word not only for gardening but also for Japanese arts in general.
In the Azuchi Momoyama Period (安土桃山時代 16th century), gardens came to be built in castles, and in the Edo Period (江戸時代 17th to 19th century) in private residences as well. As the travel became easier, Mitate of famous landscapes such Mt. Fuji, Miyajima, Yoshinoyama, Wakanoura etc. became popular. Themes of gardens shifted from religious symbolism to secular symbolism.
The rock garden in Gyokudo Art Museum symbolises the flow of the Tamagawa according to the museum website. The rocks in the garden are apparently brought from the real Tamagawa just outside.
Stone garden at Gyokudou Art Museum
Japanese rock gardens (枯山水) developed closely with Zen Buddhism in the Muromachi Period (室町時代 14th - 16th century) departing from the Chinese influence. Rock gardens were the places for meditation.
Originally, gardens were designed to symbolise Ho(u)raisan (蓬莱山), which is a mythical island mountain in the sea inhabited by immortals. It is like a Taoism version of paradise. The mountain was made by a stonework while the sea by a pond. It was a Japanese invention to substitute the expanse of white sand for the water. This kind of metaphoric technic is called Mitate (見立て), which is a key word not only for gardening but also for Japanese arts in general.
In the Azuchi Momoyama Period (安土桃山時代 16th century), gardens came to be built in castles, and in the Edo Period (江戸時代 17th to 19th century) in private residences as well. As the travel became easier, Mitate of famous landscapes such Mt. Fuji, Miyajima, Yoshinoyama, Wakanoura etc. became popular. Themes of gardens shifted from religious symbolism to secular symbolism.
The rock garden in Gyokudo Art Museum symbolises the flow of the Tamagawa according to the museum website. The rocks in the garden are apparently brought from the real Tamagawa just outside.