Fascination Japanese Gardens
There is probably no other way of designing gardens, that has such a big variety and expression
than the art of japanese gardening. It is a mixture of a gardening culture of very old history
combined with enormous creativity in design despite of fixed style elements.
The creation of a japanese garden is always
"from heart" - "kokoro kara" - 心から
Maximilian Ruth has learned at Garden-Master Tadahiro Kosugi's place (忠弘小杉) in Hamamatsu. Intense studies there helped him to get a deep and fundamental insight into this very outstanding art of gardening.
Private- and templegardens of all styles were newly designed, redesigned and cared for in
Hamamatsu, Kyoto, Tokyo, Nara and Osaka.
Numerous stays in Japan in the last 10 years helpe us to use our fundamental and special knowledge to plan, design and care for japanese gardens with creativity and from heart.
In the following we introduce you to some of the special characteristics of japanese gardens.
The overall design
In designing japanese gardens it is the highest priority to create a overall view that is harmonic and that the single elements combine to a uniformed picture.
A japanese garden is always a big composition no matter if 4 or 400meters wide.
Kare-san-sui
Kare-san-sui (枯山水), called "landscape without water" is a gardendesign where gravel is used to represent waterstreams in miniature landscapes. The viewer is drawn into this own unique scenery.
Fencing and gates
Fences and gates are generally built out of bamboo and/ or wood in the traditional design of japanese gardens. They are a main factor in creating a harmonic overall view. The way how the fences are designed depend on the general concept of the garden.
Walls
Cyclope-walls are a very popular way of building walls in Japan because they produce a very soothing and artistic feeling. It is a very old way of building walls which is still often done in these days.
Teagardens
The teagarden is sorrounding the teahouse. It is greeting the visitor with it's simplicity and leading the way strictly to the entrance of the tearoom. The sense of it is to purify the spirit while crossing this garden and to feel the hospitability that is done for the guests.
Moss
Mossgardens are among the most well known characteristics for japanese gardens. This deep green areas are soothing the mind of the viewer and they give cooling and relaxation during hot summerdays.
Tsukubai
People who are interested in japanese gardens inevitably get in contact with tsukubai (蹲).
A waterbassin with various shapes used for the ritual purification and as a designelement.
Naturality
In many designs it is very important to maintain the feeling of naturality. It is the most skillfull art to create a garden that seems untouched from humans and is as perfectly as possible embedded in it's sorrounding nature.
Tsuboniwa
The courtyard garden called "tsuboniwa" (坪庭) is the major art of japanese gardening. It developed because Japan has a lack of space for housing. Houses often don't have space for a garden around them, therefore an art developed creating a green oasis of relaxation and beauty in the inner courtyards of an house. The tsuboniwa creates cooling and soothness on hot summerdays.