Creating stunning garden landscapes is a huge part of ancient Japanese culture. Japanese landscape designs capture the natural landscape by combining the basic elements of plants, water, and rocks with simple and clean lines. These elements create a spiritual haven that can only be achieved if you hire the top landscape contractor in Sacramento.
Experts say a Japanese garden is a space of contemplation with a specific purpose and meaning. These designs aim to create a sense of mystery, tranquility, and calm mood. They try to capture the essence of nature when your inner harmony can be restored. So if you have a palatial home and want something stunning and awe inspiring for your garden, contact the top landscape contractor in Sacramento to create the perfect Japanese style landscape design.
History of Japanese Garden Designs
The earliest records show that the chief characteristic of a Japanese landscape was a pond with an islet connected to the stone by bridges. Later, when the symmetrical architectural style became mainstream, the gardens were laid on the house’s southern side. Then came various modifications. The Zen priests named Buddhist rocks in the design and linked religious and philosophical principles to the landscape lore.
The landscape designs were further complicated when people enjoyed them as views to contemplate and as a microcosm to explore. Thus, the garden design eventually reflected individuality. They now wanted shibumi in their gardens, which refers to a quality in which refinement underlies a commonplace appearance. Tea men, connoisseurs, and aesthetic priests also created new forms of gardens by adding little pavilions or rooms built for tea ceremonies, thus revolutionizing Japanese landscape designs.
Types of Japanese Landscape Designs
Did you know that Japanese landscapes were classified according to the nature of the terrain? They were classified into hira-niwa for level ground and tsuki-yama for artificial hills. The former consists of flat ground designed to represent a moor or valley. The latter consists of hills and ponds, which may include a portion laid out as hira-niwa. Streams and ponds of real water are mandatory in hill gardens, but there is an exception: the kare-sansui style, in which rocks are composed to create a waterfall and its basin. This leads to a winding stream or pond. Mostly, sand or gravel symbolizes water or suggests seasonally dried-up terrain.
There are also other landscape styles like:
- Sen-tei: the water garden
- Rin-sen: forest and water
- Bunjin: consists of integrating bonsai
- Roji: the tea garden used for tea ceremonies
- Genkansaki: characterized by a simple curve in the path, partly to conceal the door to the house.
Key Elements of a Japanese Landscape Design
The major design aesthetic of a Japanese style garden landscape is the simple, minimalistic, and natural setting that inspires reflection and meditation. These landscape designs are characterized by waterfalls with more than ten different types of arrangements, the stream which gives rise to spring, the lake, hills built from the earth excavated from the lake basic, islands, bridges, and natural guardian stones. Another noteworthy feature may be the stepping stones.
Japanese style garden landscapes prefer subtle differences in color and texture but are still vibrant enough to appeal to the eyes. In modern designs, there are few flowers and more evergreens. It is preferred to the changing aspect of deciduous trees. However, maples are also used. The trees are distributed in harmony with their natural origin and growth habit. The Japanese landscape furnishings include wells, stone water basins, pagodas, stone lanterns and figures, summer houses, and arbors.
Gateways and fences, especially the sleeve fences, are attached to screen certain portions. All these elements create a great combination of the garden’s natural beauty and the house’s architectural features. Zigzag bridges mostly cross water features. Rain chains are also a staple but are used sparingly. The garden ponds form the heart of the Japanese style garden landscape.
Japanese Landscape Plants
- Bamboo and conifers: these are planted for year-round interest in soothing shades of green. The trees are pruned into various shapes that reveal their architectural form. Having arching branches reaching over cushions of moss and ground cover is a typical feature. These are reflected in a pool of still water.
- Bonsai: they represent a fusion of strong ancient beliefs with Eastern philosophies. Mostly ceramic containers are used for growing these miniature trees. They are also trained to mimic mature, aged, and tall trees in nature.
- Azaleas, maples, and camellias: these are used for marking the changing seasons. Azaleas and camellias flower in winter and thrive on acid soil. Their deep green waxy foliage serves as a charming backdrop shrub.
- Cherry trees: in limited spaces, cherry trees are used to announce spring.
Bottom Line
Japanese style landscape designs emphasize the charm of restraint. Its beauty provides a thrill of joy to the soul. It aims to satisfy our craving for nature and supply peace through spiritual recreation.
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