15 Best Zen Gardens In Japan
Updated on: November 2023
Best Zen Gardens In Japan in 2023
Japan's Master Gardens: Lessons in Space and Environment
Zen Gardens: The Complete Works of Shunmyo Masuno, Japan's Leading Garden Designer
Zen Gardens and Temples of Kyoto: A Guide to Kyoto's Most Important Sites
100 Japanese Gardens: The Best Gardens to Visit in Japan (100 Japanese Sites to See)
A Zen Life in Nature: Muso Soseki in His Gardens (Michigan Monograph Series in Japanese Studies)
Sakuteiki: Visions of the Japanese Garden: A Modern Translation of Japan's Gardening Classic (Tuttle Classics)
The Buddhist Tradition: In India, China and Japan
Tenryu-ji: Life and Spirit of a Kyoto Garden
Authentic Japanese Gardens: Creating Japanese Design and Detail in the Western Garden (IMM Lifestyle Books)
The Japanese Garden
Zen Landscapes: Perspectives on Japanese Gardens and Ceramics
Zen in the Art of Archery
Japanese Gardens: Tranquility, Simplicity, Harmony
How to Reach Japan by Subway: America's Fascination with Japanese Culture, 1945–1965 (Studies in Pacific Worlds)
Zen Sourcebook: Traditional Documents from China, Korea, and Japan
Balance Yin and Yang by Creating a Zen Garden Using Well-placed Water Features
Zen gardens are becoming more popular in the United States as homeowners seek quiet places to relax at home. Adding a water feature to a Zen garden will create a sense of balance as well as beauty.
The most common outdoor water features added to Zen gardens are small waterfalls, ponds and fountains. Adding water features to a Zen garden boosts yin energy, which is essential for growth and positive chi. However, make sure that when you add a water feature you balance it with the yang energy of earth. For example, adding a pond to a Zen garden will offer a peaceful place to reflect and meditate but be sure to add some large rocks or a stone bench (earth) beside the pond to balance the energy. In addition, adding plants around the pond will give yang energy to balance the yin energy of the water.
Fountains are another good water feature to add to Zen gardens - - especially fountains that trickle water to create a soothing melody. Balance the energy by surrounding the fountain with sand and swirl wave patterns into the sand to create a rippling effect (the swirls will also promote the flow of chi through your garden). Small pools are great water features to use with sand and pebbles for balance in Zen gardens. Surround a small pool with sand and pebbles to extend the energy of the water through the sand and into the rest of your garden. Swirl wave patters into the sand as you did for the fountain and add natural seating areas around your pool for relaxation.
It is important not to add too many water features to your Zen garden because you will overpower the garden with too much yin. Water features are great additions to Zen gardens; however, they should not be the overall theme. The concept of a Zen garden is balance of energy; therefore, for every water feature you add you should balance that energy. For example, do not place a fountain in the middle of your garden to stand alone but balance the energy with plants, rocks, shrubs, wood and other yang energy for a perfect Zen garden.
