A small Japanese garden in the country with their own hands. DIY Japanese style garden. How to make a DIY Japanese garden lantern

Kirill Sysoev

Calloused hands do not know boredom!

Content

All over the world, landscape designers are actively using ideas that came from Japan in their work. The landscape, decorated in this style, has a charm, the composition is concise and refined evokes a feeling of peace and tranquility. To create a real work of park art, it is not enough to purchase plants and stones, it is necessary to take into account the symbolism and peculiarity of each object, because the main thing here is harmony.

Japanese gardens

What are Japanese gardens? This is a natural composition, which is based on five components: the idea (spiritual part) and the material. The material component includes four elements: water, plants, stones and elements of architecture. All of them symbolize the unity of man and nature. Japanese garden can be of three types: flat, hilly and rugged.

Each of these types has its own characteristics:

• Flat type - a perfectly flat area. The world of terrestrial nature is represented by stones, trees, water sources or reservoirs. Decor - stone lanterns, garden sculptures.
• The hilly view is a combination of high ground and water. It can be streams running down the hills, a pond with a waterfall.
• Crossed Gardens is a miniature recreation of the mountainous part of Japan. At the base there is a reservoir with an island in the middle, artificial mountains, lanterns, paths, bridges. It is appropriate to arrange tea houses with a traditional tsukubai (bowl for washing hands), bamboo fences.

Rock gardens in Japan

Unusual and original view cultural and aesthetic structures are rock gardens. They are a perfectly flat area covered with sand (you can use pebbles). Main elements - natural stones(raw), arranged according to the rules of the Zen worldview. Their location is as follows: these are groups of three stones (triad), selected according to shapes and colors. There are 15 of them, but the point of contemplation opens 14, the last stone is hidden from any point (the use of phantoms is a symbol of the unknown).

The asymmetry of the arrangement of stone elements is emphasized by concentric lines on the sand, symbolizing the ocean. Rock gardens in Japan are a place of meditation, contemplation, self-knowledge. This kind of landscape design is really unique, even the photo stone gardens tunes in a philosophical way. Their main purpose is to make you realize the beauty of ordinary things and the elegance of natural simplicity.

Japanese style in landscape design

The characteristic features of this style are miniature size, calmness and the presence of many symbols. The place used for the composition may be small, but you need to create a perfect landscape on it, depicting natural elements in all formats. In the classical sense, this is a natural miniature of water, moss, pebbles, plants and stones.

Japanese landscape design is popular all over the world for a reason. With the modern frantic rhythm of life, it is very important to be able to concentrate, calm down, and find peace. A layout with unusual outlines, asymmetric composition, harmonious elements, from each angle opens up a new landscape, a miniature world of nature in all its glory.

Japanese garden plants

The purpose of such a composition is to recreate the landscape. Plants for the Japanese garden serve rather as a relief decoration, emphasizing the contrast. You need to select them very carefully. The species beloved by the Japanese may not take root due to differences in climate and soil. We use:

• trees: cherry (some regions can use sakura, Raksa variety is perfect for the Moscow region), maple (almost all types are suitable, excellent honey plants, combined with coniferous plants), pine (conifers - the center of the composition, as the personification of longevity, strength, courage, it is desirable to weaken the growth of the tree, giving expressiveness to the crown);
• shrubs: barberry (variety of varieties, great material for hedges), hawthorn (beautifully flowering bushes will become an ornament in spring, and in summer they will delight with a variety of fruit colors, they look especially impressive in a bole);
• perennial flowers: peony (choose tree variety, flower diameter up to 25 cm, double or semi-double), rhododendron (the flower is not large, but in lush inflorescences, glossy leaves emphasize the tenderness of flowers), chrysanthemum (the national flower of Japan, a variety of species does not limit imagination);
• cereals, ferns, bamboo: miscanthus (ornamental herbaceous cereals, many varieties, decorative period from the first months of spring to frost), maidenhair (takes root well in the Moscow region, openwork leaves look exotic and attractive even in the photo, sit in a conspicuous place), saza (in our latitudes, the only variety of bamboo that grows wild, sits against the backdrop of a stream or as a gazebo decoration).

DIY Japanese garden

Do-it-yourself planning for arranging a Japanese garden should begin with a composition that depends on the landscape of the selected area and climatic features region. The presence of free space is also a prerequisite, although its dimensions can be miniature. The composition can be of the following types:

• garden for philosophical reflection;
• place for walking;
• hill garden;
• a place where the main element will be a house for tea ceremonies.

DIY Japanese-style garden

Do not forget about the main components: stone and water (maybe a dry stream), without which such a design cannot be formed. Here are some guidelines for creating this unique park design yourself. If you do not know where to start creating your garden, let's take a step-by-step look at how to create a garden in Japanese style do it yourself:

• Layout. It is better not to redevelop the park, but to take part of it. A site is selected in the courtyard or corner. It should be immediately visible in its entirety and be protected from three sides by walls or hedges.
• Sketch project. The main elements are applied to it, taking into account the wind rose and cardinal points.
• Stones are laid out in groups vertically and horizontally on prepared sand. To make the placement correct, use photos of finished landscapes.
• The paths are not level.
• The reservoir is installed depending on the relief of the site: a pond, a waterfall, dry streams or streams of light gravel.
• Plants are planted to a minimum, using symbols that are not winter-hardy, they must be removed or immediately placed in tubs.

DIY Japanese rock garden

To properly arrange a Japanese rock garden on the site with your own hands, you need to follow five basic rules:

• the basis of the composition is a group of three stones harmonious in texture and color;
• the total number is a multiple of three or five;
• from any point of contemplation all stones are opened, except for one;
• the main triad should look harmonious, the rest balance it;
• stones are arranged asymmetrically. The stones are selected in accordance with the symbolism: large - islands, vertical - the sky, sand and white gravel - water, they also imitate circles in the sand.

DIY Japanese garden

You can make a very small Japanese garden with your own hands using indoor plants. landscape composition miniature has its own rules:

• It must be created in accordance with the traditions of Japan.
• A low (up to 15 cm) container with a spacious surface is suitable as a container.
• For such a mini-garden, moss, cacti, diamond, sedum, saxifrage, ivy, stone rose, etc. are suitable. You need to choose varieties of slow-growing plants.

Video: Japanese-style landscape design

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One of the most interesting and fashion trends landscape design - creation on summer cottages corners for philosophical reflection and unity with the natural world. Decorating gardens in oriental style is a common phenomenon: for example, you can create an original Japanese garden with your own hands. stone elements decor and ornamental vegetation.

Such design of gardens and parks is becoming more and more popular due to the relaxing atmosphere, conducive to reflection on the meaning of life and finding spiritual harmony.

Realizing that authentic Japanese-style gardens and parks require a lot of money, in most cases they are created on modest plots.

Study photos and pictures of gardens in Japanese style - and you will notice many original ideas that can be implemented in your backyard.

Japanese garden, photo

Types of Japanese gardens

Gardens in an unusual Japanese style are divided into two categories:

• tsukiyama- are created in areas with hills and slopes. classic gardens tsukiyama has five hills: one of them, located in the center, is usually larger than the others and symbolizes Mount Fuji, located on the Japanese island of Honshu;
• khuraniwa – garden area without slopes and other relief differences. On a flat-type site, it is easier to plant vegetation and plan decoration. Decor elements of such a garden will be well viewed from different angles.

Japanese garden: photo in the country

If you are going to include in landscape decor your backyard garden in the Japanese style, you can make a combination of these varieties. When choosing this option, you need to decide in advance where each decorative detail will be located, make sure that all elements form a complete picture, harmonize with each other.

If you have no experience in creating Japanese-style gardens, it will probably be difficult for you to bring the ideas of professional landscape designers to life. But gradually you will master the subtleties of exquisite and unusual design.

Design nuances

In order for the work you have spent to justify itself, and the garden created by your own hands symbolizes oriental traditions, we advise you to follow the following rules for decorating garden areas in Japanese style:

• when designing such a garden, asymmetry should be observed: in this way, you will be able to emphasize the natural naturalness of the design;
• every detail must be carefully planned. But you should not decorate it with elements that do not fit well into the composition: decorative details should carry a certain semantic load;
• do not use too colorful vegetation and stones in the design. But it is important that the elements emphasize their location and rounded configuration;
• the soil surrounding the plant parts of the garden must be compacted or covered thin layer gravel. Recently, lawn grass has been used as a surrounding decor element, but when using it, it is necessary to diversify the design with small shrubs and decorations made of stones: this is exactly what distinctive feature Japanese style design
• vegetation should be placed at a distance from each other. It is advisable to leave more space between plant elements. The abundance of trees, flower arrangements and beds is not suitable for gardens decorated in the Japanese style, so avoid chaos when creating landscape design.

Selection of stones

If you study photos of modern gardens in a distinctive Japanese style, you will see that stones are the main detail of their design. Having decided on the independent creation of such a garden, consider how the stone design will look.

We advise you to choose stones in a single tint palette; the composition of such details should be perceived holistically and harmoniously. You can use both sharp stones and rounded stones of various sizes: place them in the central zone of the garden.

It is not necessary to store a large number of stone elements like a pyramid, it is better to leave free space between the pebbles. To fill the cavities, fine gravel or sand is suitable. This technique decoration is called sute-ishi.

No less stylish in a Japanese rock garden is a combination of dark-colored stone elements with white sand. Using the game of contrasts, you can focus on the naturalness of the design.

Japanese rock garden, photo

Decoration with vegetation

Another important step in creating a Japanese garden is the selection of vegetation. When choosing plants, it is important to take into account climatic conditions, since the vegetation that is not always characteristic of such a design will be able to adapt to the climate.

Important! Do not overdo it with flower arrangements and ornamental plants when decorating a Japanese garden. We recommend focusing on landscaping such areas, and you can add brightness to the landscape landscape with the help of small flower beds with neutral colors.

A classic element of decor for a Japanese garden - sakura blooming in white or pale pink - can be replaced with felt cherries, almond or plum trees.

Many summer residents are interested in which dwarf conifers to plant in a Japanese garden. Dwarf bonsai trees will help to make the design sophisticated. Such vegetation is not cheap, so we advise you to decorate the garden area with pine seedlings and other varieties of coniferous plants.

One of the most successful coniferous species for decorating a garden in an original oriental style is considered to be cross-pair microbiota and Korean fir.

For a garden in colorful Japanese style fit and climbing vegetation, as well as ground cover plants creeping along the surface of the soil. Separate plots can be decorated with mosses that form a natural ground cover.

Important! Plant details in Japanese landscape design should have a similar configuration - in this case, the decor will look holistic.

If you want to preserve the picturesque design of the site even in the cold season, use vegetation that is resistant to low temperatures. In this case, you will get confidence that the next season the Japanese corner in the country will look great. For example, you can plant rhododendrons in the garden - these plants are resistant to frost, or plant black elderberry seedlings.

Do not oversaturate the landscape with plants: the design should be concise, it is important to save free space and take care of the availability of space for placing other decor elements.

What else to use for decoration

Many owners of suburban areas complement the Japanese-style garden design with artificially created reservoirs: small ponds, mini-waterfalls or streams. Such elements perform, in addition to decorative, also functional purpose: emphasize the dignity of the relief, hide the flaws and change the space.

A garden in the Japanese style, beloved by many summer residents, can also be decorated with small fountains. Water sources in such zones play big role: in accordance with the philosophy of the East, circulating water personifies the energy flow, adjusts to relaxation and clarifies thoughts.

Advice: it is preferable to refuse fountains with noisy beating jets in a Japanese garden: with their noise they will disturb the relaxing atmosphere created thanks to the classic oriental design.

To decorate water sources in the oriental garden, you can use crystal pebbles - lay them on the bottom. shiny elements will capture the sun's reflections and let in light streams, due to this the garden will look even more picturesque.

If you are designing a Japanese-style garden located on an area with slopes, trenches and ravines, transform the terrain with rockeries, which are compact flower beds decorated with stones. For this purpose, rock gardens are also suitable - stone gardens with alpine vegetation. Green areas can be combined with Japanese decor.

Another detail that can be used for decoration oriental garden- Nice tea house. Since ancient times, the Japanese have created gardens around such structures, and at present this tradition remains relevant.

Naturally, the construction of a separate structure specifically for tea ceremonies - difficult task, and here is a compact house that will perform decorative purpose, it is quite possible to erect in the garden.

If desired, the territory on which the Japanese garden is being designed can be separated from other zones by personal plot. In most cases, to implement this idea, a bamboo fence is erected, which organically fits into the oriental decor.

A Japanese-style garden area will look more realistic thanks to a small bridge that embodies the complex movement through life and prompts philosophical reflection. You can buy a garden bridge in a store or construct it yourself: they are suitable for its construction various materials including stones and wood.

On the bridge, you can make a convenient Japanese-style fence, install light sources - in order to give the garden brightness in the dark. It should be noted that lighting plays a big role in the design of such gardens: it should be diffused, promote relaxation and emphasize the desired atmosphere.

If your goal is to create lighting for a modest area with stone and plant decor, you can use Japanese lanterns for an area of ​​\u200b\u200b1.5 meters or more. Near water sources or paths can be placed lighting fixtures, which are called oki-gata: they are compact and will perform a decorative function.

Large lanterns in the Japanese-style garden area will also look unusual. You can make your own lanterns from concrete using special molds and fixtures. Making concrete lanterns requires a lot of time and patience, but the result is worth the effort, such decorations look amazingly natural.

Japanese-style garden, photo

When planning the appearance of the garden, do not forget that colorful elements do not fit into Japanese design.

So that the design does not look boring and monotonous, first prepare a sketch of the garden design. If you have no experience in this matter, we advise you to study photos with examples of aesthetic decoration that reflects Eastern culture.

Stages of creation

For self-creation stone garden, popular with residents of Japan and our compatriots, you need to decide on its location. It is necessary that this area has good soil and solar lighting plus natural ventilation.

If a pond or other body of water is planned in the garden, start by creating its configuration. The pond should look realistic: give up square shape and other bizarre formats that you will not find in natural natural environment. This rule also applies to created artificial streams.

Having prepared trenches and designed water sources, you can take on other components of landscape design. Choose the vegetation that best fits the Japanese decor. Learn the characteristics of flowering and growing plants - ornamental shrubs and trees: keep in mind that annuals will have to be planted again next season, and flowers that love warmth will no longer decorate the site in the cold season.

Having finished with the planting of vegetation, take care of the stone elements. Discard stones that are strikingly different in color scheme, configuration and dimensions. Replace the abundance of small stones with two or three large boulders. Such elements can be used as the main ones in design, and with the help of small ones, decorate the surrounding space. This technique will allow you to focus on volumetric forms.

The largest boulder can be placed in the central zone of the garden - and decorate the space around with small elements. Such design will be associated with the Buddhist triad. It is better to concentrate stone details in the area where the artificially created water source is located, along the bank of the stream or in separate places along the perimeter of the pond.

Self-creation of the design of a Japanese garden on a plot near a private house will give you great pleasure and help you gain spiritual harmony, and the final result will bring aesthetic satisfaction. Such a garden is ideal for spending time outdoors: reading, performing meditation exercises and just to relax.

Video

From this video you can learn ideas for decorating a Japanese-style garden:

photo gallery

The Japanese garden is not only great way design of a suburban area, but also the most important component of the philosophy of the East. It combines complex, but helping to plunge headlong into the fabulous world of wildlife, restore strength and completely surrender to blissful relaxation. You can often hear that the Japanese garden is a miniature of the whole world. Photos of such gardens are evidence of this. Each element has its own special significance and symbolizes something. But create DIY japanese garden only one whose soul and body are in perfect harmony is capable.

Interesting fact! Do you know how a Japanese garden differs from a Chinese one? If not, we recommend reading!

History of occurrence

The first mention of the Japanese garden dates back to the 11th century, but after four centuries it has become the most popular technique in landscape design among the eastern inhabitants. Such gardens were located at each monastery or imperial palace and included simply great amount vegetation. However, they were truly wonderful! Unfortunately, these gardens have not survived to our times, but we can judge how magnificent they were from the preserved pictures and photographs. At the present time, Japanese gardens are very popular all over the planet, as many people have appreciated the primitive atmosphere of contemplation and peace of mind.

How is a Japanese garden different?

The Japanese consider water and stone to be the main component of any garden. Stones, in their opinion, are the main element, while water is an auxiliary (so to speak), without which a Japanese garden is still impossible to imagine.

Note! The elements of the "second plan" include bamboo hedges, lanterns, gazebos, bridges and everything that helps to create a relaxing and comfortable atmosphere.

And when creating such a garden, you must adhere to one important rule: no pretentiousness, nothing defiant - everything should be simple and concise. Of course, this does not mean that the garden should be boring and unremarkable. Having a refined taste, you can create a work of art from the most primitive things, complementing it all with well-chosen plants. And if you do everything right, then the Japanese garden will become unique opportunity be alone with nature, escape from the worldly bustle.

Principles of creating a Japanese garden

There are several fundamental principles that will help you in your work.

1. Principle #1. Landscape design should be asymmetrical. It is based on the nature that surrounds us and from which the Japanese draw inspiration.
2. Principle #2. free space there should be a lot. Don't plant too densely, don't be tempted to create lots of colorful flower beds.
3. Principle #3. Random details that are capable of confusing the garden organization are unacceptable. Place all elements meaningfully so that they have a certain symbolism.
4. Principle #4. Green lawns in the Japanese garden are not used. The soil around the plants is either compacted or covered with gravel. Although for the sake of a beautiful green coating, this principle can be abandoned.
5. Principle #5. Stones and vegetation should be expressive, but at the same time discreet in color. Choose them according to their shape (traditionally, the shape of all elements of a Japanese garden is slightly rounded). As for the arrangement of the elements, it should have a philosophical attitude.

Stage one. The layout of the Japanese garden in the suburban area

Before creating a Japanese garden, decide what type your garden should be. suburban area. There are only two such types:

• tsukiyama (a site with hills and slopes);
• hiraniva (absolutely flat area).

And if there are a lot of various irregularities on your site, then in no case be upset - it will become an ideal platform for creating a natural, extremely close to nature Japanese garden. On the other hand, if the relief is flat, then you can also make an excellent harmonious composition on it. Finally, if the area is large enough, then both types of oriental design can be easily combined!

Before proceeding directly to work, carefully consider all the elements of the garden and make it rough plan. Of course, it is better if a professional takes care of the project. landscape designer, perfectly knowing about all east subtleties. But if you follow all the principles and know the basic subtleties, you can do this with your own hands! Do not be upset if the first pancake turns out lumpy! After all, the ability to the right combination of all elements, as well as the ability to create a true masterpiece from them, comes only with experience.

Stage two. The choice of stones for the Japanese garden

As noted above, the main element of such a composition are stones. Therefore, you need to take their choice seriously. Note that you can use all the stones that you like, but this should be done carefully - you need to select only homogeneous, suitable friend to each other in terms of color.

Note! Regardless of which stones are chosen - with round or sharp edges - they need to be without fail set in the center of a Japanese garden. At the same time, you need to try not to pile them one on top of the other so the garden will not look oversaturated or overloaded.

You can fill the voids between the stones with fine gravel or sand (the Japanese call this technology sute-ishi). Compositions consisting of light sand and dark boulders will look great. Such a contrast will only emphasize the natural beauty of the materials used.

Stage three. The choice of vegetation for the garden

Plants are another important element in this case. AT middle lane As you know, the climate is quite severe, so creating a fragrant flower garden, as in Japan, is impossible. Our garden will be more ascetic. When choosing plants for the site, avoid bright and large flowers. Better use green plants with small leaves and inconspicuous flowers. But if you want to stand out from the crowd, you can use bonsai or dwarf plants, besides, climbing vegetation that falls down will look great. To decorate Japanese gardens, you can use almost any coniferous culture, combining it with ground cover and creeping bushes.

Note! AT separate zone plot, you can create a so-called moss garden, which will organically fit into the overall composition and only complement its naturalness.

Pay special attention to ensure that the shape of all plants is approximately the same. Thanks to this uniformity, you will achieve harmony, and people who visit your Japanese garden will experience extremely positive emotions. A competent choice of frost-resistant vegetation will guarantee that in winter the garden will not freeze, and with the onset of spring it will again delight with its magnificent landscapes.

Stage four. Consider additional elements

If you are a lover of the murmur of streams, calm surface or cheerful splashes, then you can safely decorate your Japanese garden with these elements! Indeed, the main symbol of the latter is considered to be moving water, which regulates energy flows, clarifies the mind and simply relaxes. At the same time, avoid cascades and other noisy compositions, as they will negate all that spiritual idyll that you created. A small pond or fountain will become great addition to the design, will give it a finished look and will, as it were, hint at its natural origin.

If your goal is to create a real Japanese garden in the best Eastern traditions, then without tea house you can't get by. From time immemorial, most of the gardens were broken around this kind of pavilions, and the Japanese, of course, did not abandon this tradition. If you do not want to start a full-scale construction of this house, you can resort to more simple option- creation of a garden bridge. It will symbolize how difficult our life path is, and will contribute to finding the truth.

Note! Such a bridge can be purchased already in ready-made, and you can make your own.

We also recommend supplementing the garden with "wind music" so that it is always full of various enchanting sounds. A melodic ringing will be heard from the slightest touch or breath of the wind, which will not only complement the composition, but also help you find harmony and peace.

Stage five. Japanese garden lighting

Agree, what a real Japanese garden can do without lanterns? Indeed, without them at night, the garden will look, to put it mildly, ominous. And so that you can enjoy this work of art around the clock, you need lighting. There are several types of lanterns, let's get acquainted with each of them.

1. Pedestal(or, as the Japanese say, tachigata). They are used mainly in large gardens, since their height averages 150-180 centimeters. There are many varieties of such lanterns (kasuga, haruhi, nuresagi, etc.), but they are all installed in close proximity to the center.
2. Hidden(or ikekomigata in Japanese). They are used in small areas, there is no supporting stone, the base is buried in the soil in a vertical position; the light is directed downward. They also have many varieties.
3. Installation(they are also called okigata). They are placed near ponds and paths. Differ in small dimensions, low weight and ease of installation. They have deliberately rough shapes, are asymmetrical, and are usually located in secluded, poorly lit corners. Height usually does not exceed 100 centimeters.
4. Yukimi(special lanterns to admire the snow cover). Placed next to ponds to admire their reflection. They are characterized by a wide lid (round or hexagonal shape), stand on 4 legs buried in the ground or resting on a stone. The most attractive, and therefore the most popular type Japanese lanterns.

Table - Where is it better to install lights

* - should be combined with tsukubai, not very high fence;

* — should be combined with tsukubai, located at the source of the stream.

Immediately make a reservation that the most popular element of the garden in this case is the heptagonal structure.

It is not so difficult to make it even with your own hands, and you can be guided by a photograph depicting a similar composition. First, find the most even surface - it will become the basis for the future structure. On the site, place the stones (you can also a group of boulders) in such a way as to form the coveted heptagonal composition.

Note! Experts advise not to overdo it, that is, to avoid overloading the composition.

Pick not too large stones, pay special attention to ensure that each group consists of no more than 3 stones. Round stones will symbolize the seashore, thus bringing peace and tranquility, while boulders with sharp edges will remind you that everything around is of natural origin, and therefore no one should interfere here. And if you do everything right, you will be able to observe all the objects that make up the composition from any angle.

Having finished with this element, take a closer look: from any viewing angle, your own, beautiful view. Remember that between the elements you need to leave as much space as possible - so the composition will look original and delightful.

There is another element that can also be created on your site - “Four Elements”.

It is based on the harmony of the four fundamental elements, without which life on the planet is impossible: fire, water, earth and, of course, air. The stone, being the element of the earth, must become central element. Arrange around it properly selected plants. At the same time, leave more space(it will be a symbol of air) to make it easier for each element to “breathe”. If the stones are located in front, then on the “second line” be sure to look for a place for water - not necessarily a large pond, a small fountain or stream will suffice. All the space that remains after this, cover with sand. By the way, you can draw some kind of pattern on the sand, which will be a great addition to the "Four Elements".

We hope that here you have found answers to all questions regarding the features of creating a Japanese garden, and after seeing the photos of this splendor, your desire to create this work of art on your site has only increased!

Video - Japanese garden

To learn more about the process, we recommend that you watch the thematic video below.

Photo - Japanese garden

And the last - a selection of the most beautiful photographs of the Japanese garden. Watch and enjoy, let your anxieties and worries be left behind, and the only thing you are now experiencing was pleasure and peace!

The sophistication of Japanese gardens carries a deep philosophical meaning helping to comprehend the foundations of existence. Japanese style garden decoration hard work, which is within the power of an experienced landscape designer. However, understanding the religious foundations of Japan will allow you to create a real japanese country garden.

Zen Buddhism and Shinto preach beauty in everything. For the Japanese, there is no "ugly nature". Worshiping mountains, waterfalls, trees, the Japanese do not just contemplate - they comprehend and complement any images with dynamics. This is due to the conciseness and symbolism of Japanese gardens. If in European-style gardens (, etc.) aromas, landscape, scenery directly affect the senses, then Asian landscapes have a different goal - to help find peace of mind by getting away from the hustle and bustle.

The main thing in the Japanese type garden is submission to one idea. It can be a rock garden, seasons, moss landscape, landscape, etc. Depending on the concept, it is determined main element. In modern landscape design, landscape-type mixed gardens are popular. Like black and white and color photography have their fans, and landscape japanese country garden can be monochrome or polychrome.

The Japanese garden style was born from the natural landscape of a country of mountains, rivers and bizarre trees. By reproducing this model in a limited area, the artist learns to identify the natural landscape in stone, water and plants.

Elements of the Japanese garden in the country

The main characters in a magical production called Japanese garden are stones, water and trees:

1. Stones create the structure of the garden. Correctly arranging the stones is a whole art - you need to “see the face” of the stone. The mise-en-scene will depend on the internal dynamics of the stone - the chase, rest, relaxation, etc. The principle of arranging stones is from left to right - this is how books are read, a picture is perceived, a garden is contemplated.

2. Water symbolizes life, energy. In the Japanese garden, one of the most common elements is. The energy of the flow fills the space with dynamics, and creates a perspective. The shore of the reservoir is always uneven - on the one hand it can go down gently, on the other - a sheer rocky cliff.

It is not always possible to equip a real reservoir. A stylized Japanese pond or comes to the rescue. In the Japanese garden, water is symbolized by sand or fine gravel - everything flows like sand through fingers. On a sandy platform, circles and winding lines imitating waves are made with a rake.

3. Trees - vegetation depends on the type of garden. The rock garden is characterized by a gray-green palette - undersized conifers, soft cereals, bamboo. Pine - a favorite plant of the Japanese - is a symbol of longevity and courage. It is used in the "one tree" garden, where it is given a central place. Grown with intricately twisted branches, the pine symbolizes hardship. Looking at her, you understand that a beautiful thing has grown from a small seed in a crevice of a rock. strong tree, pulling its unbending branches towards the sun.

Conditions for the formation of a composition

Japanese garden art has several schools, the rules of which differ from each other. However, there are general requirements - by observing them, you can achieve full compliance with the philosophy of Zen:

1. Availability of free space. At first glance, the garden should seem completely empty. When shaping the landscape, one should play on the contrasts of emptiness and occupation of the territory.

2. Orientation of the garden relative to the point of contemplation. All figures should be lined up so that they are not completely visible, but, as it were, “thought out”.

3. Asymmetric composition. The garden should not have straight lines and objects of the same size. Japanese garden - always winding, can be hidden between stones - appear out of nowhere.

4. Use of phantoms. In the Japanese garden, special attention is paid to the reflection of clouds, trees and cast shadows in the water. In fact, the entire structure is an installation of movement. Contemplating a frozen stone, one gets the feeling that the mountains are growing, and the sandy rivers are flowing.

Rules for creating a Japanese garden with your own hands

The legend says that the river that overflowed its banks brought a huge boulder to the grounds of the temple, which could not be moved. The monks decide not to waste their strength on taking the stone out of the fence, but planted a garden around it. This is the philosophy of the Universe - to find a rational grain in a random phenomenon.

Therefore, in Japanese garden in the country there are always central and auxiliary elements. As a rule, the central group is always three stones, one of which (the largest) is located vertically, and the other two are horizontal. The triple stone symbolizes the triad of Buddhist deities Amithabi. The ancient Japanese believed that the spirits of dead tribesmen live in the mountains - hence the worship of a stone that imitates mountain ranges countries. garden stones are chosen very carefully. Unique boulders in Japan are even given their own names. The main criteria are:

A secondary group of stones can be tsurukame-ishigumi - a heron (or crane) and a turtle. This is a group of two stones, one of which stands vertically (heron), the second - horizontally (tortoise). The composition symbolizes wisdom and long life, the cycle of Eternity, when the old is replaced by the new.

Garden figurines of a heron and a turtle will be appropriate in their original (zoological) form.

A platform for meditation, symbolizing the vast expanse of the ocean, the atmosphere, or the Zen of Buddhist "nothing" is made of special sand (shikisun). The composition of the mixture includes:

Such sand lends itself easily to graphics - stable patterns, lines and mounds are created on it.

popular plants for Japanese garden in the country are mosses and lichens, symbolizing maternal love and security. The stones need to be "aged" - for this, moss or any ground covers are planted around them.

There are few flowering plants in the Japanese garden, however, some of them are actively used:

Lotus and chrysanthemum occupy a special place in Japanese teaching. The Buddha statue can most often be seen sitting on a lotus, as a symbol of purity, higher knowledge, spiritual purity. Chrysanthemum symbolizes longevity and good luck.

But remember - the flowers growing in your Japanese garden directly characterize the individual attitude to the life of the owner himself.

The main background of the Japanese garden is green. Against this background, cherry blossoms, plums, and plums stand out in bright spots in spring. In summer, the time comes for flowering shrubs or. Autumn flashes of the Japanese maple continue the cycle of Eternity.

The winding ones help to diversify the landscape - something new opens up at every turn. The steeper the curves, the more uncertainty.

The final chord of creating a Japanese-style garden is the installation - these can be miniature pagodas, figurines depicting Buddha or a wise dragon.

The presence is very characteristic. They can be made from roughly hewn boards or large flat stones. And they can be graceful fragile structures, floating weightlessly over the surface of the water.

To indulge in contemplation, there must be a place from where you can observe the beauty of nature and reflect on beauty. In this place, elements such as sounds and smells are especially important. Therefore, plants with wide leaves can be planted next to the gazebo so that the sounds of dripping water during rain create an appropriate musical accompaniment. It’s good if it leaks nearby - the smell of clean water, combined with a quiet murmur, will create the necessary atmosphere.

The main feature of the place for recreation in Japanese garden is his interior perception - the landscape of the garden, as it were, "flows" through the structure.

You can issue japanese country garden entirely in Zen style, or a separate part of it, and it is not necessary to follow all the rules. The main thing is that your secluded corner corresponds to your state of mind.

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Initially, Japanese rock gardens were intended for meditation. After all, it is precisely the contemplation of stillness that, like nothing else, helps to purify thoughts and achieve peace. Therefore, such a garden is an ideal place for solitary reflections.

But today it is also used to hide natural terrain irregularities, such as a ravine or ditch. Such areas on the ground will be the ideal basis for a Japanese rock garden, which is quite possible to create with your own hands. The main thing is to stick to a few simple rules, which will allow you to create a wonderful composition.

Creation principles

In the process of creating a Japanese rock garden, be sure to consider yang yin theory. According to the teachings of the Eastern sages, harmony in nature is preserved due to the balance of opposites. It is the application of this theory that makes it possible to give Japanese gardens such attractiveness and harmony. In the process of their formation, it is very important to observe balance of contrasts. So, it is necessary to alternate small and large leaves, plane or coastline a reservoir with a hill or pointed stones, etc.

The Japanese are known as unsurpassed masters, able to achieve small things and show great things. The location of the Japanese rock garden in a relatively small area makes it unusually expressive. Thanks to minimalism, each person completes the picture of the garden at his own discretion, thus becoming, in a certain sense, his co-author.

In a Japanese rock garden, it is not the number of plants or architectural compositions that is decisive. The main thing is the opportunity for each element to show the idea of ​​the garden and convey it to people.

In the process of forming a rock garden, it is necessary to recreate the natural landscape to the maximum.

So, in the created compositions there should be no symmetry and parallelism. On the contrary, it should be created according to the principles of inequality, incompleteness and lack of repetition. In addition, it is very important to use an odd number of any elements, be it stones or plants.

What stones and plants to choose?

Plants and stones are rightly considered the basis of any Japanese garden, so their choice must be approached very responsibly.

stones

As for the stones, you need to give preference to those that attract their appearance garden maker. It is desirable that they are not of the same type. The ideal option considered rough boulders with moss on the surface. Also, do not use too many stones, otherwise there is a risk of overloading the space too much. It is better to take a few large boulders than a large number of small stones.

The classic version uses a scheme consisting of one large and two small stones.

And the space between them is filled with fine sand or pebbles. Moreover, the location of the stones should be as natural as possible, so do not stick them too hard into the ground.

Plants

For a Japanese rock garden, you need to choose plants with green leaves, the flowers of which do not stand out too much in the surrounding landscape with their brightness. Too lush plants or multi-colored leaves are not suitable for a rock garden. After all, it should prevail monochrome colors.

As for the shape of the plantations, weeping plants with leaves in the form of an umbrella or bonsai are ideal. In the Japanese rock garden, they look very appropriate. coniferous trees and shrubs. Low pines, cypresses or arborvitae are best suited. Trees, the crowns of which are spherical in shape, also look very beautiful.

Lawn grass in a Japanese garden is being replaced moss or shrubs that creep along the ground, for example, tiarella or hoof.

Step by step master class

The creation of a Japanese rock garden begins with the choice of its future location. In this case, you need to stop on a relatively flat area with sufficient illumination. sunbeams. Best fit east or southeast dachas. In addition, the site chosen should be ventilated and have good soil drainage.

It is also quite acceptable to place a Japanese rock garden in a shaded area or on a slope. After all, many plants that are traditionally used to create it, for example, mosses, hostas, ferns, etc., are those that love shade and moisture.

Before you start creating a garden, you need to design. The optimal area for it is considered to be a plot 23 meters long and nine wide. Its borders can be decorated with a natural hedge, the role of which is often played by a bamboo fence, one or two meters high. It is also necessary to decide on a place for meditation or contemplation. For this purpose, a point is suitable from which either all the stones located in the garden are visible or not one of them is visible.

Further, the entire surface of the future garden is covered with river pebbles or sand to a height of 5-6 cm and combed with a wooden rake. As a result, figures appear on its surface, which should be parallel. long side. Most often, these figures symbolize life or constantly changing water. In the Japanese rock garden, as a rule, straight lines are depicted, wavy patterns or circles.

To prevent sand or pebbles from overgrowing with weeds, before applying them, the ground must be thoroughly cleaned of plants and their roots. In addition, areas with sand are protected by a curb made of small stones.

A circle is drawn around the future garden, which must also pass through the point chosen for meditation. A heptagon is inscribed in a circle, the rays of which pass through all the vertices within the selected area, except for two neighboring ones. In places where the rays of the heptagon intersect with each other, you can install stones, but it is not necessary to do this at all intersection points. Stones are more often arranged in groups of three or five elements, in which one is the main, and the other is subordinate.

In addition, it is quite possible to install a lone boulder. In most cases, stones take up a standing position, so for a Japanese garden it is preferable to choose those that have a stable shape. The surface of the garden around the installed stones is outlined with a wooden rake. Moreover, the result should be waves like circles on the water.

An integral attribute of the Japanese rock garden are twisted paths that allow you to walk along it and admire the created landscape. In addition, the tracks are a kind of embodiment life path. Therefore, very often they are not too adapted for walking. Sometimes they are deliberately made uncomfortable, thus highlighting certain places where you can stop and look around. Moreover, from each such point it should be possible to view the same number of stones. The Japanese rock garden can also be decorated decorative elements, For example, stone lanterns or bowls.