Thinking of creating a Zen garden?

We all have our dream outdoor space. For some, it’s all about huge stretches of green grass, sturdy oak trees, maybe a bubbling water feature or two, but for others who are looking for something a little more spiritual, then a Japanese Zen garden could be the ideal choice.

If you’re thinking of creating a Zen garden then it’s important to do your research; planting a few Japanese Maple trees which you can purchase from The Tree Center. A Zen garden requires thoughtful planning and a little research into the history of the Zen garden and it’s origins.

What is a Zen garden?

Zen gardens, also called Japanese rock gardens, appeal to people who like carefully controlled settings of raked sand or rocks and precisely clipped shrubs. Zen gardens emphasize the principles of naturalness (Shizen), simplicity (Kanso), and austerity (koko).

In the sixth century, Zen Buddhist monks created the first zen gardens to aid in meditation. Later, they began using the gardens to teach zen principles and concepts. The design and structure of the gardens have been refined over the years, but the basic structure remains the same.

How to make your own

Firstly, you have to figure out how much space you can afford for the Zen Garden in your backyard. Always be mindful that a Zen Garden represents a much bigger natural landscape in miniature. It’s like bringing nature’s serenity to our homes. You can research and find inspirations at websites like Zen and Stone so you have an idea on what to do first.

If you are after a “rock Zen Garden”

Sand is the basic element that’s indispensable to its creation. A rock Zen Garden must truthfully represent the feeling that mountains and dry river beds produce.

Sand raked into a round, spiral or rippled pattern represents the sea. Place rocks on top of the sand to make a soothing pattern. You can add plants, but keep them to a minimum and use low, spreading plants instead of upright ones. The result should encourage introspection and meditation.

You must rake the sand with gentle strokes and arrange some stones on random places. Although the ancient Japanese masters have used a certain number of stones — 15 — only 14 of which can be seen at any given time, you could be a bit more liberal and use your imagination to create something pioneering and beautiful.

The symbolism of the stones in a zen garden is one of the most important design elements. Upright or vertical stones can be used to represent trees, while flat, horizontal stones represent water. Arching stones represent fire.

Remember your Zen gardens primary purpose

Heeding the philosophical aesthetics of Buddhism, it’s worth underlining that the importance doesn’t hide in the size, but in the meaning the sand, the water and the stones signify for your garden and how they help you go deep into Zen state of mind.

So, if you are short on space, worry not. if done right, your Zen Garden can be as good as any other in the world, especially if it helps you elevate your mind to a higher place.