Characteristics and vocabulary of the traditional Japanese garden 伝統的な日本庭園の特徴と語彙

The culture of gardens made its appearance in the middle of the 6th century. Since then, traditional gardens have been inseparable from Japanese culture and are now places not to be missed during a stay in Japan.

Lanterns, ponds, rocks, waterfalls... The list of characteristic elements of the traditional garden is long. A brief overview of the essential components of these havens of peace where nothing is left to chance!

The three most famous gardens in Japan:

• The Kenroku-en, in Kanazawa
• Koraku-en, in Okayama
• The Kairaku-en , in Mito

Our activity to discover the Edo gardens in Tokyo

Types of garden

• Chisen kaiyushiki teien (池泉回遊式庭園): promenade garden around a pond . The heart of the garden is its pond, although it also often includes artificial hills, vast lawns, large hedges, and pavilions.
• Karesansui (枯山水): a dry garden where water and mountains are symbolized by arrangements of stones, sand or gravel, and, occasionally, plants.
• Chaniwa (茶庭:) garden is organized around a tea house. Also called "tea garden."

Techniques and stylistic concepts

• Shokei (障景): the technique of shôkei consists of placing a gentle slope to conceal the landscape to come. Hiding from view then puts you on hold. This makes the discovery of the landscape even more beautiful.
• Meian no gihô (明暗の技法): chiaroscuro technique, moving from a shadowy area to a barely lit landscape. The role of the shade is to amplify the light from the next garden area.
• Hisensawari no ki (飛泉障りの木): Waterfall tree . A tree is planted near the top or side of a waterfall to hide some of the flow. It conceals part of the view and helps create depth.

Read: Zen

The different elements

the pond

• Ike no kokoro (池の心): "the heart of the pond" or the essential part of a pond. It can be center, bottom, or surface.
• Shinji no ike (心字の池): pond imitating the shape of the kanji 心 meaning "heart."
• Suiji ike (水字池): pond imitating the shape of the kanji 水 meaning "water."
• Karenagare (枯流): dry watercourse created by raked patterns in the sand.

The islands

• Nakajima (中島): island on the pond.
• Kamejima (亀島): "turtle island." Rocks placed on the island represent the animal's head, legs, and tail, symbolizing longevity in Japanese tradition.
• Tsurujima (鶴島): "island-crane" on which stones, mosses, cut shrubs, and a pine tree symbolize a crane in a more or less symbolic way.

The bridges

• Engetsukyo (円月橋): Called "full moon bridge," a semi-circular wooden or stone bridge. Its reflection below the water forms a complete circle like a full moon.
• Hira hashi (平橋): flat bridge.
• Ishibashi (石橋): stone bridge.
• Kibashi (木橋: wooden bridge.
• Sori bashi (反橋): arched bridge.
• Sori ishibashi (反石橋): arched stone bridge.
• Yatsuhashi (八つ橋): zigzag bridge.

The falls

• Karetaki (枯): dry waterfall. The waterfall is suggested by an arrangement playing on the shapes of rocks.
• Taki (滝): waterfall. The essential structural element of Japanese gardens.
• Takiguchi (滝口): the "mouth of the waterfall." This term refers to the upper part of a waterfall instead of the cascading pool at the bottom.
• Takitsubo (滝壷): the "waterfall basin." The lower part of a waterfall is where water flows.

The lanterns

• Ikekomidoro (活け込み燈籠): medium-sized lantern whose base is buried in the ground.
• Ishidoro (石灯籠): stone lantern.
• Kotojitoro (琴柱灯籠): yukimi-dōrō type lantern whose two feet seem to form a koji, the small tool that supports the strings of a koto.
• Nozuradoro (野面灯籠): unpolished stone lantern.
• Okidoro (置き燈籠): lantern placed on the ground without any attachment.
• Tachidoro (立ち灯籠): lantern on column.
• Toro (灯籠): lantern. Often, the lanterns mark the location of a remarkable garden view.
• Yukimidoro (雪見燈籠): lantern with one or six curved legs.

Stones and rocks

• Ishigumi (石組): a term used to refer to stone arrangements. It is also called iwagumi.
• Kareike (枯池): symbolic pond made of rocks and white sand.
• Mizuuke ishi (水受石): placed in the waterfall's basin, this stone receives the water falling from the waterfall. It amplifies the sound produced by the waterfall. The sound differs depending on this receiving stone's shape, size, and position.
• Tobi ishi (飛石): paving stones forming a path. These stones, which can literally be translated as "flying stones" or "skipping stones," are a vital element of the design and aesthetics of the Japanese garden.

Trees

• Sekiyoboku (夕陽木): "tree of the setting sun" planted opposite the sekizenboku.
• Sekizenboku (寂然木): "tree of loneliness". Lush trees are intended to give the garden a sense of calm and solitude.
• Shoshinboku (正真木): main tree in the garden. It is the center of the landscape composition.