What is the difference between chinese and japanese gardens

The buildings have a simple design and minimal decoration. In fact, the architecture are presented in an extremely modest manner, even perhaps partly or almost completely concealed in some way. Japanese gardens tend to be quite a bit smaller than Chinese ones.

They focus more on the beauty of individual, unmoving views and different type of stone paths. Chinese gardens on the other hand take up larger spaces and concentrate a great deal on the feeling of movement and a variety of different views. Generally speaking, Chinese gardens have a design that makes it easier for family and friends to spend more time in.

They have more areas for leisure such as courtyards, pavilions and covered walkways, and the pathways tend to be paved. They tend to have high walls in order to stop people outside from seeing in. This stands in diametric opposition to the style of the Japanese garden, which specifically hopes for the admiration of outsiders.

The primary inspiration of the Chinese garden has traditionally been inland landscapes, such as mountains and lakes. Japanese gardens, on the other hand, often has scenery that acts as miniaturized representatives of the Japanese coast. In fact, Japanese gardens often have representations of pebble beaches and rocks as well as white sand. Decisions about where water features are located often take into account how they will be position in relation to the sun.

This is because we need to know how the sun will be reflected in and by the water. It makes sense that rocks play an important part in Chinese and Japanese gardens, as they have a role in Eastern philosophy. They are seen as symbolic of endurance and the majesty of nature. They are believed to help make the garden closer to the spirit of the earth and lend it special characteristics.

In Chinese gardens , the rocks used were chosen for having striking shapes or looking a bit like mountains or animals.

This characteristic has been seen in Chinese gardens for thousands of years, and it was especially significant during the Ming Dynasty. Rocks are frequently employed as garden centerpeices or stars. Rocks in Japanese gardens , on the other hand, tend to be smaller and put into arrangements that more closely resemble elements of nature. Japanese gardens have pebbles, stepping-stones, moss, gravel, and pavement covering the floor.

It is rare to see any exposed soil. In Chinese gardens, pavement, swept earth, or groundcover. Pavement is comprised of bricks, tiles, or even broken pieces of china that are arranged in such a way that geometric patterns or the shapes of animals or flowers are represented.

The stone in Chinese gardens tends to be of a sedimentary type, usually either sandstone or limestone. Garden designers usually ensure that the stone has signs of erosion that occurs over time by exposure to water.

This is meant to reflect a teaching in Daoist teaching: that hard things are eventually overcome by soft things. In Chinese gardens, the stones are usually piled into large arrangements and meant to call to mind the images of mountains, peaks, and cliffs. The stones are often placed in close proximity to vines, trees, and shrubs.

Stones in Japanese gardens are relatively heavy, dense, and smooth in texture. Some of the most common stone types used are cherts and metamorphic granites. The stone arrangements in Japanese gardens are smaller than those found in Chinese gardens. The stones are partly buried into the landscape with great care.

They are complemented by moss, gravel, or smaller stones. Stone and rock arrangements play an important role in Japanese gardens. There are many different traditional arrangements to choose from, and each has a different meaning and significance. Some arrangements can be used for very large stones or boulders.

Having lived in Japan for many years and visited a variety of Japanese gardens I often wondered how these types of gardens are different from their predecessors in China.

In fact, the Japanese garden originally came to Japan from China so are they still the same or different? This lead me to the question I think many people have asked before which is, what is the difference between Chinese and Japanese gardens? The main difference between Chinese and Japanese gardens is that Chinese gardens tend to be more bold, exotic, ornamental, and have more architecture and structures throughout a park-like setting, compared to Japanese gardens which tend to be more subdued, austere and minimalist overall.

Of course this is an oversimplification of the differences between Japanese Gardens and Chinese gardens but on the surface these are some of the key areas that can be highlighted. Prince Shotoku sent a delegation to China to learn and study there after they returned the best type of garden was built in the Nara area, which was the capital of Japan at the time.

Slowly however, Japan developed its own garden style that better fit Japanese landscape and culture. Next we will talk about some of the differences more in detail. One of the main differences between Japanese and Chinese gardens is that Chinese gardens are usually designed to be a series of concealed scenes. Chinese gardens usually have a series of winding paths that take you around the corner to a new view or a new landscape.

With each turn a new scene is presented. The Chinese Garden is meant to be experienced along the journey of the path and the entire garden should not be seen from one particular viewpoint. This is very different from the Japanese Gardens that have developed overtime, excluding strolling garden and tea garden styles. One of the striking differences that you will notice right away in a Chinese Garden is the amount of architecture and structures that are used in the garden.

Many pavilions, pagodas, gazebos, meditation areas, small houses etc. Japanese gardens sometimes may have a tea house, religious meditation hall, or sitting area, but usually these are quite limited in number. Sloping Roofs and Ornaments in the Chinese Garden. Chinese gardens on the other hand, can sometimes have many structures with very bold and bright colors with eccentric sloping roofs.

Japanese tea houses and temples tend to have a more straight line and overhanging roof line. Chinese gardens often have moon gates, ornamental window frames, bold arching bridges and bright red pavilions and pagodas. This is sort of unheard of in the Japanese garden. The Japanese rock garden has developed in Japan in a way that is much different from how rocks were used in gardens in China.

To give a simplified version, the main differences are that Chinese gardens are more bold, exotic, and ornamental. There is a lot more architectural work going on with more structures, paths, and scenes. Japanese gardens on the other hand are designed to be a lot more subdued, austere, and minimalist, although they can still be large in size with multiple scenes.

Whereas Zen gardens are a place of contemplation for the gardener and the viewer alike. However, both types of gardens share similarities, particularly as a connection between human beings and nature.

When the rock gardens originally made an appearance in Japan, they were direct copies of what Chinese gardens were like. It was slowly over time that Japan started to develop its own style and it was many centuries later that Zen gardens evolved from that and became part of Japanese culture the way we know it. Something that Japan is very good at doing is taking an existing thing, adapting it, and making it even better and that includes zen gardens.

Zen gardens came about through Zen Buddhism which started to gain momentum through Japan in the 12th century. This religion was adopted by the samurai class and warlords, who appreciated the self-discipline. At temples built around this time, rock gardens very much resembled their Chinese garden counterparts.

Dry rock gardens have now become synonymous with Zen Buddhism and these gardens can be found all around the world.

An ideal feature of Zen gardens is that they can be any size and fit into any space available. Zen gardens form part of a meditative process for the gardener and people can visit them to meditate. Some gardens are designed to be viewed from a distance and there is usually a raised viewing platform above them.

Other Zen gardens have pathways through them and they can be walked across. Modern Zen gardens resemble the designs that arose from Muso Soseki and his designs in Kyoto. During his period of designing temples and monasteries, some of his gardens still had significant influence from the Chinese designs. However over time, the process has been adapted and refined inspiration has come from the minimalist Japanese design rather than the bolder Chinese designs.