Japanese garden (日本庭園, nihon teien) is a traditional kind of garden in Japan. The garden is made to be like a small landscape.^[1] The basic principle of a Japanese garden is to create harmony and balance.^[2]

The oldest Japanese text on garden-making is Sakuteiki (Records of Garden Making). The work was based on oral traditions which were published for the first time in the 11th century.^[3]

There are many types of Japanese gardens, for example,

• The contemplation or thinking style of garden (kanshō) is designed to be studied and enjoyed from one specific place. An example of a kanshō garden is the rock and raked gravel garden at Ryōan-ji in Kyoto.^[4]

• The stroll or walking style of garden (shūyū) is intended to be looked at from a path. The garden is discovered as the viewer walks along the path. An example of a shūyū garden is at Ginkaku-ji in Kyoto.^[4]

• The boating or pleasure-boat style of garden (funasobi) is centered on a large pond. The best views are seen from a boat in the pond. An example of a funasobi gardem is at Byōdō-in at Uji, which is near Kyoto.^[4]

• Many-pleasure style of garden (kaiyū) has a central pond and many paths. It combines aspects of kanshō, shūyū and funasobi gardens. An example of a kaiyū garden is at Katsura Imperial Villa.^[4]

Media related to Japanese gardens at Wikimedia Commons

• Japanese Gardens at GoJapan.com Archived 2012-10-07 at the Wayback Machine
• Japanese Gardens at Bowdoin.edu

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