Chinese and Japanese Garden Traditions

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Origin and challenges during creation
The Chinese garden
The Japanese garden
Key differences
Space utilization
Conclusion
References

Introduction

Different cultures create gardens for various reasons using different styles. The motivation behind every culture’s garden style is unique to that particular culture. Chinese and Japanese gardens are examples of traditional gardens that are developed for different reasons using diverse styles.

Chinese gardens are designed for relaxation and enjoyment of natural beauty (Chen, 2011). In contrast, Japanese gardens are designed mainly for appreciation of the Japanese cultural heritage (Chen, 2011). In addition, they are designed for recreation and aesthetic pleasure. Gardens situated within the precincts of temples are used for meditation and reflection. Japanese and Chinese gardens have varied designs that utilize space differently.

Origin and challenges during creation

The Chinese garden at the Huntington Library was created in the year 2000 to preserve and promote Chinese traditions (Garden of Flowing Fragrance, 2014). Its creation involved the combined efforts of gardeners, historians, artisans, and architects (Garden of Flowing Fragrance, 2014).

On the other hand, the Japanese garden was created in 1928 to preserve the traditions of the Japanese. Designers faced several challenges during the process of creating the gardens. Certain materials had to be sourced from Japan and China. For instance, the ceremonial teahouse located in the Japanese garden was shipped to America from Japan (Schou, 2012).

Another challenge involved maintenance of the houses. Some had to be shipped to Japan for maintenance. In creating the gardens in America, the designers had difficulty obtaining certain plants and flowers that were only found in China and Japan. In addition, they had to design pathways that could allow physically challenged people to access the premises.

The Chinese garden

The Chinese garden at Huntington Library was designed to preserve the traditions of the Chinese people (Garden of Flowing Fragrance, 2014). The features in the garden blended harmoniously to create an elegant landscape that is used for both aesthetic pleasure and learning.

Different aspects of nature and art were combined to give an aesthetic appeal that is breathtaking. The garden had plants and trees that made up the main aspect of the garden’s natural features. Trees growing in the garden include pines, plums, and the lotus (Chen, 2011). The garden is known as the Liu Fang Yuan because of the different species of flowers and trees that release different fragrances into the air.

The essence of the garden is to express the beauty, meaning, and depth of nature as well as the complexity of Chinese traditions (Garden of Flowing Fragrance, 2014). Elements of Chinese garden include architecture, plants, water, rocks, literature, and the arts. At Liu Fang Yuan, the space was well utilized with bridges connecting different sections of the garden.

The bridges were laden with beautiful hand-carved textures that expressed the Chinese love for art (Garden of Flowing Fragrance, 2014). Large pavilions located on different locations were decorated with images of various plant species. The bright colors of leaves and flowers, as well as the sound of water falling over weathered rocks created a beautiful atmosphere that evoked feelings of calmness and serenity.

In ancient China, people used gardens for various pursuits that included writing, poetry, painting, calligraphy, and wood carving (Chen, 2011). The garden at Huntington Library was laden with various aspects of Chinese art. For instance, the gate at one of the terraces resembled a full moon. The terraces and pavilions adorning the garden were engraved with names borrowed from Chinese literature (Garden of Flowing Fragrance, 2014).

Throughout the garden, poetic names embellished the various structures that are evidence of the treasured Chinese culture. The aforementioned elements and features reveal that the essence of the garden is aesthetic beauty as well as recognition of Chinese traditions, literature, and culture. The garden’s features evoked different feelings. For instance, the sweet scent and the bright colors of the flowers evoked feelings of calmness, passion, and joy. In addition, the pine and bamboo trees evoked feelings of dominance.

The Japanese garden

Common elements of Japanese gardens include architecture, trees and flowers, bridges, water basins, rocks, sand, and gates (Chen, 2011). A thorough study of the Japanese garden at Huntington Library revealed the garden’s design borrows highly from the Japanese style. Both gardens have similar elements though applied differently. The essence of the garden is appreciation of the Japanese culture (Japanese Garden, 2014).

This is evident from the various aspects of Japanese rituals, landscape traditions, horticulture, and workmanship represented by the various structures and features in the garden. Three major features of the garden include the Japanese house, the ceremonial teahouse, as well as the Bonsai collection and Zen court (Japanese Garden, 2014). The Japanese house revealed the architectural aspects of the Japanese culture.

The house was made from Japanese woods and had mobile walls that could be moved to alter the size of the house. The walls could also be moved to create more privacy for inhabitants. The ceremonial teahouse was a representation of the Japanese tea ceremony (Schou, 2012). The teahouse was similar to a tea shop within the Chinese garden. The Zen court held different forms of ancient designs of temple gardens that were common among the Japanese (Japanese Garden, 2014).

Unlike in the Chinese garden, trees in the Japanese garden were well trimmed in order to avoid blocking other garden scenes especially from the comfort of different houses (Schou, 2012). In Japanese culture, gardens are mainly viewed from inside houses that are either within or outside the gardens.

This explains why the various houses had their doors open to give a clear view of the garden. Certain trees were found in both gardens. Examples include pine, bamboo, and lotus. The lotus represented purity while the pine represented longevity. The centrally located moon bridge was visible from different locations within the garden.

Key differences

The two gardens applied different concepts of stone handling. In the Japanese garden, stones formed a part of the landscape. Therefore, they were placed in groups and blended harmoniously into the garden’s landscape. In contrast, stones in the Japanese garden were placed in distinct locations where they could be easily seen. In the Chinese garden, emphasis was laid on water bodies. The water bodies were extensive and conspicuous.

In contrast, water bodies in the Japanese garden were small and narrow. In other places, engravings were used to represent the idea of water. For instance, patterns engraved on rocks and gravel signified water. The use of water bodies within the garden was not as lavish as was the case in the Chinese garden. The Japanese garden utilized certain features to symbolize water (Japanese Garden, 2014). The various garden designs evoked certain feelings. For instance, the bright colors of the flowers evoked feelings of joy and happiness.

Space utilization

In the Chinese garden, buildings were built adjacent to extensive water bodies. In addition, water bodies occupied large spaces too. In the Japanese garden, trees and flowers occupied the largest space compared to other features. Water bodies were limited to small ponds. The Japanese garden utilized large spaces to erect viewing stones that were dominant features in the garden. The mode of space utilization was an indication of the designers’ different intentions for the gardens.

For instance, trees, water, and plants were an indication of the designer’s intention of beauty and enjoyment in the case of the Chinese garden. The water and rocks represented the natural aspect of the garden’s essence. Water edges were lined with weathered rocks that added to its aesthetic appeal (Garden of Flowing Fragrance, 2014). The water added to the garden’s beauty because it reflected the deep blue sky as well as the images of tall bamboo and pine trees, thus creating a beautiful view.

Plants within the garden represented different aspects such as the seasons of the year, uprightness, purity, perseverance, and dominance. In the Japanese garden, focus on houses, rocks, and architecture were indication of the designer’s intention of an appreciation for Japanese culture and aesthetic beauty.

Conclusion

Chinese and Japanese gardens are created from different designs. In addition, they are created for different purposes. The Chinese and Japanese gardens located in the Huntington Library are representations of ancient Japanese and Chinese gardens.

Elements of the Chinese garden that were observed in the Japanese garden include trees such as bamboo, pines, and plums, water bodies, bright flowers, and different aspects of each culture’s architecture. The gardens utilized different designs that made them unique. However, they had several similarities in the choice of elements such as water, rocks, plants, and trees. They were created to preserve and celebrate the traditions and cultures of both communities.

References

Chen, G. (2011). Landscape Architecture. New York: ArchiteG, Inc.

Garden of Flowing Fragrance: Welcome to the Chinese Garden. (2014). Web.

Japanese Garden. (n.d). Web.

Schou, S. (2012). Huntington Library’s Japanese Garden Beautifully Renovated for Centennial.

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