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Rocks and Stones
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Rocks
and stones bring powerful symbolism to a Zen
garden. |
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creators of Japanese Zen gardens have a strong appreciation
of rocks - striking rocks with character. |
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| Rocks and Stones |
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The timeless quality of
rock can be contrasted with the fluid quality of sand - to express
both the permanence and changeability of the world.
Formations of rock
may be composed to resemble a mountain range in miniature, while smaller
groups can symbolize the Isles of the Blessed in the Western Seas.
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Some
of the most popular and powerful rock groupings in Japanese
gardens are those that represent the crane and turtle. But
these representations remain deliberately vague because
it is up to the onlooker of the Zen garden to approach
each arrangement of stone individually.
You
may put any rocks in the garden you wish - some that are
eccentric or fiery, saintly, heroic or flat like a boat.
Rocks
once chosen, are not simply placed on the surface but
buried two-thirds into the ground, to appear as natural
outcrops.
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The direction of the rocks edges and ridges and their
overall placement in relation to each other are carefully
considered to allow the free expression of their natural
energy. Rocks
are composed of uneven numbers of stones, positioned in
a triangular shape to create an asymmetrical balance -
a symmetrical balance is considered out of kilter with
nature.
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The number three is considered auspicious and represents
heaven, earth and humanity.
A vertical rock is used to symbolize heaven as the strata
of the rock points heavenwards; a rock placed with its
breaklines horizontally symbolizes earth; and a diagonally
placed rock represents humanity. |
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Japanese
garden masters also regard the numbers seven and five
as auspicious and rocks in Zen gardens are arranged with
this in mind.
Naturally occurring rocks
are never the same shape and size, therefore it would
be wrong not to have a variety of differently shaped
rocks and boulders in your garden.
Stones are the foundation of the garden.
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Gravel
and Sand
Sand
in the rock garden creates simplicity and serenity. Usually the sand, symbolizing the empty mind, is raked
in swirls, resembling the way water edges stones and islands.
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The
swirls can impart a feeling of raging or gentle lapping
water, depending on their design. The
sand also symbolizes the ocean around the island of Japan
while the rocks placed in the garden, represent Japan
itself.
Various
colours of sand can also be used as in real rock gardens
- black to give an imposing formality, brown for a subdued
and refined look and the purest white to set off the rocks
even more starkly. Spontaneity and experimentation are
the key.
The Zen garden is after all a launching pad - a place to
take off from and come back to.
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