ROCKY ISLANDS IN A SEA OF GRAVEL
THE stereotypical Japanese garden is dominated by perfectly raked gravel and a few precisely shaped rocks, all pregnant with meaning. This is the basis for just one style, called dry gardens, or karesansui, and these originated as an offshoot of Zen Buddhism, which was introduced to Japan from China in the 12th century. By the middle of the 15th century they were popular in Kyoto, where there are scores of them, with Ryoan-ji perhaps the most famous.
In early Zen gardens gravel was used as a symbol for water. The process of raking – with a heavy bamboo rake that leaves deep drills – is part of the meditation. Empty spaces of gravel represent mu, or the nothingness necessary to allow the mind to become enlightened.
They also symbolise waves as they go around rocks representing islands, mountains – including Shumisen, the mythical, sacred mountain – and the two established symbols of longevity, the turtle and crane. As well as single rocks having significance, groupings are also important. So you often see groups of three, or triads, that represent the Buddha in his three states – his essence, his heavenly manifestation and his earthly form – with a large central stone and two smaller attendant ones. Arranging them is the most elevated of all garden design, and is done by carefully selecting individual rocks then working on the arrangement – similar to ikebana, or flowerarranging. People would go to great lengths and expense to get rocks they considered exceptional – anyone viewing them would think highly of the designer and owner.