Advanced Japanese Garden
Design Tips
Expanding your knowledge
While gardening has evolved in many different ways around the planet,
and each style has its own unique charms, something about Asian garden
style has captured world-wide attention. Perhaps it is the simple lines
and minimal look. Perhaps it is the utilization of the natural landscape
as the ideal model, intrinsically connecting the viewer to the environment.
Perhaps it’s the whimsy of lanterns, bridges and tea houses that
captures the imagination. All I know is that I was instantly hooked, and
that I needed to know more. And whenever that happens, I start reading,
and when I start reading garden books, I usually buy them. There is an
entire shelf of my garden bookcase dedicated to Asian garden style and
I’ll give you a quick tour to help you choose books on the subject
for your own library.
East meets West
Japanese gardens were my introduction to Asian garden style and make up
the bulk of my topical collection. Unfortunately I do not speak or read
Japanese, so I have had to do all my reading in English. The grandad of
English books on Japanese gardening is a book by Josiah Conder titled
Landscape Gardening in Japan. Conder was an architect of promise who in
1877, at the age of 25, was invited by the Japanese government to become
the first instructor of architecture in the Engineering Department at
the Imperial University, and is generally credited as the person who brought
Western style to the country. Fortunately for us the exchange was not
one way and Conder fell in love with the garden style of his adopted home
(you English are pushovers for a good garden). This led to the release
of The Flowers of Japan and the Art of Floral Arrangement in 1891 and
the treatise being covered here in 1893. Besides being a great historical
snapshot of the state of the Japanese garden at the turn of the century,
it is still one of the best overviews of the topic, explaining why, after
a hundred years, new editions continue to be released. Still the benchmark
for all who follow.
The next great English (American, actually) tome on the Japanese Garden
was Japanese Garden Construction by Samuel Newscom. Newscom felt that
Conder had captured the theoretical aspect of the Japanese garden without
presenting the more practical applications (While Newscom’s book
is certainly more complete in this respect, it is in many ways beholden
to, and some might say derivative of, the earlier work). If I had to choose
one (happily, I do not), I would probably give Newscom the nod. He is
indeed more technically complete and the inclusion of wood block prints
from old Japanese manuscripts makes this a more complete work; in good
Japanese tradition the student has surpassed the master…
East meets East
But I have only touched on books from the West and we are talking about
an Eastern art form. In fact, the first known book on ornamental garden
design was Tachibana No Toshitsuna’s Sakuteiki, written
between 1150 and 1184. We now have a fine translation of that work under
the title of Sakuteiki: Visions of the Japanese Garden, co-written
by Jiro Takei and Marc P. Keane (both esteemed professors
in Kyoto). While Conder’s and Newscom’s works deal with the
physical aspects of the garden, the spirit of the Japanese Garden is captured
in this ancient text.
There is technical detail here in abundance, but the true value of this
book is the historical preamble on the subject and even more so in the
translation itself; while many of the rules hold little meaning in a modern
age, these are easily balanced by the invaluable guidance of others. “If
there are stones that “flee”, then there should be stones
that “chase” after; if there are stones that lean, then there
should be those that lend support; if some proceed then others should
acquiesce; if some face up, then others should face down; and to balance
with stones that stand upright there should also be those that recline.”
A lesson in proper placement of garden stones in a single paragraph;
this is a most remarkable book, and Prof.s Takei and Keane should win
medals for this book.
Stone setting in the Japanese Garden
Another ancient scroll of knowledge was the Senzui Naraba Ni yagyo
no zu (Illustrations for Designing Mountain, Water, and Hillside
Field Landscapes) by Zoen Sojo, now recently translated and commentated
in David A. Slawson’s Secret Teachings In The Art Of Japanese
Gardens. This is another scholarly treatment of an ancient text and
you will gain as much information from the preamble as from the translation.
But again, it is the spirit of the old masters that imparts the truest
wisdoms. Mountain plants in mountain style gardens, seashore plants in
seashore gardens… “When you make a landscape garden, maintain
an attitude of reverence and respect, giving each aspect your full attention.
You should solicit the skills and learning of others, and not simply do
what you alone find interesting.” Reading that passage reminded
me that Zoen was a Zen priest; it was very reminiscent of Dogen Zenji’s
admonishments to his followers on their practice (Zen priests often designed
gardens and were known as ishi tate so, or stone-setting priests). This
book also introduces us to the 48 garden stones (while the subject is
touched on in the preceding tomes, they are cursory on the subject) and
gives brief descriptions for most. A favorite of mine for stone-setting…
Japanese garden design book: If you only buy one...
I know some of you are looking for the one good book on the subject to
add to the library (as a garden bibliophile, I do not grasp the thinking
here, but I will do my best to help out anyway). There are several good
books in my library suited to this task. We have covered Prof. Keane’s
translation of the Sakuteiki, but his book, Japanese
Garden Design
is a far more complete treatise on the subject (Marc Keane is no talking
head; he has a design company in Kyoto and his work can be viewed at mpkeane.com
).
Besides being a masterful historical overview, a deep insight into the
aesthetic, and an excellent study of the design principles and garden
archetypes, this is a beautiful book, as Prof. Keane has had the good
taste and fortune to use Haruzo Ohashi as his photographer (more
on him in a moment). Prof. Keane has condensed an incredibly large and
diverse subject into a manageable size without dismissing a single notable
point; in fact the treatments of Japanese architectural style and their
effect on the garden proper are more complete here than any other book
I own. If I had to pick just one book on the subject, this would probably
be it. Buy
this book.
But wait, there's more!
Another book of value, especially to those who are looking to create their
own Japanese garden, would be Creating Japanese Gardens by Philip
Cave (again, an award winning designer with a practice in London).
It follows much the same format as the previous selection, with a historical
overview, commentaries on some of the most famous gardens and insights
on design principles, but this one is more focused on the how-to aspect
and the line drawings of different features like ponds or waterfalls would
be invaluable to first-time garden designers.
Another book that fits this vein would be Teiji Itoh’s The
Gardens Of Japan. While not the do-it-yourself manual that Mr. Cave’s
book is, this one is full of pictures; indeed every chapter starts with
a series of exquisite color plates that set up the text to follow. History,
design principle, and technique are all covered here as well, but if pictures
are worth a thousand words, then this is the most complete text so far.
This book also looks at the modern Japanese garden; the preceding works
all address the ancient styles and this book helps fill the void on the
more recent stylings in Japan.
If you are looking for a how-to manual that leans heavily into the visual
realm, then look no further than A Japanese Touch For Your Garden by Kiyoshi
Seike, Masanobu Kudo, and David H. Engel. This is not a big book, but
it is so crammed with pictures and photos, all geared for the home gardener,
that it takes an honored and often used space on my shelf. This is the
best treatment on fences and walls that I have found and worth it for
that alone. If you are planning to build your own garden, you should not
be without this book.
Show me photos of Japanese gardens
Perhaps all you want are pretty pictures of Japanese gardens.
The aforementioned Haruzo Ohashi is generally recognized as the premier
photographer of Japanese Gardens (he was also the photographer for the
previous book!) and his three photo essays, The
Japanese Garden: Islands of Serenity,
Japanese
Courtyard Gardens,
and Japanese
Gardens of the Modern Era
are stunningly beautiful books. I have learned nearly as much from these
books as any of the preceding tomes, and for those who are more visually
stimulated, these are the perfect way to view the gardens of Japan without
leaving the armchair.
There are a few books in the collection that aren’t strictly Japanese
garden books, but certainly touch on the subject. Reflections
Of The Spirit by Maggie Oster is certainly in this group; it is
a wonderful look at the style and tradition of the Japanese Garden, but
the photos are all of gardens here in the States. This book is even more
valuable for the lists of plant and ornament sources and another of public
gardens throughout the U.S.; one can read all they’d like on the
subject, but true understanding can only come through experience (a very
Zen take on things), so go visit a Japanese garden near you…
The Book of Tea
Interestingly, the premier book on the tea ceremony was written in English
and in Boston! Okakura Kakuzo was the director of the Asian Art Collection
at the Boston Museum of Fine Art when he wrote The Book Of Tea;
while it touches only briefly on the garden it is still an excellent source
on culture in general. To paraphrase an old Japanese saying, to know one
art is to know all arts, and this book covers the wide appreciation the
Japanese have for culture in general and how that love is brought together
in the tea ceremony. Another great book on the minimalist aesthetic of
Japan is Leonard Koren’s Wabi-Sabi for Artists, Designers, Poets,
& Philosophers. This book is a short yet deep insight into wabi-sabi,
the spirit of simplicity that pervades the best Japanese gardens. To go
further into it would be to attempt explanation of the concept; too large
a task for this article. If you are looking to capture the mystique, the
inner spirit of Japanese design principles, this little book is a key
to unlocking those secrets.
Trees and the Japanese garden
For those who feel that no Japanese garden is complete without a Japanese
maple, J.D. Voorhees classic Japanese Maples is in it’s third edition,
with many new cultivars added. Be aware that this is an international
book and some of these cultivars may be difficult or impossible to locate
in the States.
That said, this is the book for you if you want to know all there is
on Japanese maples. For me, there is no surer sign of the Japanese influence
as when moss is not attacked with lime and chemicals, but nurtured and
cared for as any other garden plant. The only book I have found on the
subject is George Schenk’s wonderful book, Moss Gardening: including
Lichens, Liverworts and Other Miniatures. This is obviously a labor of
love for the author, who covers species, culture and the title-noted relatives
in a erudite, yet conversational manner and provides example from his
own garden and those of acquaintances; this feels more like getting your
info from a knowledgeable friend than a text book on the subject. Lovely
book.
Bamboo is another feature that many associate with Asian gardens (it
is more often found in the fence than in the garden in the old Japanese
gardens, but is more popular today). Bamboos by Christine Recht and Max
F. Wetterwald offers a look at the whole family species by species, along
with propagation and cultivation information. This book is a must for
those looking to introduce bamboo to their garden (doing it without some
prior knowledge can lead to garden disaster of epic proportion!).
Now, consider China
We have concentrated on the Japanese garden so far, but this is an Asian
garden article, so we head across the Sea of Japan to China. While this
is not a long suit of my collection, I do have a few good books on the
subject. First among them is a newer book from an established expert.
Peter Valder is already known to you Aussies and Kiwis from the telly,
if I’m not mistaken; I already knew his award winning book Garden
Plants of China, but his latest one, Gardens in China is a new favorite.
Although the history tends to be a little Anglo-centric, this is more
than compensated for by the regional garden listings, each area of the
country covered for general regional style and then a city by city, garden
by garden tour of the chosen district.
It is in these descriptions of the individual gardens that give us the
truer, native history of each of them, and where Valder’s real understanding
of the subject becomes apparent. It is true that the garden came to Japan
from China (by way of Korea), but the similarities are long gone. I would
say the most obvious difference I can see between the styles is that the
Chinese garden not only shows the hand of man in an obvious way, but the
garden is a place for him to occupy, to live in, whereas the Japanese
garden is a place to view, where the hand of man is implied, but muted,
and nature is always the chief occupant (this IS an editorial comment
and does not necessarily reflect the views of… oh, wait, yes it
does…). But I digress. Peter Valder is a national treasure for you
folks down under, and I’d love to visit Nooroo sometime and talk
Asian gardens. Buy this book…
If you want the history of the Chinese garden, the essential work is
now in its third edition. Maggie Keswick’s 1978 The Chinese Garden:
History, Art and Architecture was many peoples first glimpse into the
world of Chinese gardens and I feel still remains the benchmark work on
the subject (there goes the invite to Nooroo). This is the book that captures
the spirit of the Chinese garden and its place in the life of her people.
The later editions get better and better with the additions of new photos
and text by her husband and others; unfortunately Maggie is no longer
with us. A great loss to the tribe of Garden, but her legacy will live
on for generations to come.
And for those looking to create a Chinese garden for themselves,
David H. Engels Creating a Chinese Garden (out of print) is an excellent
choice for the budding enthusiast. This book touches only briefly on history
and concentrates on design concepts and principles. While the other two
books were very informative and entertaining, this is the one that made
me feel I was beginning to understand the Chinese garden. Truly a must
for the Chinese garden enthusiast.
No discussion of the Chinese garden would be complete without some books
on the greatest contribution of the Chinese to the world of design; feng
shui. Mt first two offerings in this vein apply specifically to the garden.
The Feng Shui Garden by Gill Hale is a good overview for beginners on
a very complex subject (I am always amused when TV designers start to
crow about the feng shui room they are going to design, and then they
simply paint everything red and gold, as if that was all there was to
it). It gives a good synopsis of the different energies and then a section
in the back to provide likely cures for any problems identified. Our next
book is a little more advanced in scope and content. Lillian Too is an
internationally acknowledged expert in the field, and her book Feng Shui
For Gardens is an excellent indicator of just why that is. In her second
publication (her first, The Complete Illustrated Guide to Feng Shui bears
looking at as well), she delves into the deeper intricacies of the science,
but in a matter-of-fact, easy to read manner that doesn’t confuse
or obfuscate the topic. Packed with information, charts and lists, this
is the book to put your garden (this all applies indoors, too) in auspicious
order.
My final book on the subject is R.D. Chin’s Feng
Shui Revealed.
While not specifically a garden book (there is a chapter on that topic),
this is the book that revealed the spirit of the art to me. Covering the
science only briefly, he then dives directly into case studies from his
own consulting business (in New York), and shows not just cause and effect,
or cures for ills, but how to incorporate feng shui into a living area.
The final section is all about feng shui cures and where to use them along
with a problem and solution section I find particularly useful. A wonderful
book for even the dabblers out there.
The rest of Asia
While Japan and China are well covered by gardening books, little seems
available about the gardens of the rest of the continent. One man however
is trying to right that wrong single-handedly. Lucca Invernizzi Tettoni
has photographed and penned 5 books on just that subject. The Balinese
Garden covers the gardens of that country in a garden by garden manner,
Sarawak Style reviews the gardens of that region in the same manner, and
my favorite, Thai Garden Style (with William Warren), is a treatment of
that nation’s gardens in the same format.
The Tropical Garden and the newer Tropical Asian Style both take a multi-cultural
tour of the region and may be the perfect books for those looking for
a single book on the topic. These are all dazzling books; the photography
could only be surpassed by the beauty of its subject and anyone who reads
these books and doesn’t long for instantaneous transportation should
have their sanity called to question. Wonderful works from a true professional;
it makes me wonder what I was thinking when I chose to be a designer,
when tropical garden photographer was one of the other choices!
This brings my particular list to a close; again, this is a list of personal
favorites and is not meant to be a complete listing (any tomes of knowledge
you feel I have left hanging should be brought to my attention by contacting
us at the website). I hope I have inspired you to read up on this fascinating
aspect of gardening and to add to your own library. At the very least,
I hope I was helpful…
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