Far from being mere horticultural spaces, gardens often serve as semantic landscapes. Much like religious paintings, they offer tangible representations of abstract concepts, allowing us to visualize the unseen.

A striking example is the rock garden at Chion-in Temple in Kyoto. Amidst a sea of vibrant azaleas, the carefully arranged rocks symbolize Amida Buddha and his 25 Bodhisattvas, descending from heaven on clouds represented by the pruned azalea bushes. This garden becomes a powerful tool for spiritual contemplation, offering a visual representation of hope and transcendence.
When I encountered this garden, it resonated with a painting I had seen, “Welcoming Descent of Amida and Bodhisattvas.” Though different in medium, both works share a common goal: to depict the divine and offer solace.
By imbuing gardens with meaning and symbolism, we elevate them beyond mere aesthetic objects. They become spaces that inspire, uplift, and connect us to something greater than ourselves.