Gardens as Semantic Landscapes: A Reflection on Design and Spirituality
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 […]
Japanese gardens and Christianity
Although Japanese gardens were influenced by Buddhism significantly, there is some controversy that Christianity also influenced Japanese gardens to some extent. I am interested in this topic because Japanese people have been open to adapting to something new. The first encounter of Christianity for Japanese people was with the Portuguese Catholic in 1549. It was […]
From the Outside In
“From the outside in” is our company’s motto. When we design a house, we always think about achieving an intimate relationship with its garden. Not to mention designing a garden. This idea is rooted in Japanese culture. It is natural for us. There are many houses shut to the outside. We believe that “From the […]
Garden for Pure Land
Historically, no matter where it is, some gardens have been the place where people materialize their ideal world. Gardens in Japan are no exception. Buddhism was introduced to Japan in the sixth century. Then, it made people visualize the image of the place where they wanted to be after death. Sukhāvatī, or Gokuraku-Jodo in Japanese, […]
Imperfection in Japanese gardens
“The flow of the river never ceases, and the water never stays the same…” This is the opening phrase of Hojoki, a famous Japanese essay by Kamono Chomei in the 13 century. Almost all Japanese children learn this in their schools. I think that transience is something that many Japanese hold in their minds, which […]
