ABSTRACT

One of the great achievements of the cha-no-yu garden was the devising Steppingof the stepping-stones which combines beauty with use. Some tea-masters Stones and maintained that the resthetic value should have a slight preponderance over Stone convenience in using them, while others vice versa. Stones with more Pavement. or less flat or slightly convex natural surfaces are selected and generally they should not be too big to be walked over with one step, though there are exceptions, none being too small if it has a sufficient space to securely rest a foot. Any apparent regularity should be avoided, as the beauty of the stepping-stones is best obtained by studied irregularity. The flight of chidori (sunderlings) with a tattered irregularity, and that of wild geese with variety in sizes and shapes of the stones used, are often taken as patterns. The order of the sequence in placing differently shaped stones needs study and practice. The indented part of the one should be supplemented by pointing towards it the projection of the next. Sometimes a small extra stone is added at the side whenever required. The distance between the stones should be somewhat varied, but approximately five or six inches are allowed, and they should be about two to five inches exposed above the ground. Too wide a space between the stones makes it difficult to step over, and embedded too high will prove a danger. Larger stones -and the size should be appropriate to the area of the garden-may be about seven to five inches apart and about three inches or so above the ground. The height takes into consideration the growth of moss on the ground and also pine needles with which the ground is covered in order to protect the moss or the ground against frost.