ABSTRACT
We have now seen the Japanese garden from the perspective of its themes and landform. Although Japanese gardens do not contain significant statues or monuments, they can represent various philosophies and narratives as well as the beauty of nature. A Japanese garden is built not only with natural elements – soil, water, rocks, and plants – but also built elements such as lanterns, basins, bridges, and huts. A pond, a stream, mountains, a waterfall, islands, rocks, built elements, and plants are the major components of Japanese gardens. The Japanese consider elements composed with rocks the permanent backbone of a garden, whereas plantings are vulnerable elements subject to transformation. This chapter introduces the many kinds of symbolism expressed by the basic elements of the Japanese garden, from the larger, more permanent elements to the smaller, more vulnerable ones.
