DOI Heft:
No. 4 (July, 1893)
DOI Artikel:Holme, C. Geoffrey: Artistic gardens in Japan
DOI Seite / Zitierlink: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.17188#0148
Artistic Gardens in Japan
well-known scene in his own country, or in sense of the presence of water may be suggested to
China; just as though, if an Englishman, he the onlooker. So well are these streamlet beds
might strive to reproduce the beauties of the Strid imitated, so naturally are the stones and boulders
in Bolton Woods, or the Fairy Glen at Bettws-y- placed, that their artificiality is not felt. In the
Coed. But often he takes for himself a theme of photograph of a garden at Yokohama such a bed
an abstract nature and endeavours in his arrange- is shown.
merits to express a sentiment, as of " retirement," The presence of a waterfall in a garden is greatly
"meditation," "long life," or "fidelity." In the appreciated in Japan. Although it may be entirely
majority of cases simplicity is aimed at rather than man-made, it is arranged with so much care in the
redundancy. Lavish display and vulgarity are selection of naturally worn stones on which the
mmm
wm- f fit
fee ^^m&A
Ilpp
FROM THE " TSUKI YAMA NIWAZUKURI DEN "
synonymous in the Japanese mind. It is of course moss and lichen have been undisturbed, with so
difficult at first to understand how such principles much attention in the faithful copying of all the
can be expressed in the arrangement of a garden, features incident to it in nature, that, as in the
but when it is understood that the Japanese have, case of the one in the Fukiage garden in Tokio,
as it were, a language of trees and rocks, as well as of illustrated on page r3i, the effect is entirely satisfac-
flowers, the solution of the difficulty becomes more tory. Here is nature in her most picturesque
feasible. The art, like that of landscape painting, mood simulated to perfection,
lies in selection. In the planning of a garden the In large gardens such effects are possible, and
design should depend in the first instance on the even higher flights are attempted. Hills and glens,
natural features which the land presents. If of a lakes and islands, of imposing dimensions, are arti-
hilly nature, the irregularities may be accentuated ficially produced, and in a Japanese work entitled
in places to produce more notable effect. If there Tsuki Yama Niwazukuri Den—or, " Designs for
be a stream running through it, consideration may Hill Gardens "—a number of interesting drawings
be given to develop its many possibilities. If the are shown, and the ethics of the subject fully treated,
garden be quite flat and featureless then artificial The Mito garden at Tokio is an excellent illustra-
mounds may be made, and streamlet beds devised, tion of the more important class of garden arrange-
in which water-worn stones are placed, that the ments. It is laid out in such a manner that it is
130
well-known scene in his own country, or in sense of the presence of water may be suggested to
China; just as though, if an Englishman, he the onlooker. So well are these streamlet beds
might strive to reproduce the beauties of the Strid imitated, so naturally are the stones and boulders
in Bolton Woods, or the Fairy Glen at Bettws-y- placed, that their artificiality is not felt. In the
Coed. But often he takes for himself a theme of photograph of a garden at Yokohama such a bed
an abstract nature and endeavours in his arrange- is shown.
merits to express a sentiment, as of " retirement," The presence of a waterfall in a garden is greatly
"meditation," "long life," or "fidelity." In the appreciated in Japan. Although it may be entirely
majority of cases simplicity is aimed at rather than man-made, it is arranged with so much care in the
redundancy. Lavish display and vulgarity are selection of naturally worn stones on which the
mmm
wm- f fit
fee ^^m&A
Ilpp
FROM THE " TSUKI YAMA NIWAZUKURI DEN "
synonymous in the Japanese mind. It is of course moss and lichen have been undisturbed, with so
difficult at first to understand how such principles much attention in the faithful copying of all the
can be expressed in the arrangement of a garden, features incident to it in nature, that, as in the
but when it is understood that the Japanese have, case of the one in the Fukiage garden in Tokio,
as it were, a language of trees and rocks, as well as of illustrated on page r3i, the effect is entirely satisfac-
flowers, the solution of the difficulty becomes more tory. Here is nature in her most picturesque
feasible. The art, like that of landscape painting, mood simulated to perfection,
lies in selection. In the planning of a garden the In large gardens such effects are possible, and
design should depend in the first instance on the even higher flights are attempted. Hills and glens,
natural features which the land presents. If of a lakes and islands, of imposing dimensions, are arti-
hilly nature, the irregularities may be accentuated ficially produced, and in a Japanese work entitled
in places to produce more notable effect. If there Tsuki Yama Niwazukuri Den—or, " Designs for
be a stream running through it, consideration may Hill Gardens "—a number of interesting drawings
be given to develop its many possibilities. If the are shown, and the ethics of the subject fully treated,
garden be quite flat and featureless then artificial The Mito garden at Tokio is an excellent illustra-
mounds may be made, and streamlet beds devised, tion of the more important class of garden arrange-
in which water-worn stones are placed, that the ments. It is laid out in such a manner that it is
130