Characterised by rock formations that mimic water and other natural features, Karesansui – literally ‘dry landscape’ – or stone gardens are the epitome of Japanese gardening. Also known as ‘Zen gardens’ outside of Japan, they have a rich history dating back to the 12th century.

Today’s stone gardens aren’t just stagnant copies of traditional garden architecture, but a constantly evolving expression of Zen thought, found everywhere from temple grounds to museums and even modern houses. Learn more about the origins of these tranquil, thought-provoking landscapes, and get inspired to create your own.

Origins of the stone garden

The oldest known description of the stone garden is found in the Sakuteiki, or Records of Garden Making, a text written in the late Heian period (11th century). It reads, “A garden of arranged stones that has neither a pond nor a stream shall be called a dry landscape garden, one that expresses a water-filled natural landscape without the actual presence of water.”

We don’t know exactly what this kind of garden would have looked like at the time, as none from the late Heian period still exist. And later Japanese gardening practices were heavily influenced by Zen philosophy, which was not yet widespread in Japan at the time when the So the gardens it describes may have been somewhat different from their modern incarnations. Even so, it’s clear that the key feature of a stone garden – the idea of “seeing” water in a dry landscape – already existed.

Two factors influenced their further evolution into the modern forms.

Zen teachings

The first factor was the spread of Zen thought throughout Japan. This school of Buddhism came to Japan from China, and became widespread from the Kamakura period to the Edo period (from the late 12th to early 16th centuries).

The first fully-fledged stone garden was created in Kyoto’s Saihoji Zen temple by the famous gardener-monk, Muso Soseki. His work holds a very important place in the history of Japanese gardening.

Muso was summoned to reconstruct the nearly forsaken Saihoji – formerly dedicated to another school of Buddhism, Pure Land Buddhism – as a Zen temple. The reconstruction entailed numerous changes, including modifications to the garden. Muso decided to create a stone garden as a place for monks to practice Zen. Rocks hold a special place in Zen thought as expressions of the force of nature, and one Zen practice involves the contemplation of rocks as a way of becoming aware of that which is invisible.

2. Bonkei and Sansuiga 

The second factor that led to the development of the modern-day stone garden was the influence of the bonkei and sansuiga art forms. Bonkei, or ‘tray scenery’, is the practice of arranging sand, stones and tiny plants on a tray to create a miniature replica of natural scenery. It is from bonkei that the famous Japanese bonsai tradition evolved. Such trays were displayed at celebrations as decoration for the interior of a house.

Sansuiga was a style of landscape painting that was popular among Zen priests. Both of these art forms influenced the aesthetics and style of composition employed in stone gardens.

How the stone garden evolved

These two factors were what led to the development of the current type of stone garden. This new form also fit well with the advent of the wabi-sabi aesthetic, or the appreciation of that which is imperfect or incomplete. Stone gardens therefore began to be adopted outside of Zen temples as samurai and merchants began to create their own.

However, around the 18th century, in the middle of the Edo period (1603–1867), naturalistic gardens that favoured living plants stole the spotlight for a time, meaning that fewer stone gardens were built.

They experienced a resurgence in the Showa period (20th century), when gardener and garden historian Mirei Shigemori created more than 200 stone gardens, now deemed to be timeless.

Despite holding to the traditional rules of stone arrangement, his gardens weren’t blind imitations of the old ways. Instead, he combined his own innovations and modern aesthetics with traditional forms.

Symbolism

Stone gardens are rich in symbolism, many reflecting Zen thought and ancient Chinese philosophies. It’s necessary to be able to read this further layer of meaning in order to fully appreciate these gardens as more than just a collection of rocks.