Dry water is quite common in Japanese gardens, and it is very eye catching too. Wait a minute, I can hear you questioning the term ‘dry water’- it’s a contradiction in terms isn’t it? Well, YES and NO! And it’s the NO part I am going to concentrate on in this small article. However let me clarify the rules of water sources and features in these particular types of gardens.
Water sources in these types of gardens should appear as natural as potential and blend in with the surroundings. Fountains do not exists in Japanese gardens, waterfalls sure, however fountains no. They are man made and not ‘natural’ in appearance. Don’t get me wrong I’m not ‘fountainist’ it’s just with Japanese gardens there are specific rules that should be observed. If you happen to really wanted a fountain in a Japanese garden, it’s not a heinous crime however your garden would not be wholly genuine!
Streams- nearly always man-made are a big part of Japanese gardening, they usually are built with curves giving them a more natural appearance. The positioning of lanterns is more usually than not by streams or ponds within a garden. This represents the feminine and the male elements of ‘water’ and ‘fire’.
This concept is known in Japanese tradition as YIN and YANG. Any stream in a Japanese garden will have deliberate imperfections designed into it, in order to offer the ‘water’ a ‘natural’ look and an organic feel. The shapes of ponds must also look natural for this reason as well.
Water is never placed within the centre of the garden- particularly ponds. these will often have larger stones within them to simulate islands. Generally it is widespread for them to have a smallish waterfall. The usage of stones is always very structural and symmetrical. This also applies to the all varieties of oriental gardens.
OK, that’s the wet stuff out of the way. Let’s move onto the concept and usage of ‘Dry Water’ in Zen gardens. In Zen gardens it is pretty straight forward- sand is used to duplicate water and this makes smaller landscape reproductions far easier. A Zen backyard will more typically than not show a miniature panorama with mounds for mountains and sand to depict water. The sand is raked to offer it’s ‘watery’ appearance and could be raked in several types time and again again.
In Japanese gardens ‘Dry water’ is featured more often than not in ‘Karesansui’ gardens. It is one of the in style types you’ll be able to visit or try and design and build and within the English language it means ‘Dry mountain stream’. These types of Japanese gardens are know merely as ‘Dry’ gardens and are closely influenced by Zen Buddhism. They are peaceful, easy and waterless- rocks are used to symbolise land plenty and the ‘Dry water’ -or- SAND/GRAVEL is raked to make it look like the sea or a large body of water. Brilliantly intelligent and with which means too.
Many hundreds of years ago this type of garden was built by ‘Senzui Kawarami’ in a easy English translation this means ‘Mountain, Stream and Riverbed individuals’. They have been master craftsmen by trade and vocation and specialised in building these beautiful Zen influenced gardens. It’s usually accepted by Scholars that these types of gardens design originated in China as does a great deal of Japanese garden history and influences. But that is one other story…
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