
These features add a sense of distance, and you can use them as a focal point to aid meditation. Try different layouts to see what natural elements the design calls to mind.Ī zen garden can also contain a simple bridge or path and lanterns made of rock or stone. Upright or vertical stones can be used to represent trees, while flat, horizontal stones represent water. The symbolism of the stones in a zen garden is one of the most important design elements. The result should encourage introspection and meditation. You can add plants, but keep them to a minimum and use low, spreading plants instead of upright ones. Place rocks on top of the sand to make a soothing pattern. Sand raked into a round, spiral or rippled pattern represents the sea.
ZEN GARDEN SAND HOW TO
How to Create a Zen GardenĬarefully raked sand or gravel with precisely placed rocks are the main parts of a zen garden. The design and structure of the gardens have been refined over the years, but the basic structure remains the same.

Later, they began using the gardens to teach zen principles and concepts. In the sixth century, Zen Buddhist monks created the first zen gardens to aid in meditation. Zen gardens emphasize the principles of naturalness (Shizen), simplicity (Kanso), and austerity (koko). If you’re more likely to find serenity in the natural look of a woodland setting and find peace when surrounded by wildflowers and soft-textured plants, you should think about a more traditional or natural garden. Zen gardens, also called Japanese rock gardens, appeal to people who like carefully controlled settings of raked sand or rocks and precisely clipped shrubs.

Read this article to find out more about Japanese zen gardens so you can reap the benefits they provide. Creating a zen garden is a great way to reduce stress, improve your focus, and develop a sense of well-being.
