Japanese Gardens vs. Western Gardens

by Abbey Terreno

Japanese Gardens vs Western Gardens

Japanese gardens can be found at Buddhist temples or Shinto shrines but they are finding their way into many famous western landmarks such as the Japanese Tea Gardens in San Franciso, California and the Chicago Botanic Garden. These beautiful gardens are also popular in private homes.

What is the difference between a Japanese garden and a Western garden?

The Western garden usually has more of a utilitarian purpose. The Japanese garden is intended to represent nature.

The Western garden may use a variety of colors, such as in a floral border. The Japanese garden focuses mainly on the color green with trees and shrubs providing a subtle variety of shades. If color is used at all, it is usually in a solid block.

Western gardens often have large trees along with smaller shrubs that may have been trimmed into geometric shapes. Japanese gardens like to train plants and trees to try and capture the essential shape of the plant.

Most Western gardeners tend to employ a 50-50 symmetrical balance with a central focus point. Japanese gardens have a 60-40 or 70-30 balance and the focal point is never in the center of the garden.

While both Western and Japanese gardens use water, stone and other garden elements, the Western gardens typically feature fountains, benches and statuary that are meant to stand out against the natural background. The Japanese gardens will contain rustic stone, lanterns, water basins and bamboo fences which blend in with their natural surroundings.

Whether for viewing from a path or for sitting in contemplation, the Japanese garden will provide a beautiful Eastern oasis to the hurried Western world.

Abbey Terreno loves to share her extensive knowledge on gardening and landscape design. See more of her articles at http://www.completelandscapedesign.com.