Gardens of Japan

Early gardens in Japan were strongly influenced by those developed by the imperial courts of China.

Few of these Asuka period (538-710) gardens remain today, but their focus upon expressing Buddhism and Taoism through replicating the mountainous regions in China can still be seen in more modern day versions.

During the Heian period (794-1185), the rocks, ponds and islands largely lost their religious significance and were used to evoke famous Japanese beauty spots and scenes depicted from literary masterpieces such as the Tales of Genji.

In the early Kamakura period (1185-1336) Zen gardens emerged, designed to provide a contemplative setting in which to meditate and usually intended to be admired from within a building such as a teahouse.