Zen Garden Design. Shunmyo Masuno

       In Japan there are gardens made only of gravel and rocks, called sekitei, or rock gardens, which came to the attention of the world in the latter half of the twentieth century. However, given Japan’s long history of gardens, other types of unique gardens have existed for a very much longer time.

      The first true garden form that came into existence in Japan originated from the initial Buddhist culture that entered Japan from continental Asia in the sixth century, during the Asuka period (c. 552–710). Regarding religion, the garden came into existence as a combination of Buddhism mixed into Taoism, following traditional Chinese religious practice. To be specific, the main feature was the creation of an island within a pond. The pond represented the ocean, and the island symbolized Mount Hōrai in China (the mountain of Eight Immortals in Chinese mythology). It is said that within Mount Hōrai live hermits who make elixirs that, when imbibed, impart immortality.

      Mount Hōrai-style gardens with their groupings of ponds and islands continued for a long time, from the latter half of the Nara period (710–794) until the Heian period (794–1185), when the style transformed considerably, and Jōdo (Pure Land)-style gardens came into existence. This style was the result of significant changes in religion in Japan. The role of Buddhism shifted from protecting the country to a focus on individual salvation. The political regime changed, with aristocrats substantially seizing power in place of the emperor. And rather than the old teachings of Buddhism, which expressed anxiety at the arrival of Mappō, or the age of decadence and degeneration of Buddha’s law after death, people placed their trust in Amitabha (Amida Buddha, the principle Buddha in Pure Land Buddhism) and sincerely wished to die peacefully in the Western Pure Land of Amitabha. In Buddhist history, this ideology is known as Jōdoshū, or Pure Land Buddhism.

      In order to express this ardent wish, a statue of Amitabha, resplendent with gold color, was erected with a garden in the image of the Pure Land created around it. Specifically, a pond replete with formal variation was constructed and represented the ocean, with the pond’s edge acting as the sandy beach. A pine tree was planted on a large island in the pond, with the gold-colored Amitabha statue placed in a glittering vermilion and gold enshrinement hall. From the shoreline, the statue could be approached by crossing an arched taikobashi bridge.

      Without question, we understand this Jōdo-style garden originating from the Pure Land Buddhism established in the Heian period as the foundation of Japanese gardens that