Garden styles

The earliest recorded Japanese gardens were pleasure gardens (784-1185). These gardens were found within the mansions (shinden) of the elite which combined buildings linked by corridors bordering on a pond. One feature of the paradise gardens were pavilions that connected to the main household by covered bridges.

Chinese gardens has a huge affect on early Japanese gardens, particularly once Buddhism had a firm foothold in Japan. During the 7th to 9th centuries Japanese delegations were sent to China and many Japanese gardens during this period were modest reproductions of Tang Dynasty imperial gardens.

During years of civil unrest and tensions with China (1185-1573), Buddhist monasteries functioned as centers of learning and culture. During this time Buddhist traditions including Zen began to color the design of Japanese gardens and Japanese rock gardens became popular.

In the late 16th century, Japanese political power was consolidated and a number of military leaders took over the reigns of government. During this period gardens became symbols of power meant to seen from above, larger gardens, more pools, grand bridges and combinations of styles such as Zen rock gardens became the norm. Toyotomi Hideyoshi's garden at Samboin was said to have been built to view the blossoming of cherry trees. This period saw the beginnings of tea ceremonies, houses and gardens.

During the Edo period (1615-1876), although the emperor remained in Kyoto, the political seat moved to Edo (modern Toyko) and a period of isolationism began. During this time a new Japanese architectural style developed, it was called Sukiya, which means building according to a particular taste. This style is demonstrated most famously at the Katsura Imperial Villa in Kyoto. Simple, undecorated buildings which open up to gardens so seemlessly that they appear to be part of the structure itself. It was all about the views of natural landscape at this time, views which through open windows or doors appeared as paintings or drawings.

The period from 1868-1912 is known as the Meiji period which saw the modernizing of Japan and an end to isolation. Many of the older Kyoto gardens were left abandoned during this time although some were transformed into pubic parks.

The Twentieth Century has seen the period of the Modern Japanese garden, no longer a statement of individual taste and power, gardens are now extensions of buildings designed often by architects and using materials such as concrete.