Gardenvisit.com The Garden Guide

Book: Landscape Gardening in Japan, 1912
Chapter: Chapter 12. Garden Composition

Rocks in rough style Hill Gardens Tsukiyama

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The comparatively large scale of rocks in this rough style enables them to be occasionally employed in place of hillocks, to assist in balancing elevated land contours. In addition to a function of this kind, Stone 3 is said to take the place of the "Perfect View Stone," and should have some thick-leaved tree or shrub behind it. No. 4 is the indispensable "Worshipping Stone,"�the principal reclining stone of all gardens. Placed on the edge of the stream, it also serves in this abbreviated design as the "Idling Stone," referred to under No. 10, in Plate XXV. Stone 5, in the west, is the "Seat of Honour Stone," together with a companion stone and bushes, and backed with a clump of young trees occupying the position of the "Tree of the Evening Sun." No. 6 is a stepped stone placed on the bank of the stream to the east, here fulfilling the function of the "Waiting Stone." In this example of the rough style of Hill Garden the sheet of water becomes a mere stream, having its source behind the "Guardian Stone" with its accompanying rocks; by this means the idea of the cascade inlet is, to some extent, maintained. The stream is crossed by a single bridge, constructed simply of round logs. The water basin in the east foreground becomes very rough and primitive in form, and only one stone lantern is introduced, this being in the background of the garden. The stepping stones attain comparatively great size and importance, No. 9� the "Pedestal Stone," and No. 10�the "Label Stone," being specially arranged.