How Are Stones Used In Japanese Garden Design?

          Stones are an extremely important part of Japanese garden design though the origin of their usage is so ancient it remains a mystery. The roots stem from animistic and Shinto beliefs that are integral to Japanese culture and garden design.

           The settling of stones is thought to be a grounding ritual. Early Japanese gardens began with the placing of significant stones, with the garden being built up around them. The act itself has much spiritual meaning, and is linked to the deepest aesthetic values. Stones were so important in Japanese history that during the Muromachi period there were people assigned to locating important and symbolic stones from the banks of the Kamo River in Kyoto.

          The stones are placed to cast shadows from the sun, to highlight the rising of the moon and to adorn ponds as well as providing an essential material for footpaths. Stones are also used in dry garden areas to represent mountains or water.