How Is Sand Used In A Japanese Garden?

          Sand is an important element of any Japanese garden design. Its origin lies steeped in Japanese indigenous religion and history. The sand was used to mark Shinto shrines which were originally set up in clearings in the forest. The sand was used to purify the area and make it respectable and worthy of the kami or Shinto gods.

          The sand is usually white in colour, or may be in the form of white or beige granite pebbles. During the Heian period, sand was used to mark important and royal buildings, marking the divine ancestry of the inhabitants. It was later placed between south ponds and the residence of important noble men to mark their importance. Raked sand is a common feature, particularly of Zen gardens.

          The ritualistic raking provides calm and shows perseverance, with the raked patterns representing the movement of water. Sand is also used in dry gardens, in place of water. In this instance it is used to represent streams and rivers, sometimes with bridges crossing over for authenticity.