FEATURES OF THE TSUKI-YAMA
Although Japanese gardens are designed in accordance with
long-established and significant conventions, there are countless
variations of elaboration, individual artistry, and size. Fig. 34 is
a composite drawing specially designed to show principal features
and. their position. This should be read in conjunction with the
following notes.
It should, however, be recognized that the drawing is not
intended to be a design for an actual garden but to give a comprehensive idea of the balance, symmetry and underlying spirit
peculiar to the Japanese garden and which the minigardener
should endeavour to feel. A dish garden may only include a
mountain, guardian stone, a tree and a lake, but the principles
suggest that these features should be placed in recognized positions such as indicated on our master drawing.
In the notes below, the major features are printed in bold face
type; Japanese names in italics; and the numbers refer to those
on the drawing, Fig. 34.
MOUNTAINS AND HILLS
There are five conventional mountains or hills. Tai-San (1)
the Principal Mountain on which major features are placed.
Oko-Yama (2) the Distant Mountain. Ko-Yama (3) Lower
Middle Mountain. Tomo-Yama (4) Companion or Side
Mountain, probably backed by fringe of foliage trees, and with
winding pathway to small house or shrine placed in a plantation.
Ko-San (5) Lower or Foreground Hill.
WATER, BRIDGES AND ISLANDS
Water is usually represented in a lake form, probably triangular
in shape, rimmed with sandy beaches interspersed with small
inlets made by projecting spits and promontories which are sometimes formed with rock slabs. The Lake (6) is fed either by a
River (7), a Cascade (8), or both. The overflow or water
outlet is represented at (9) in the traditional way of the watercourse following the sun.
The Cascade may be one of ten types. Usually either Left
or Right Falling, Wide or Thread, or Stepped. The less common
types are Linen, Heaven or Falding. The source of the water is
concealed and the cascade has its own special attendant stones
and trees.
Islands are included only in the more elaborate styles and
when used are given distinctive names such as Master's Isle and
Mountain, Field, Forest, Cloud and Guest Islands. Each usually
has its own stone and tree, but where islands are not used these
latter features may be planted beside the lake.
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