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Japanese Sand and Stone garden
The dry landscape, or sand and stone garden, is traditionally associated with Zen temples. Often walled, so that the eye is not distracted by distant views, Zen gardens are created as an aid to meditation, where nature is suggested by using only stones, raked gravel, and a very minimum amount of plants.
Representations of water and hills are created through the skillful use of bold rocks and stretches of mowed turf, fine gravel, coarse sand, or, possibly, "pools" or "streams" of flat, waterworn stones. When gravel or sand is used, it is often raked to produce patterns - straight and placid, or swirling to suggest flowing water.
The stones tend to be positioned so that they tell a tale of a famous battle, or to portray a legendary dragon. Often, the tallest rock is a sentinel stone (see image above) that symbolizes the Buddha, or is representative of a caring, compassionate figure. Smaller stones are often accompanying "children", young animals, smaller forest creatures, or fictitous elves or pranksters.
The symbolism is meant to be profound, and an observation bench is provided for prolonged meditation. In Japan, dry gardens are viewed from a veranda and not entered, as this would disrupt the delicate relationship and scale of the composition.
Recipe for "sand" for your zen garden
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