karesansui

Karesansui, also known as dry landscape or rock garden, is a Japanese garden style that uses gravel or sand to symbolize water, with rocks representing islands and mountains. It typically features minimal plant life and a disciplined arrangement of elements designed to invite quiet reflection.

The style originated in the Muromachi period under Zen Buddhism, developing in temple gardens in Kyoto and surrounding areas. Ryoan-ji in Kyoto is one of the best-known examples, famed for its simple rectangular enclosure and fifteen rocks set in a sea of gravel. Daisen-in at Daitoku-ji and other temples of the era contributed variations that emphasize restraint, balance, and the expression of nature through abstraction.

Design and symbolism are central to karesansui. Gravel or sand is carefully raked into patterns that evoke waves, ripples, or flowing water. Rocks are positioned to suggest islands, mountains, or landforms, while occasional moss or small plants provide subtle contrast. The garden is not a literal landscape but a focal point for meditation, inviting contemplation of emptiness, impermanence, and the ineffable harmony between human creation and nature.

Maintenance is deliberate and ongoing. The gravel is regularly raked to preserve patterns, and gravel beds may be replenished or repositioned. Plants, if present, are kept subdued and indirect, often limited to moss. Today, karensansui has influenced private and public gardens worldwide, appearing in modern interpretations that preserve the core principles of simplicity, balance, and contemplative space.