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Japanese Rock Garden

Japanese Rock Garden by vgm8383.
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This photo was taken at the Japanese Rock Garden at the Huntington Library. According to Wikipedia:

A Japanese rock garden (枯山水, karesansui?), sometimes mistakenly called a Zen garden, is an enclosed shallow sandpit containing sand, gravel, rocks, and occasionally grass or other natural elements. The main elements of karesansui are rocks and sand, with the sea symbolized not by water but by sand raked in patterns that suggest rippling water. Plants are much less important (and sometimes nonexistent) in many karesansui gardens. Karesansui gardens are often, but not always, meant to be viewed from a single, seated position. Some Westerners believe that karesansui gardens can be used to calm human minds, but they were not intended for such in their native Japanese settings.

There have been many attempts to explain the karesansui garden's layout. Some of these are:

* The gravel represents ocean and the rocks represent the islands of Japan
* The rocks represent a mother tiger with her cubs, swimming to a dragon
* The rocks form part of the kanji for heart or mind

See Ryōan-ji for a mathematical analysis of a rock garden.

A recent suggestion by Gert van Tonder of Kyoto University and Michael Lyons, of Ritsumeikan University, is that the rocks form the subliminal image of a tree. This image cannot be consciously perceived when looking at them; the researchers claim the subconscious mind is able to see a subtle association between the rocks. They believe this is responsible for the calming effect of the garden and is also made to have a quiet place for meditation, however their comments are speculation and not supported by Japanese traditions.

In the West, Japanese rock gardens are sometimes called Zen gardens, but most well-informed experts shun the term. The term was probably first used in 1935, by the American writer Loraine Kuck in her book 100 Gardens of Kyoto. 

Comments

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redknave says:


Your Photo Wins a Heart
From Heart Awards Group
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

Finestkind Fotography [deleted] says:


Your Photo Wins a Heart
From Heart Awards Group
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

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DPiero  Pro User  says:


Your Photo Wins a Heart
From Heart Awards Group
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

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stavlokratz  Pro User  says:


Your Photo Wins a Heart
From Heart Awards Group
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

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bossbob50  Pro User  says:



This photo was made by a Diamond Class Photographer!
Please add your photo to Flickr Diamond
Tag your photo DiamondClassPhotographer and read our group rules
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

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-Wolverine- says:

You are invited to display your image.
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If you accept this Invitation,
please give awards to other images.

Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

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Jorgelum says:

muy bien definidas las lineas! nice!!
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

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FA.RO  Pro User  says:

Complimenti da: Una foto per unire il mondo - Compliments from: One photo to unite the world.
Senza-titolo-3
Per piacere invia al gruppo
questa bella immagine e commentane 1 - Please post this beautiful image to the group and comment on 1

Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

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Art by Arlene Babad says:

Wonderful image.

SPLENDID PHOTO!! YOUR PHOTO WINS
THE INSPIRE AWARD!

INSPIRE !! ( Contest Posting Open)
You are INVITED to display this wonderful photo
in the INSPIRE Pool, and give 2 awards!

Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

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Soleil is me.  Pro User  says:

Your great photo be to enlighten flickr friends. Thank you to share your best:) I pleasure and honor to give the awards. BE HAPPY & ENJOY to display your BEST photos we pleasure to approve OR to be the member to:-

SPLENDID PHOTO!! YOUR PHOTO WINS
THE INSPIRE AWARD!

INSPIRE !! ( Contest Posting Open)
You are INVITED to display this wonderful photo
in the INSPIRE Pool, and give 2 awards!

I think this photo is a
Super Shot
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You are invited to display your image at
ARTISTIC EXPRESSION.

Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

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z.patrizia  Pro User  says:



You deserve "Another Diamond" on your Great Photo!
I have seen your Great Photographic Art in:
Flickr Diamond
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

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gornabanja  Pro User  says:

Your Image Truly Is:

Better Than Good
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

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XSTEVIEDX  Pro User  says:

AHHH Tranquility. Nice shot
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

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faster2007  Pro User  says:

Nice view!!
Complimenti da: Una foto per unire il mondo - Compliments from: One photo to unite the world.
Senza-titolo-3
Per piacere postane ancora tante
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

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camillik67  Pro User  says:

Complimenti da: Una foto per unire il mondo - Compliments from: One photo to unite the world.
Senza-titolo-3
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eftimov-schenk-schwartz  Pro User  says:


I marveled at this fantastic image at
ARTISTIC EXPRESSION.
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

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Daniel Schwabe  Pro User  says:

Love them!

Your Photo Wins a Heart
From Heart Awards Group
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

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C4T4 says:

Complimenti da: Una foto per unire il mondo - Compliments from: One photo to unite the world.
Senza-titolo-3
Per piacere postane ancora tante

Complimenti da Girandole e Spirali!
Mi farebbe piacere condividere la tua foto nel mio gruppo.
GIRANDOLE E SPIRALI
Se vuoi , invia la tua bella immagine e commentane almeno una.

Compliments from: Windmills & Spirals!
Please post this beautiful image to the group and comment on 1.


Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

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Brian Preen  Pro User  says:

Thank you for the explanation, particularly from a Japanese perspective.
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

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Avant-Gardenist  Pro User  says:

Will you please plant this (and anything else that might root well) in the Avant-Garden?
.
Posted 18 months ago. ( permalink )

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a02toyota  Pro User  says:

Wow, you have some really compelling work here. Thanks for all the nice photos!
Posted 18 months ago. ( permalink )

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~johnnie~  Pro User  says:

its like an optical illusion
Posted 4 days ago. ( permalink )

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view photos Uploaded on April 2, 2008
by vgm8383

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