In honor of spring I will be covering the different elements of Japanese gardens. Maybe you can find ideas here of creating your own little oasis. I know for me some of these elements are hard to achieve as I live in an apartment, but I can try! The first element I would like to cover is water. I know when I’ve seen pictures of Japanese gardens one of the first things I really notice is there is always some form of water. This includes waterfalls and ponds. It is also my favorite element as far as symbolism goes.
So why is water prevalent in Japanese gardens? In Buddhism change is a very important concept and water is basically the embodiment of change. It represents the flow of time where you can find clarity or peace even renewal. As with most Japanese traditions, the gardening process is ritualistic. The shape and position of a pond might have a different symbol than the pond next to it. In order to create the perfect yin and yang, you must have water as it is the opposite of stone. Running water, like waterfalls and rivers, symbolize different thing than ponds and lakes, but they are a necessary different kind of water.
Not all of us can build a pond in our backyard. Some of us are lucky and have natural occurring waterfalls and rivers, but most of us aren’t that lucky. Now my backyard is incredibly chaotic and a little awful. Since I live in Seattle I’m very reluctant to even spend time on my patio. The catch is that I actually do enjoy reading in the summer time. Having some running water like a water fountain would bring lots of character to my small little patio. I think I might be able to add a little zen to my yard, so let’s start with the element water.
I really enjoy the aged look on this Zen Drop Water Fountain. Not only that, but it emulates the bamboo spout fountain which is very traditional in Japanese gardens. It doesn’t look exceptionally bulky either, since I don’t have a whole lot of space.
I honestly wish I had enough space to put this Zen Buddha Fountain in my “yard.” I have a weakness for LED lights, which would honestly make looking out back even prettier at night.
Clearly this is a must have. This Bamboo Arms Spout and Pump is 100% bamboo and does go up and down as it is filled with water. Some might find the noise annoying, but I find it very serene and calming. If you’re not interested in gardening, this could actually work inside too. Plus, I find that my cats love running water, it might be beneficial for the entire family.
This isn’t an entirely Japanese design, but the Woodstock Water Bell Fountain would provide the water element to your garden. If you are someone who is really soothed by sound, this fountain does gently ring while water is running. Not in an obnoxious way, but in a similar fashion as the bamboo pump.
To me, this is the most dramatic of all the fountains. The White Sand Bowl Fountain seems to spill over itself. I’m sure you can set it to not be so drastic. I do love the design of this, but it’s not entirely Japanese.
Take a look on Amazon for other Zen Water Fountains. I know not all of us have the same taste, but I’m sure there’s something you can find if you’re interested. Do you have any gardening ideas? Is water an essential part of it? Be a part of the conversation, I would love to hear from you.