Sukiya style gardens whereas ornate wooden or cut stone bridges help create a more formal atmosphere.
arustic arched bridge made of logs covered with mud and grass
brefined arched bridge made of cut stone
cflat single-slab stone bridge with no center support
dflat two-slab stone bridge with center support
earched single-slab stone bridge with no center support
fflat wooden bracket bridge
gflat wooden bridge with staggered planks supported on pillars sunk in the stream or pond bed
hflat wooden bridge with a zigzag pattern
istepping stones sunk directly in the stream or pond bed
DECORATIVE ELEMENTS
In contrast to structural elements such as stones, trees and ponds, decorative elements or artifacts add a human touch to a natural scene. Some also have practical uses. For example, lanterns light the pathways in gardens and water basins are used for purification prior to a tea ceremony. Artifacts such as Buddhist statues and miniature pagodas normally have sacred connotations but in a garden context they are used purely for decoration.
The famous two-legged stone lantern at Kenrokuen Garden, Kanazawa, is called Kotoji because its shape resembles the bridge that supports the strings of a koto, a classical musical instrument.
Lanterns
It is said that Sen-no-Rikyū, the great Momoyama Period tea master, became intrigued by the hanging bronze Buddhist votive lamps in a cemetery on the outskirts of Kyoto and decided to use lanterns to provide illumination for evening tea ceremonies. Though the early garden lanterns were bronze, eventually stone and wood came into use. Lanterns were placed by the gate; along paths, ponds or streams; near a bridge or water basin; by a waiting arbor; or next to the entrance of the teahouse. It was not considered tasteful, however, to use lanterns in all of these locations. As in most things connected with the tea ceremony, understatement was the key. Other design principles include planting a tree beside a lantern so that one branch hangs over the top or front. Also, stone lanterns often are included in a rock composition in which the lantern is flanked by two or three stones of lesser height.
Two basic types of stone lantern are those made of natural stones that are reworked just enough so that they can be stacked, with a lamp housing in the center, and those made of cut stone such as granite. The former are used when a rustic touch is desired, as in a tea roji, whereas the latter are suitable for more conventional gardens. A more elaborate classification system divides stone lanterns into four types: pedestal lanterns in which the shaft rests on a base (tachigata); buried lanterns in which the shaft is sunk into the ground and thus does not require a base (ikekomigata); snow scene lanterns that have legs instead of a shaft as well as a large, relatively flat roof to catch and hold snow (yukimigata); and small “set” lanterns that are used where space is limited or where their function is to provide illumination without attracting attention (okigata).
Within each type there is a great deal of variation since designers have always had considerable leeway in selecting and combining potential design elements. Some designs are named after a Buddhist temple or shrine where the design originated whereas others are named after tea masters who created them for their own gardens. Over time, new designs have been invented, some of which are unique and found only in a single garden.
Contrast between a cut stone lantern and one that, except for the housing, is made of natural rocks. The housing, in which a candle or an oil lamp traditionally was placed, is usually made of stone. In this natural stone lantern at Sanzenin Temple, however, the housing is made of wood.
Pagodas
Evolved from the Indian stupa, pagodas commemorate the death of the historical Buddha, Shakamuni. When constructed on the grounds of Buddhist temples, they generally are large wooden buildings with an uneven number of floors. Garden pagodas, however, are smaller stone structures that have a purely decorative function. They are often placed along streams and ponds so their images can be reflected in the water or erected on artificial hills to provide a focal point.
Statues
Like votive lamps and pagodas, Buddhist statues normally have religious functions and meanings. Used in a secular garden, such statues may be the object of a certain amount of reverence but their function is basically decorative. While statues in the gardens of Buddhist temples are often made of bronze, stone statues tend to predominate in secular gardens.
A few examples of the many types of stone lanterns:
anigatsudō style pedestal type
bplanet style pedestal type (rustic)
cplanet style buried shaft type
dmile post style buried shaft type
eoribe style buried shaft type (rustic)
fthree-legged style snow scene type
gfour-legged style snow scene type
h–j three styles of small “set” type
Water Basins
Water pitchers originally used by tea guests to purify
