The Art of the Japanese Garden - Softcover

"A well-written and beautifully illustrated reference book intended for a broad audience. It is a great book for becoming acquainted with the topic of Japanese gardens" --Landscape Architecture "This book is so roundly written that it could, if necessary, serve as the only book one had to introduce and explain to Westerners the basic components of Japanese gardens." --The American Gardener "If you love gardens and want to learn more about Japanese gardens, this book will suit you down to the ground." --Sequins and Cherry Blossom

**Winner of the 2006 American Horticultural Society Book Award** The Art of the Japanese Garden is the only historical overview of Japanese gardens that covers Japanese gardening culture in one beautiful book. Japanese gardens are rooted in two traditions: an indigenous prehistoric tradition in which patches of graveled forest or pebbled beach were dedicated to nature spirits, and a tradition from China and Korea that included elements such as ponds, streams, waterfalls, rock compositions and a variety of vegetation. The Art of the Japanese Garden traces the development and blending of these two traditions, as well as the inclusion of new features as gardening reached new heights of sophistication on Japanese soil. 300 full-color Japanese garden illustrations and photographs highlight notable gardens in Japan, including graveled courtyards, early aristocratic gardens, esoteric and paradise gardens, Zen gardens, warrior gardens, tea gardens and stroll gardens. Also included are sections on modern trends and Japanese gardens in other countries.