"Marc Peter Keane is the undisputed American master of Japanese garden scholars; he is also an educator and garden designer in his own right. Two of his previous books Japanese Garden Design and The Art of Setting Stones are indispensable." —The New York Times
In Japanese Garden Design landscape architect Marc Peter Keane presents a complete overview of the history and development of the principles that underlie all Japanese gardens—a respect for nature combined with profound concepts of aesthetics and structure.
Keane is one of the world's leading designers of Japanese-style gardens and he describes in detail the historical influences of Confucian, Shinto and Buddhist ideas that have linked poetry and philosophy to the tangible forms of gardens in Japan. Creative inspiration is found in prehistoric Japanese conceptions of nature, gardens of the Heian-era aristocrats, world-renowned Zen Buddhist temple rock gardens and tea gardens; compact courtyard gardens and large-scale Edo-era stroll gardens.
Detailed explanations of these basic forms identify and interpret the symbolism and principles behind them and explain how they are still in active use today. Topics covered include:
- Early Gardens: Poetry in Paradise
- Gardens of the Heian Aristocrats
- Zen Gardens: The Art of Emptiness
- The Tea Garden: A Spiritual Passage
- Tsubo Gardens: Private Niches
- Edo Stroll Gardens: A Collector's Park
Filled with gorgeous photographs and expert text by a leading garden designer, this book explains the theory and practice of Japanese gardening from an insider's point of view. It will be treasured by all Japanese garden lovers and visitors to Japan.