Secret Teachings in the Art of Japanese Gardens

By David A. Slawson,

Book cover of Secret Teachings in the Art of Japanese Gardens: Design Principles, Aesthetic Values

Book description

The art of the Japanese garden is a 1,500-year-old landscape design tradition that is still evolving, still instructive. Secret Teachings in the Art of Japanese Gardens explains the fundamental principles of this tradition and describes how those principles may be applied to a much wider range of environments than exists…

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Why read it?

1 author picked Secret Teachings in the Art of Japanese Gardens as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

I love that this book uses clear language to explain how design principles in Japanese gardens are transmitted from master to apprentice, the effect those principles have on the way we see and experience a garden, and the connection of the gardens to cultural values. The final section is a translation of a classical garden manual, and the descriptions of “reading” and placing rocks is fascinating – you will never see a rock in the same way again!

From Mira's list on digging into Japanese gardens.

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