The earth itself is a work of art — the colors, the textures, the sensory depth.

Japanese gardens are some of the most exquisite gardens to be found.

Their simplicity, stark beauty, and serenity are moving and inspire peace. For centuries, Japanese Zen masters created gardens out of rocks and sand, raking the sand into patterns that could be destroyed quickly, like the sand paintings, emphasizing the impermanence of all things. These gardens are designed for contemplation and meditation. In a dry element garden, movement can be depicted using sand, and rocks can be used to represent mountains or islands in the sand streams. Bridges are a common element in many Japanese gardens as well.

Garden design under the Japanese became a spiritual activity. Gardens in Zen monasteries became objects for meditation and an appreciation for natural beauty. While constructed, these gardens represent more than human creation. The best-known designer of Zen gardens was Muso, who lived in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. Ponds were created to represent mind, and in one walking garden sharp rocks were juxtaposed with soft moss to represent the confluence of beauty and monastic austerity. Raked rock gardens are also striking examples of Zen symbolism, with rocks representing thoughts in the sea of the mind.