Contrast of Shape

 

 

 

 

Zen gardens are a place for contemplation and meditation. The garden at the Shobo-ji Temple is built up from a combination of contrasting shapes. Geometric spherical bushes, triangular roofs and rough organic rocks all float in a sea of raked white gravel.

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The arrangement is natural and informal, but because of the careful pruning, trimming and raking, appears very controlled. “Though inspired by nature, it is an interpretation rather than a copy; it should appear to be natural, but it is not wild.”(1)

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