Japanese Stone Gardens

Abstract

It has been suggested that the modern Japanese garden contains a wide variety of garden types. While some scholars have acknowledged the diversity of modern Japanese gardens, recent developments in Japanese stone gardens, known as karesansui, have gone largely unnoticed. Preconceived notions of karesansui do not encapsulate the true diversity which exists today. Moreover, the general public has tended to exoticize karesansui. Scholarly work on karesansui has, however, dispelled many of the myths and misrepresentations related to these gardens. In this chapter, the author will extend previous research and shed light on recent developments in karesansui and the myths that surround them. This chapter will examine karesansui from several perspectives: diversity, sustainability, and finally, from the perspective of consumerism.