How did Zen Buddhism influence Japanese garden design?

Zen Buddhism profoundly shaped Japanese garden design by shifting the focus from mere ornamentation to the creation of spaces intended for meditation, spiritual reflection, and the pursuit of enlightenment.1

During the Kamakura and Muromachi periods, Zen priests became central figures in garden artistry. They integrated religious and philosophical principles into landscape design, often assigning Buddhist significance to rocks and other natural elements. This influence led to several key developments:1

• Symbolism and Abstraction: Designers moved away from literal representations toward symbolic landscapes. The kare-sansui (dry landscape) style, for instance, uses raked sand and carefully placed stones to represent water and mountains, encouraging the observer to contemplate the essence of nature rather than its literal form.12
• The Tea Aesthetic: Zen principles of humility, restraint, and simplicity were fundamental to the development of the tea ceremony and its associated gardens. These spaces were designed to evoke a secluded, spiritual atmosphere, often using subtle, "unassuming" beauty known as shibumi.12
• Subjective Experience: Gardens were increasingly designed as microcosms to be explored or as "three-dimensional paintings" meant to be viewed from a distance, facilitating a deep connection between the individual and the universe.13

Ultimately, Zen Buddhism transformed the garden into a "secluded sylvan retreat," providing a space for spiritual recreation and the discovery of beauty through restraint.1