How do rocks sand and gravel suggest waterfalls streams and ponds in dry landscape gardens?

In the kare-sansui (dry landscape) style of Japanese garden, designers use rocks, sand, and gravel to evoke the spirit of water rather than using it directly.12

• Rocks: These are carefully composed to suggest the presence of a waterfall and its basin. By selecting and arranging stones according to their shape and size, designers create a symbolic representation of a mountain cascade or rocky islets in a sea.12
• Sand and Gravel: These materials are raked or spread to symbolize water, such as a winding stream or a pond. They may also suggest terrain that is seasonally dried up, providing a minimalist, abstract aesthetic that encourages reflection and meditation.12

The intention behind these elements is to reproduce the essence of a landscape rather than its literal features. Through association and symbolism, a few stones and a bed of gravel can suggest a vast expanse of water or a secluded mountain retreat, allowing the viewer to find spiritual recreation within a small, confined space.12