…..continued from “The Japanese Garden – 1”
The Meditation Hut
There is a beautiful Meditation Hut built in Phase-1 of the Japanese Garden. In Japan this hut is referred to as “Meiso Koya” meaning Mediation Hut. Meiso is made up of three characters :
me – the eyes.
i – the 6 elements of the world.
so – the mind or our thoughts.
So, Meiso is the natural position of our eyes and thoughts fitting precisely with the 6 elements of the world and is practiced as sitting still, sitting immovable, in meditation.
The Meditation Hut is surrounded by beautiful green landscape.
Japanese Paintings
The connectivity between Phase-1 and Phase-2 is through an underground tunnel below the main road. This tunnel is decorated with beautiful Japanese Paintings on both sides.
The Stone Sculptures
There are huge stone sculptures placed at prominent locations in both phases of the Japanese Garden.
“According to traditional Japanese beliefs, the tortoise is a haven for immortals, and symbolizes longevity, good luck, and support. It is the symbol of Kumpira, the god of seafaring people.”
(Source :: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultural_depictions_of_turtles#Japan)
Buddha Statues
There are two Buddha Statues in The Japanese Garden. The “Meditation Buddha” is placed near the meditation hut under a huge Peepal tree (Ficus_religiosa).
The second statue is placed near the Japanese Rock Garden in Phase-1 and is surrounded by a special arrangement of standing rocks.
The Fish Sculpture
Placed near the Japanese Pagoda in Phase-1 is a small fish sculpture that is known as “Shachihoko” in Japanese mythology.
According to wikipedia, “A shachihoko or shachi is an animal in Japanese folklore with the head of a tiger and the body of a carp. It was believed that this animal could cause the rain to fall, and as such, temples and castles were often adorned with roof ornaments crafted in the form of a shachihoko, in order to protect them from fire.”
Other Attractions
Apart from the above mentioned attractions there are some Resting Huts, Sitting Benches and some Swings and Slides designed with a Japanese touch which are also worth mentioning.
With this I end my photo blog on The Japanese Garden……
References
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