Shinjuan, Kyoto, Japan

Purpose/ Rationale
Japanese have developed unique forms and ideas about gardens. In contrast with traditional Western gardens, where geometrical forms and symmetry are considered beautiful, Japanese gardens emphasize organic forms and asymmetry appearing in nature. Japanese regard gardens as places not only for relaxation but also for meditation and worship. Students will become aware of Japanese aesthetics expressed in gardens and will design an original garden by applying some of the aesthetic elements.

Objectives
Students will:
1. become aware of unique objects to Japanese gardens.
2. make a collage of an original garden design by applying some elements of Japanese gardens.

Time Allotment
2 class sessions

Materials
Paper for collage background, 9512, 1 per group
Choice of drawing media
Scissors
Glue
Old magazines about natural objects, such as plants and stones
Scraps of colored paper
Newspapers for tables

Vocabulary

Culture: Ishidoro (stone lantern), Kakei (a bamboo pipe), Tobi-ishi (stepping stones)

Art: Asymmetrical, Symmetrical, Organic, Geometrical

Visuals
Pictures of Japanese gardens
Pictures of traditional Western gardens

Procedure

Preparation
A teacher will:
1. Find old magazines, from which students can cut out pictures for creating a collage.

Setup (5 min.)
A teacher will:
1. place magazines, glues, scissors, and drawing media on the table.
2. prepare a slide projector and slides.

Look at and Talk about Art (10 min.)
Students will:
1. talk about their own images and ideas about gardens.
2. Compare and contrast Japanese and Western gardens.
3. Identify typical objects or plants used in Japanese gardens.

Create (70 min.)
Students will:
1. make a group of three to five in order to design a Japanese style garden for their school.
2. sketch their ideas in three ways:
• draw a maplike view.
• draw one view.
• draw an another view from a different direction.
*Notes: Ask students to use at least three elements found in Japanese gardens.
3. cut out objects, such as a river and a stone lantern, from old magazines and create a collage of Japanese garden.
* Notes: If desired objects are not found in the magazines, ask students to add the objects to the collage by drawing them on the paper.

Close and Assess (10 min.)
Students will:
1. review the unique elements in Japanese gardens.
2. identify the elements of Japanese gardens applied for creating their original gardens.

Extension and Enrichment

School Projects
Students will work with the community members and parents and develop this project into a garden design project in the community.

Resources
Hof, N. (1997). The art of the Japanese garden. Tora no Maki II: Lessons for teaching about contemporary Japan. Bloomington, IN: National Council for the Social Studies.
Horton, A. (1989). Creating Japanese Gardens. Des Moines, IA: Ortho Books. (ISBN 0-89721-148-0)
Japanese garden database. http://www.jgarden.org/

 

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Last updated: 5/16/2001
URL: http://www.indiana.edu/~easc/japanese_art/
Comments:
Copyright 2004, The Trustees of Indiana University