Japanese gardening has a culture all of its own, with the goal of producing gardens that look like outdoor scenery, complete with rock formations, trees, smaller shrubs, water features and changes in level arranged in an artistic manner.
There is a major emphasis in Japanese gardening on the religious and cultural attitudes of Zen and Shinto, and this is perhaps why Japanese gardens have a calming and meditative effect on the spirit. Japanese gardening is nothing like gardening in other countries, and many people suggest that it is an excellent aid to contemplation and reflection.
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