From Buddhist Sand Gardens to Modern Minimalism: The Enduring Influence of Japanese Zen Design

From Buddhist Sand Gardens to Modern Minimalism: The Enduring Influence of Japanese Zen Design
Japan’s Zen aesthetic has endured over the centuries and continues to influence modern architects.
By
La Carmina
Above:
The Banryutei rock garden (the largest in Japan) at Kongobuji Temple in Koyasan, Japan, constructed in 1593 by the daimyo Hideyoshi.
Zen Buddhism is the direct insight into the nature of the mind and truth of emptiness: When we let go of our ingrained concepts of a fixed self, the belief goes, there is “no thing” to be found. Since the 12
th century, Japanese designers have conveyed this understanding through sparse temples and abstract sand gardens, elements which continue to influence design (in Japan and around the world) today.

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