Insubordinate attitude against nature, its landscape architectural dissertation

Abstract

In Landscape Architecture, European gardens are generally realized as the architectural style or the plane geometrical style in other words the formal style and the Japanese gardens are comprehended as the landscape style or the natural style. But these differences between the two are caused by the significance of each nature, namely the European nature is formal and the Japanese nature is informal, We must understand all gardens have a great influence on their natural environments. Our food, clothing and shelter are developed on the basis of their natural features. Our thoughts and cultures are also based on our natural environments. It may be said that man and nature interact each other. All Japanese cultures are easy to understand by our natural features-namely high temperature and abundant humidity. By these natural features, we Japanese receive natural favor of rices, vegetables and fishes. We Japanese can inhabit without animal meats. The Budhism which admonish the wanton destruction of lives have easily found acceptance with Japanese. The natural features of Europe may be representative of grass and pasture. European lives are unthinkable without meat. The Christianity which set up a clear distinction between man and animal has spread deep root in Europe spontaneously.
Above mentioned opinions about the relationship between man and nature have generally found acceptance with many scholars. These opinions are based on the consideration-“the European climate is suited t) the cultivation of grass and the Japanese climate is fit for the growth of rice plant.” But this consideration is in tlae wrong. Europe has a better harvest than Japan about the yield of the fruit-bearing crops-rice and wheat, etc.-per unit area. On the contrary, Japan has a far better harvest than Europe about the yield of grass per unit area.This undeniable fact come to a conclusion that there are the insubordinate attitude against nature both in Europe and Japan in the relationship between man and nature. This attitude of insubordination against nature is one of the important key to make clear the characteristic of the Japanese garden. It is an accepted opinion that the Japanese garden is highly adaptable to nature. But the Japanese garden is quite heterogeneous as compared with the nature of Japan. The insubordinate attitude against nature in Japan may be assumed to restrain the vegetative growth of plants. The development of Japanese traditional technique of the plant pruning for setting in good form has its origin in this restrain of plant growth against nature. It make also clear the origin of the technique of Bonsai (dwarf-tree culture). The insubordinate attitude also means the priority of human spirit against nature. The characteristics of the modeling of special thoughts-especially Buddhism-in the Japanese gardens are also realized by the insubordinate attitude against nature. What has been seid above applies to many considerations'about Lanscape Architecture as well as the Japanese gardens.