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Chinese gardens are usually large in size and decorated with pavilions, terrace, winding bridges, waterside structures, rockery and artificial waterfalls and planted with beautiful trees and flowers. The aim is to attain the artistic ideal that "although it is man-made, it looks as if it is created by nature."(Landscape Gardening by Ji Cheng of the Ming dynasty.)
Japanese gardens are known for their small and exquisite size. Although they have been influenced by the ideals of the Chinese literati and landscape gardeners, they have created a style of their own. The characteristics of a Japanese garden are: There are more trees than flowers and the emphasis is on simplicity and quiet elebance. A peaceful atmosphere of Zen Buddhism and the Yu Dafu, who had studied in Japan, commented accurately:"The gardens, houses, shrines and pagodas built by the Japanese are examples of exquisiteness, simplicity and a delicate art that creates interest out of simply things." (Yu Dafu: Japan's Cultural Life)
People living in the busy and noisy modern cities all wish to have a small garden of their own. As it is easier said than done to have this wish fulfilled, it has given rise to the Japanese Tsubo garden. Tsubo is a measure of land of 3.3square metres. A Tsubo garden means a Japanese-style garden built on 3.3square metres of space either outdoors or indoors.
To save the troubles involved in the designing and construction of a garden, the Takasho Co., Ltd. of Japan is now offering 15 models of Tsubo gardens to customers. Customers can also give play to their own creative initiative and have a garden built according to their own design.