Stone lanterns were developed in 16th century Japan as a method of lighting garden paths leading to tearooms. Traditional tea ceremonies were often held in the evening. Guests would be expected to attain a certain level of mental refinement before reaching the tearooms, aided by strolling through a peaceful inner garden. Every element of the tea ceremony was designed to discourage distraction and promote inner harmony. Various forms of lantern evolved: Ikekomi-gata (buried lanterns)
Ikekomi-gata lack a pedestal base and are therefore held steady by being buried in the ground. They are found throughout the tea garden, particularly close to a special hand-washing bowl, known as a tsukubai. In this series:Yojiru (twist) ikekomi-gata, Saiseki (stone) ikekomi-gata
Stone lanterns were developed in 16th century Japan as a method of lighting garden paths leading to tearooms. Traditional tea ceremonies were often held in the evening. Guests would be expected to attain a certain level of mental refinement before reaching the tearooms, aided by strolling through a peaceful inner garden. Every element of the tea ceremony was designed to discourage distraction and promote inner harmony. Various forms of lantern evolved: Ikekomi-gata (buried lanterns)
Ikekomi-gata lack a pedestal base and are therefore held steady by being buried in the ground. They are found throughout the tea garden, particularly close to a special hand-washing bowl, known as a tsukubai. In this series:Yojiru (twist) ikekomi-gata, Saiseki (stone) ikekomi-gata
In Japan, among the most commonplace and much loved icons in Buddhist tradition is Jizō, or Ojizō-sama as he is more respectfully known.
Jizō is usually pictured as a small stone Buddhist monk statue with child-like features and traditionally carrying a staff and jewels. He is revered as the protector of children and travelers.
Jizō statues can often be found dressed in colorful bibs and clothing (usually red), a practice dating back centuries and thought to help to bring fertility, to protect children and to grant longevity.
Pictured here is the Peacemaker, but there is also the Protector and Preacher in the series.
In Japan, among the most commonplace and much loved icons in Buddhist tradition is Jizō, or Ojizō-sama as he is more respectfully known.
Jizō is usually pictured as a small stone Buddhist monk statue with child-like features and traditionally carrying a staff and jewels. He is revered as the protector of children and travelers.
Jizō statues can often be found dressed in colorful bibs and clothing (usually red), a practice dating back centuries and thought to help to bring fertility, to protect children and to grant longevity.
Pictured here is the Preacher, but there is also the Protector and Peacemaker in the series.
In Japan, among the most commonplace and much loved icons in Buddhist tradition is Jizō, or Ojizō-sama as he is more respectfully known.
Jizō is usually pictured as a small stone Buddhist monk statue with child-like features and traditionally carrying a staff and jewels. He is revered as the protector of children and travelers.
Jizō statues can often be found dressed in colorful bibs and clothing (usually red), a practice dating back centuries and thought to help to bring fertility, to protect children and to grant longevity.
Pictured here is the Protector , but there is also the Preacher and Peacemaker in the series
The Koi is a member of the carp family of fish. Carp have long been kept and bred as pets in many civilizations. The ancient Romans kept them in ponds and fountains and bred the ancestors of today’s common Goldfish. In China, they are recognized as good luck symbols. The colorful Koi carp available today are the result of a strain first bred 160 years ago in Japan from a naturally occurring mutation. The word Koi actually translates to “carp” in Japanese. Inspired by Japanese tsukubai (a hand-washing bowl used in tea ceremonies), this Koi bowl will allow you to keep Koi, without having to worry about pesky predators.
La Lune the Moon is Jeff William’s interpretation of the classical figurative moon. La Lune’s dreamy face is backdropped with stars and clouds which seem to capture the mystery and magic of the night.
La Lune the Moon is Jeff William’s interpretation of the classical figurative moon. La Lune’s dreamy face is backdropped with stars and clouds which seem to capture the mystery and magic of the night.
Buddha (563?- 483?BC), Indian philosopher and the founder of Buddhism, born in Kapilavastu, India, just inside present-day Nepal. His name Gautama Buddha is a combination of the family name Gautama and the appellation Buddha, meaning “Enlightened One.” One day in 533, according to tradition, he encountered an aged man, a sick man, and a corpse, and he suddenly realized that suffering is the common lot of humankind. He then came upon a mendicant monk, calm and serene, whereupon he determined to adopt his way of life and forsake family, wealth, and power in the quest for truth. Accompanied by disciples, Buddha traveled through the valley of the Ganges River, teaching his doctrines, gathering followers, and establishing monastic communities that admitted anyone regardless of caste. Buddha’s teachings have influenced the lives of millions of people for nearly 2500 years.
A griffin is a mythical monster with the head and wings of an eagle and the body and tail of a lion. From the Latin gryphus, griffins were revered in medieval times and animated in sculpture found upon churches and cathedrals throughout Europe. The strength and grace of a lion and the alert panoramic sight of an eagle characterise the griffin’s appeal.
The dragon, a fabulous monster common to many mythologies, was usually conceived as a huge, bat-winged, fire-breathing creature with a barbed tail. The word dragon is derived from the Greek drakon, which was used originally for any large serpent. With the advent of Christianity, dragons came to be symbolic of sin and paganism and the slaying of a dragon was the crowning achievement of the heroes of the ancients. However, our beautifully detailed sculpture by Travis Bond remains a beneficent creature, capturing the bond between mother and child, and eschews the traditional view of the dragon as an agent of evil.
On a pilgrimage to Paris, Benedict fell in love with a young woman. Whilst very beautiful on the outside, she was cold and cruel on the inside. She quickly grew bored with Benedict’s attentions and devised a scheme to rid herself of him. One day she demanded that he perform three tasks to prove his love for her: If successful, she would agree to be married. First, she wanted him to fly her up to the castle tower. Benedict went to the sorcerer and asked for a potion to make him grow wings and then, as requested, flew her to the top of the tower. The young woman admired the gargoyles surrounding the tower and wished that Benedict would look as handsome as they. Again, blinded by his love, Benedict took a potion and was transformed into a horned gargoyle. For his final task, she demanded that he sit not eating, sleeping or speaking until her return and then they would be wed. The wicked woman never returned and after many long years, Benedict turned to stone. Today he watches over the young lovers of Paris whilst awaiting the return of his love.
Buddha (563?- 483?BC), Indian philosopher and the founder of Buddhism, born in Kapilavastu, India, just inside present-day Nepal. His name Gautama Buddha is a combination of the family name Gautama and the appellation Buddha, meaning “Enlightened One.” One day in 533, according to tradition, he encountered an aged man, a sick man, and a corpse, and he suddenly realized that suffering is the common lot of humankind. He then came upon a mendicant monk, calm and serene, whereupon he determined to adopt his way of life and forsake family, wealth, and power in the quest for truth. Accompanied by disciples, Buddha traveled through the valley of the Ganges River, teaching his doctrines, gathering followers, and establishing monastic communities that admitted anyone regardless of caste. Buddha’s teachings have influenced the lives of millions of people for nearly 2500 years.
In this ‘original’ Greenman design, master sculptor Klaus Kinast has captured the classic medieval image derived from Cernunnos (the Celtic god of the Forest) and Dionysus (the Greek god of wine). The Greenman was popular in architecture of this period, usually characterized by a male face interwoven with vines, leaves and other foliage. It is found in many cultures and is believed to symbolize the rebirth of the growing cycle each spring. Perhaps this Greenman will help with your garden’s success.
This Buddha sculpture is a reproduction of the statue from the Heicheng archaeological site in Inner Mongolia. This relic dates back to the Xia State (1032-1226). Images of the Buddha were venerated as reminders of the life and virtues of the great teacher, and all representations have certain physical signs of perfection; elongated ears, and a top knot of hair which covers the second brain grown by the Buddha to contain his enlightenment. The hands are in the traditional meditation position.
