Full Moon Bridge – Japanese Garden Landscape

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Like all gardens Japanese Garden landscaping is a work in progress.  In these two images, taken one year apart the Japanese bridge was painted white in part of 2011.  In 2012 it was returned to its natural color.

The Chinese arched bridge (or “full moon bridge,” engetsukyo in Japanese) replaced the rock bridges and crossing of earlier Japanese Gardens.

Autumn’s colors reflect in the water.  The color aesthetic in the Japanese gardens always draws heavily upon muted shades of green in the fullness of summer rolling into their autumn colors.

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In a Japanese Garden Landscape a moon bridge is placed so that it is reflected in still water. The high arch and its reflection form a circle, symbolizing the moon.

The moon bridge originated in China and was later introduced to Japan.

It is always important to consider the autumn colors when planting your Japanese Garden.