Abstract

Among the many public gardens found in the United States, there are specific examples of Japanese-style gardens whose components can be analyzed to surmise their design effects in non-Asian environments. Admittedly, a deeper understanding of these gardens is dependent on cultural background. Their design inspiration was obtained from their transmitted forms from China, then from their evolved forms in Japan. The purpose of this analysis is threefold. Firstly, a compiled listing of their locations and descriptions is a useful tool in identifying them in categories such as: Sister-City Friendship Gardens, parts of botanical gardens, donations from former estates, university research gardens, or parts of libraries, museums, or cultural arts centers. Secondly, the direct or indirect effect the traditional Japanese gardens of antiquity may have had on contemporary Modernist garden design is discussed. Lastly, the humanistic qualities found in Japanese gardens are explored.