Reincarnation in a Japanese Garden

The pure space of gardens in Japan has brought great recovery and rebirth to people.

Tesso-en Garden in Gujo Hachiman. (Photo: Stephen Mansfield) In Japanese, “shinrinyoku” means forest bathing, is a word used to describe how people relax and refresh their spirits when immersed in nature in wild forests. Over time, this concept became more and more popular and gradually became the spiritual therapy of the people of Phu Tang. Forest bathing is spending time resting and relaxing in a wooded area and “bathing” under the trees. This term was first used by the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in 1982, with the desire to promote a healthy lifestyle while developing and protecting the vast and beautiful natural environment. beauty of the country. Forest bathing in Japan is a new medical therapy that helps relieve stress and anxiety extremely effectively. Psychologists believe that human energy and strength will be optimized when in a state of stillness and balance. Those who have experienced forest bathing said that they feel all fatigue is dispelled when coming here. Especially in the context of the Covid-19 epidemic, the mental recovery benefits brought by gardens to people are undisputed. Whether in person, online or through illustrated books, the inspiring presence of gardens can help overcome lingering stresses in life. On a higher level, rock gardens (often called meditation gardens) are ideal locations for meditation and mind purification. In Japan, the forests and gardens in the ancient capital of Kyoto are the most visited places. Visitors can find the garden in a quiet residential area like Shake-machi, near Kamigamo Shrine. The dense trees at the meditation gardens act as sound barriers, creating a peaceful environment for stillness or introspection. In addition, visitors can visit Hakusasonso – a sacred garden with a dome design, a tea ceremony house, some stone decorations and a Buddha statue. Or when coming to Toji-in garden, Myoshin-ji, tourists can admire the delicate aesthetic and special feeling of Kyoto. There is a Chinese proverb that says “Life begins the day you open a garden”. The flow of organic time in a Japanese garden is quite different from the flow of work or of time. The pace of life “decelerating” amid the Covid-19 pandemic is creating a new state of happiness, making people calmer and more relaxed. Exposure to Japanese gardens for forest bathing will make us feel restored and reborn. Phuong Thao (according to Nikkei Asia)