The Sand and Stone Garden from Above – Japanese Garden, Portland, Oregon

As a Japanese garden, the desired effect is to realize a sense of peace, harmony, and tranquility and to experience the feeling of being a part of nature. In a deep sense, a Japanese garden is a living reflection of the history and traditional culture of Japan. Influenced by Shinto, Buddhist, and Taoist philosophies. The Sand and Stone Garden contains weathered stones rising from rippled sand suggestive of the ocean. The tranquil rake patterns are often present in karesansui (Japanese rock gardens).