garden sources

[Matsuura Suetsune]

I have a lot of modern books on Japanese gardens and gardening, but I don't have any real period sources. I am an Arborist and I plant a fair number of landscapes with the plants, materials, and acsents scene in Japanese garden spaces. I have found some possible books, but they are writen only in Japanese. Does anyone have any ideas or advice?

[Date Saburou Yukiie]

matsura-dono,
I have done Bonsai trees, and I can advocate patience. I have about thirty trees grown fromn seeds - all coming up nice and slowly. I only have one mature tree - abut 8 years old. That one, I am starting to train. The others, I am leaving, except to rebuild the root structure.
Date

[Matsuura Suetsune]

My hat is off to you on the bonsai. I only deal with the outdoor kind of landscaping. I'll just have to be persistant in finding some sort of period sources.

[Please Delete]

Check out 'Sakuteiki'. I have a translation by Jiro Takei & Marc P. Keane, ISBN 0-8048-3294-3

I have yet to go through it completely, but it describes Heian gardening concepts.

Also check out this:
mokurai.destinyslobster.com/Gardens.html

Mokurai-bozu is often overly quiet with his achievements, but I really think this gives a good overview and quite a few resources, although most of them are modern.

[Matsuyama Yoshitoshi]

Bit late in answering, but ...

Slawson, David A.; "Secret Teachings in the Art of Japanese Gardens: Design Principles, Aesthetic Values", Kodansha, Tokyo, 1987, 1991.

Part Two is a translation of a C15th (secret text)manuscript by the priest Zouen, Senzui narabi ni yagyou no zu or Illustrations for Designing Mountain, Water, and Hillside Field Landscapes.

[Matsuura Suetsune]

Domo. Thats a new one that could be promising. Any possitive reply and help is better than none at all. Again, domo.