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The pond, or the ike,
is a fundamental element in Japanese gardens. As a body of water, it
represents the sea, lake, pond or river in nature. This is why they are
not geometrical in appearance; in order to preserve the natural shapes,
man- made ponds are asymmetrical. The bank of the pond is usually
bordered
by stones, as you can see in the image above.
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| The passage of the water from the waterfall or stream to the pond symbolizes human existence: birth, growth and death. The sound and the appearance of the water change throughout this course from being a boisterous rushing of waves to a serene silence. | 
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The bridge is both a functional and ornamental addition to the garden. In the picture to the right, the wooden bridge is left unpainted, as is common, and crosses over a stream. |
| Bridges that cross over sand are not functional. It
is exclusively an ornamental device used to promote spiritual and
intellectual
meditation. As in the stone bridge to the right, the absence of a
handrail underscores both the ornamental quality and the spiritual: there is no
division
between the visitor and his surroundings.
The stone bridge is usually elevated on either ends by a pair of stones, or hashibasami- no- ishi. These are erected in order to emphasis the strength of the monolithic stones. |
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| As you can see, bridges come in various
forms and styles. The materials used vary from worked and unworked stones
to different types of wood. In addition, when gardens have multiple
bridges,
repetition is avoided in order to produce variety in aesthetic
experience.
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