The influence of Buddhism on garden design

Buddhism is the world religion with the strongest connection to gardens. It originated in
the foothills of the Himalayas (c600 BC): see entries on Kapilavastu and Lumbini. It is
therefore understandable that mountains came to be associated with gods. Deities have a
place in Buddhism but there is no creator god. Mount Sumeru (Mount Meru in Hinduism,
sometimes identified with Mount Kailash) was believed to be at the centre of the world.
Buddha spoke to his followers in the Deer Park of Isipatana (Sarnath) and groves of trees
became an important aspect of Buddhist sacred space.

The five sacred colours, in Buddhist symbolism, are blue, white, red, green, and yellow.
They can symbolise emotions, parts of the body and the elements: Space, Air, Water, Fire,
Earth
Pure Land Buddhism and garden design
The Pure Land sect teaches that repeating the Buddha's name, and
worshiping him, will make entry to paradise more likely. The making of
Buddhist gardens in Japan was inspired by Pure Land Buddhism, imported
from China. The Mandala, showing Buddha with a temple and a garden
inspired the making of gardens with equivalent symbolism. Mandala is a
Zen garden design sanskrit word meaning circle, polygon and community. It is used by
Buddhists as a symbol of a person in the world, and the universe, as an aid
to meditation. The mandala shows a palace with four gates facing the four
corners of the earth. A lotus blossom is at the center. It has four petals and
rests on a bed of jewels. The gates are guarded by doorkeepers. See for
example Joruriji.