Japan has many diverse and beautiful gardens, which amaze with their proportions and combinations of selected materials. can be called a small piece of the Japanese landscape, and every detail of this miniature model impresses with its special landscape. Not the least place in any garden is occupied by various garden structures. Typically, they are made from materials such as clay, stones, bamboo, metal, and wood.

In Japan, the use of (a symbol of nobility) in various decorative compositions adds a special sophistication to them, which fits perfectly into a garden that is thought out to the smallest detail. To do this, it is not processed and most often the bark is not even removed. But the Japanese prefer to use stones only those that have an irregular and unusual shape. After all, as you know, in nature there are no stones of ideal size and appearance. Although, if necessary, it is possible to slightly change their shape. Instead of clay, tiles are sometimes used in Japan, while concrete is used only mixed with other natural materials.

Japanese gardens are decorated with the following structures: fences, benches and stone lanterns (lamp). This, of course, is not the entire list of decorative garden elements.

Japanese stone lanterns are placed in various places in the garden, in particular along the edges of paths crossing the garden; near bridges and bridges; at the edge; near traditional structures - tsukubai, which are ceremonial stone bowls filled with water. The height and number of stone lantern models placed in the garden depends on the owner’s taste and size garden plot. For this reason, they can be divided into four types.

The first place is rightfully occupied by “Tachi-gata” lanterns, which translated from Japanese means “pedestal”. This very word contains the purpose of such lanterns - they are used to illuminate the place where the owner conducts conversations with the most honored guests. “Tachi-gata” are placed only in gardens that occupy a large area, since they are large in height (from 1.5 to 3 m).

The second type of Japanese stone lanterns is “ikekomi-gata”. This type of lantern in Japan is often reserved for a place near the tsukubai. However this type Some Japanese also erect lamps in other places. The chosen location in this case depends on the wishes of the owner or the decorator hired for this. In Japan, there is a legend according to which the lantern is positioned so that the beam of light falling on it must be directed towards the ground. Therefore, areas of the garden that are open to the sun are usually chosen for installing ikekomi-gata lanterns.

The next type of stone lanterns is called “yakimi-gata”, although some pronounce it a little differently (“yukimi-gata”), but this does not change the meaning of the word - “appearing to be covered with snow.” Roofs that are either round or square are considered the highlight of such lanterns. The bases of such lanterns are stands, which are made of stone or concrete. Another noteworthy part of this structure is the frosted glass, which gives a soft glow to the sunlight falling on it. It is thanks to the use of frosted glass that this type of stone lanterns received its name - it seems that the stones are covered with snow. Typically, such lanterns are placed at the edge of bodies of water.

The fourth type of Japanese garden lamps is distinguished from the others by its small size - and that is why it received the name “Oki-gata”, which means “small lanterns”. It perfectly complements the landscape of the plots Japanese garden located on the shore of a pond or near a path. But in the kindergarten small size such a lantern can take its rightful place, placed in the courtyard of the house. In such conditions, he will seem like a king among his retinue of flowers and shrubs.

As you may have already guessed, distinctive feature of all the listed types of stone lanterns is their appearance and height, which ranges from 0.5 to 3 m. But, complementing the landscape with a stone lamp planted behind beautiful tree, you will only emphasize its size. For example, you can use maple for this, which fits perfectly into the landscape, especially in the fall, when the leaves turn several shades of yellow and red. And against the background of leaves, the grass seems even greener, and the stones seem like gray guardians of the peace of the garden.

Stone lanterns are especially good on a dark night, when they illuminate the surrounding landscape with the light of the candles inside them. And immediately everything transforms and takes on a mysterious appearance. In the light of just such lanterns, the Japanese walk along the path to the tea house - chashitsu.

Making stone lamps is a very labor-intensive process, but extremely interesting. First, the chosen composition of the desired stone lantern is considered; here it is important to determine the main stone - the base, which, together with the other two stones, should form a divine triad.

Japanese stone lantern

When choosing the right stones, the Japanese are guided by the following principles: it is necessary that each stone forms a certain “face” and “pose”, that is, you need to see what place in the composition a given stone can occupy. On this occasion, in the book “Senzai Hise” the following lines are given: “stones run away and catch up, lean and support, look up and down, lie and stand.” This statement makes it clear in the best possible way what kind of stones should be used when creating a stone lamp.

Once this task is completed, remember that a lot of patience and time is required, as the stones must become an integral part of the landscape. Installing the stone in the chosen location is the first step. If there is a pebble (sand or moss) on a stone, then it must be given time to “unite” with the pebble, putting down “roots” into it, or, in other words, “enter into an imagined image.”

At the same time, the designer takes into account the fact that stone lanterns are part of the cultural tradition of Japan, which means their appearance must be reproduced exactly. Therefore, a true Japanese designer will never come up with any new original forms. Also here, harmony with the climate of the area in which the garden is located plays an important role. For this reason, in most cases, lamps are made from stones from the local area.

The second step is to complete the “building” of the stone lantern. The remaining stones are selected to be the same texture and color as the base stone. Moreover, in its completed form it should resemble a scalene triangle, at least remotely. According to the old custom, it is necessary that long side the triangle pointed to the “front” side of the house (where the entrance to the garden is located). To feel the desired composition decorating the garden is the designer’s goal.

For those who want to create their own corner of the Japanese garden and test their strength in such art, we will tell you how stone lanterns are made, describing this process gradually, step by step. We just warn you that you are unlikely to succeed. exact copy, perhaps after long practice for several years. And, frankly speaking, such a task is not facing us.

So, to make a stone lantern you will need stones of different sizes, clay and a couple of candles. Stones must be of a certain shape and color, and to determine this, rely on intuition and use your imagination, not forgetting traditional rules. The following types of stones are used to create stone lamps: vertical, recumbent and flat. In this case, you will need: one round (or square) stone, one flat, several fist-sized stones.

Japanese lantern on the shore

Once all the necessary components have been collected, you can begin the process of turning the scattered stones into a lantern. First of all, the flat stone must be placed on the ground so that it does not wobble. As a last resort, you can loosen the soil or pour in enough sand to fix the stone. After installing the base stone, you need to gradually and very carefully make a column of stones (the same ones the size of a fist) and secure them together with clay, covering all the cracks that have arisen with it. Then you need to wait until the clay is completely dry. There should be at least four such columns, the most important thing here is not to get carried away, because you need to put candles inside.

Place the round stone that will act as a roof on the posts after they are firmly on the base. Thanks to the round stone, the candles will not go out in rainy weather, provided there is no wind. If you do not have a sufficient number of small stones at your disposal, you can replace them with blocks cut from wood and coated with clay. If you do not coat it with clay, the burnt bars will gradually be broken by the “roof” of the lantern.

Oriental motifs in landscape design very popular among Russian gardeners. Our author Sergei Golovkov did not pass them by either. After going through several options, he decided to make a stone lantern from wood. Read the article to find out what he did.

The idea of ​​​​creating a traditional Japanese lantern for the site seemed very interesting to me for a long time, but for a long time I could not decide how and what to make it from. I don’t know how to cut stone, so this option was out of the question. Conducted several experiments on working with concrete. This option was more realistic, but had its drawbacks. Firstly, there was a manufacturing problem small parts. Secondly, the product would be too heavy. Thirdly, I would be constantly tied to work, since concrete cannot be put aside at any time and returned to later. The only option left was a wooden lantern.

Preparation and selection of material

I started the work with a sketch. Usually I rarely do this and keep the “picture” in my head, but here it was necessary. The material I used was pine and larch, which were left over from the roof repair. Moreover, the tree was far from best quality and did not find use for a long time. But I knew from the beginning that I would paint the lantern, so I practically did not pay attention to the knots and other defects of the boards. Thanks to this choice, the cost of the lantern is very small, but there was a lot of work.

Base assembly

1 . I made a life-size template of the leg from cardboard and outlined it on two internal planes of the workpiece.

3 . I made the rest of the legs and the jumpers between them in the same way. My band saw made it possible to cut the jumper from a single piece. If the cutting height is not enough, it can be made from two parts.

4 . The parts were glued together with moisture-resistant glue, reinforcing the joints with dowels. Finally, I sanded down the rough edges. If all operations are performed accurately and carefully, you will get a solid and stable “stool” without a seat.

Making a roof

Making this element was the most difficult because the roof does not have a single flat surface. The bottom and top sides of the roof had to be rounded so that the corners were at the highest point, and the centers of the sides were at the lowest.

I started by working on the underside of the roof. To ensure that the profiles of all its parts were the same, I made a template. The radius of the rounding turned out to be about 4 m. I cut the template from 12 mm plywood, both curved and concave parts were needed. I glued the roof in the form of “frames” of different sizes, placed on top of each other.

5 . First, I glued together the largest “frame” from a 60 mm thick board. She will bottom roofs.

6 . To round the surface according to the template you need powerful router. I made a device for it in the form of a box. I made a through hole in the center of the short side of the box.

7 . I installed a technological jumper on the roof blank, in the center of which I found and drilled a center into which I inserted a nail as an axis.

8 . On the far side from the center I attached two roller wheels to the box. I placed a plywood lining on the axle under the box so that the box would not rub against the jumper and the corners of the workpiece when moving.

9 . Inside the box I screwed runners made from the curved part of the template sawn in half. After that, I installed the workpiece with the fixture on a flat, smooth surface...

10 ...installed the box on the axle and rounded the underside of the roof. Conducted preparatory work made it possible to do this quickly and easily.

11 . Then I moved to the top side of the roof. Here the surface is concave in an arc from corner to corner and at the same time from edge to center. To begin with, I glued three “frames” on top part roofs. The dimensions of the frames and their thickness were calculated from the sketch of the lantern.

12 . While the glue was drying, I started making a device for milling surfaces. First, I ensured the required movement of the cutter from corner to corner. To do this, I placed the router “on rails” - I made a frame in which I made the longitudinal sides from the concave part of the template. And I installed three pairs of bearings on the router as wheels.

13 . I installed a couple more bearings at the ends of the rail frame. On them, the frame itself will move along guides from the edge to the center of the roof. The shape of these guides was determined by the planned curvature of the roof. I cut them out of chipboard scraps. After all the checks and adjustments, I started the router and, moving it in different directions, rounded all four sides in turn.

Lantern walls

14 . The walls of the lantern are on the same level - absolutely identical. To hide the ends of the wood at the corners, edges vertical elements cut at an angle of 45 degrees. I had a ready-made lattice, made of beech - left over from the furniture facade.

15 . I assembled and glued the walls together - and now the first fitting. Some joints require adjustment, but this will be final stage before painting. The main thing is that the form was successful. It remains to make two more floors, but of a smaller size. Roofs and smaller walls were made using already tested technologies.

16 . At the very top of the lantern I installed a spire. It consists of a small “roof” and the spire itself. By that time, I had run out of scraps of 100 * 100 mm timber, and I carved a spire from three glued boards.

Light

All the parts of the lantern were pre-assembled into a single whole without any adjustment or sanding. The result pleased me, but the lantern must shine. Open fire, like in a real lantern, is contraindicated for him; all that remained was to install electric light. It was assumed that the flashlight would be connected to the sensor
lighting and automatically turn on when it gets dark. To save energy, I used 3 W LED bulbs. They have a G9 base. It's pretty sealed and... although the lantern has its own big roof, when used outdoors this is important. I installed ceramic plinths on wooden rectangular lintels and secured them in the roofs using their voids. All connections were soldered and insulated with heat shrink tubing.

Before final assembly The electricians sanded the entire lantern, adjusted the connections and coated the inside with transparent acrylic varnish in two layers.

16 . I connected all the parts of the lantern using waterproof glue with 8 mm dowels. The only connection without glue is the top “cover” of the lantern with the spire. It is removable, since otherwise the third floor light bulb cannot be replaced. The rest can be reached through the lower window in the base.

Painting

The main task when painting was to create texture natural stone. I wanted to get something like granite, but decided to leave the grates wooden.

Used acrylic paint. First I applied the base coat. gray. Later I realized that it was easier and better to apply white or very light gray, but this is already the advice of an “expert”. In my case, to get an even tone I had to paint in two layers.

18 . To imitate the texture of the stone, I used four colors - white, black, gray and ocher. By mixing gray paint with white and black, I got two shades of gray different from the background. In total there were 5 colors to dye. I used a natural sponge as a tool.

The painted lantern was left to dry for a day, after which the surface was easily sanded by hand sandpaper with grain 120-150, dust free damp cloth and covered it together with the grilles with two layers of transparent acrylic varnish.

19 . When darkness falls, a fire is automatically lit in the lantern.

Sergey Golovnoe, Novocherkassk

In very ancient times, in the land where the sun rises, a monk named Oribe spent his days in a certain Buddhist monastery, and he was a famous master of chano-yu (tea ceremonies). Japan in those centuries shunned the whole world, from which it preferred to fence itself off with a blank wall, and by the decrees of the shogun (supreme ruler) everything foreign was strictly prohibited in the country. And religions alien to the traditions of this country were simply punished by painful death. Subsequently, thanks to these strictures and his secret worship of Christ, the monk Oribe etched his name in history.

Long before the birth of the monk, stone incense burners gradually began to enter Japanese temples from nearby China, which, gradually changing in shape, were reborn into stone toro lanterns. By the time of the life of monk Oribe, these works of ancient stonemasons had already finally settled in the traditions and gardens of the Japanese.

It has already been mentioned that Oribe was a master of tea ceremonies. At the place of tea drinking, there was always a tsukubai bowl made of stone (a bowl with crystal clear water, from where it was taken with a special bamboo ladle for ritual washing of the face and hands, and after that, water will be taken there for tea ceremonies), and next to it, except decorative plants and a stone lantern were installed. Master Oribe was guided by the same canons when arranging the venue for chano-yu.

Traditionally, the chano-yu master, before drawing water from the tsukubai, must kneel before it on a stone specially designed for this purpose and bow to the stone bowl. Master Oribe secretly carved a Christian crucifix on the leg of the Toro lantern, hidden by the grass from prying eyes, and thus it turned out that at the beginning of each tea ceremony, bowing towards Tsukubai, he actually bowed his knees addressing his god. Since then it has appeared new look lantern - Oribe-toro.

This is just one of the many colorful legends that accompany almost every Toro lantern.

So, a Japanese stone lantern. By design, they can be combined into groups:

♦ lanterns without a pedestal, which can be moved from place to place, or carried (some of them have special handles for this). Usually, these are small lanterns that are placed along the paths or carried next to the gentleman, illuminating his path. Outwardly, they resemble Chinese lanterns laid on their sides.

♦ lanterns without a pedestal, the bottom of which is buried in the ground. Like the previous group, these are small lanterns that mark paths or stone pools.

♦ the most common group is lanterns on a pedestal. Depending on the type of lantern, they are erected in some special places: a place for conversations between the owner and the guest of honor, at the entrance to the house, a place for tea ceremonies or meditations, etc. The sizes of representatives of this group vary from 30 centimeters to 3 meters.

All toros are made only by hand. In terms of purpose and appearance, the more common types are: Oki, Oribe, Kasuga, Yamadoro, and Yakimi (or sometimes voiced as Yukimi). The well-known name is combined from the name of the lantern itself, and the word ″toro″ added through a hyphen, and translated means ″stone lantern″. That is, the full name of the lantern will be: Oki-toro, Yakimi-toro, etc.

A little about the lanterns themselves:

Oki-toro. The younger brother of the Toro family, a low lantern, up to 40 cm tall. Their special feature is that they do not have a stone base. They are erected on the shore of a small or already dry pond, in a Zen garden.

Oribe-toro, or "Master Oribe's Lantern." His individuality - on the side of the support that is invisible to the eye of the eyewitness, the relief of a person is necessarily depicted. Like other stone brethren, Oribe-toro also has its own location in the garden - close to the place of chano-yu, and directly near tsukubai. The height, most often, is slightly higher than the ritual bowl.

Kasugo-toro. The most elegant and tallest of the listed lanterns are often installed in pairs, marking the entrance to a house or gazebo. It is distinguished by a round, long, column-shaped support, and a hexagonal roof with sharply turned upward corners, as well as ornate ornaments, inscriptions, and elegant drawings carved on almost all elements of the lantern. The height of Kasugo-toro is from half a meter to 3 meters.

Yamadoro-toro. No more than a meter high, asymmetrical, made of untreated, or lightly and roughly processed, free-form stone. This lantern, with its emphasized antiquity, like a puzzle element, clearly fits into the dark nooks of the garden that are not accessible to sunlight. And covered with moss and lichen, it creates the impression of a mysterious artifact of the ancients that has grown into the ground over centuries, which makes it especially attractive. It is also notable for its tetrahedral chamber, which has one large round through hole.

Yakimi-toro (or Yukimi-toro). In a country where nature is in no hurry to pamper its inhabitants with the presence of a long-standing snow cover, it is not surprising that a lantern appears, the name of which, translated roughly, sounds like “Lantern for admiring snow.” The main difference between this toro and other lanterns is its increased roof area and three or four supporting legs. This type of lantern must be installed at the very edge of the pond or on a spit so that, together with the toro, you can see its reflection in the pond.

Imagine the picture. Garden, late evening... At the edge of a reservoir that has not yet been covered with ice, like a short Mexican wearing a wide and too tall sombrero on his head, the sculpture of a Yakimi-toro froze. Under the roof of the lantern, with yellow-red warm reflections, the fire of lit candles dances a mysterious dance, echoed by its twin brothers on the surface of the water. And on the roof lay a cap of the first snow, shimmering with the cold sparkles of the reflected moon, which even in the pitch darkness had not lost its purest whiteness. Calming beauty... opening the path to memories of the past and philosophical reflections. I think the Yakimi-toro lantern deserves to be built next to a makeshift pond in your garden.

Tall and low, squat-wide and refined-slender - Toro lanterns, all so different in appearance, they are all similar in their design, because when assembling all types of Toro, elements of the same meaning and name are involved. There are six of them, and each is associated with a specific element (from bottom to top): the supporting stone (pedestal or stand) is the earth; support - water; lantern chamber stand and chamber - fire in the hearth; the roof is the wind; and the top is the firmament or top of the world.

The constructed Japanese lantern must energetically harmonize with the local climate, landscape and plants planted there; therefore, it is advisable to make the toro from the material of the given area. According to tradition, all elements of the lantern are made of stones different sizes, but with identical texture and the same color. Clay has traditionally been used to bind stones together for centuries, but today's craftsmen usually use modern mounting adhesives and mastics. The person erecting the toro must see in the composition a place and a “pose” for each selected stone, taking which it will always be directed “facing” the observer. When choosing a place for the toro, the layout of the lantern and the size of the stones, you can let your imagination go, but don’t forget that the toro is a Japanese lantern, and they erected the toro according to their traditions.

So, one warm evening, looking at your garden, you were suddenly struck by a bright thought: the garden is beautiful... trees are harmoniously planted, bizarre shapes of trimmed bushes, a smooth lawn, shiny with the naturalness of the earth, but... something is wrong, there is no zest... Anything unusual shape stone, or best of all a stone lantern! And this will be a good choice, the Thoreau lantern is just that final “brush stroke” that, perhaps, will complete the picture created in your green paradise.

And here comes next choice: make a lantern yourself, or buy a ready-made Japanese stone lantern at a nearby decorative items store. But if your hands “have no time” and your eyes are “scared”, then order delivery of the finished product on our website. And then, when choosing a lantern, if you have a photograph of its future location, we will be able to tell you which toro will more harmoniously complement your live composition.

And may the new acquisition for your blooming paradise give you peace of mind and tranquility all subsequent summers!

Japanese stone lanterns were first used in ancient temples and shrines, where they kept the votive fire lit. The purpose of such lanterns was not to illuminate the space, but to protect fire from the effects environment, since the sacred fire symbolized Buddha, knowledge and enlightenment. Only much later, in the sixteenth century, they began to be used for practical purposes, to illuminate the territory of private gardens, tea houses and religious premises. From classic to contemporary, Stone Forest lanterns draw on this centuries-old tradition.

Designers have been carving traditional Japanese lanterns and original stone lamps of their own design from granite for 20 years. If you are looking for interesting garden decor in traditional Japanese style, or want to choose a more modern yard decoration and an addition to your landscape, then lanterns top quality Stone Forest is a great solution.

Traditional Japanese lanterns are made to strict ancient specifications. During the day it is an elegant decoration for decorating the garden, and in the evening, with a candle inside, the lantern performs the function garden lighting playing lights, indicating the path to the tea gazebo, pond or house. The assortment includes all main types of lanterns.

"Tachi-gata"(translated from Japanese as “pedestal”) - the definition already includes the purpose of such lanterns. They are used to illuminate the place in the garden where the owner talks with the most honored guests. Tachi-gata lanterns are distinguished from other types of lanterns by their large height - from 1.5 to 3 m, so they look natural in gardens that occupy a large area.

"Ikekomi-gata"- there is a legend according to which this flashlight is positioned so that the beam falling on it sunlight must have been aimed at the ground. Therefore, areas of the yard and garden that are open to the sun are usually chosen for installing ikekomi-gata lanterns.

"Yukimi-gata" - translated as “seemingly covered with snow.” The highlight of these stone lanterns is their square or round roofs, which protect the fire inside from the snow. Often the lantern windows are closed frosted glass, which gives a soft glow to the rays of the sun hitting the lantern and candles in the evening.

"Oki-gata" distinguished by their small size. Such miniature stone lanterns will look great in the garden or courtyard of a small house, near paths, flower beds and flower beds.

The company can also cut any pattern and create any Japanese lantern as per your request. You can learn more about the products on the StoneForest website.