What Do Stones in a Chinese Garden Mean?

Mountains

• In the microcosm of the universe created by the architect of a Chinese garden, stones, usually in the form of tall boulders, represent mountains. They manifest active yang energy in a vertical and powerful mode. By symbolizing the skeleton of the Earth, stones offer strength and stability to the other elements. Along with water, mountains are indispensable to the garden design; the Chinese word for landscape literally means "mountains and water."

Art and Spirituality

• Following the tradition of Chinese scholars displaying interesting rocks as art on their desks, large and porous rocks are prized as art objects in a Chinese garden. Often limestone boulders, shaped by erosion, these stones serve as nature's statuary. Garden visitors may imagine them as human faces, animals or deities. Many Chinese believe the ageless stone formations to be the dwelling places of the Taoist immortals come to Earth.

Yin and Yang

• According to Chinese philosophy, the principles of yin and yang interact in cycles that drive the rhythms of all forms of life. Where yin represents receptiveness, yang is creativity. Yin remains on the Earth plane, while yang soars to heaven. Dark, mysterious yin opposes bright, open yang. In a Chinese garden water is the yin -- calm, nurturing and yielding. The stone element, as mountains, provides the balancing yang. Particularly, when a stone is placed in a stream or pond in a garden, a yin/yang compatibility occurs, as well as a favorable exchange of energy in the science of spatial equilibrium known as feng shui.

Feng Shui Use of Stones

• Feng shui, concerned with the beneficial flow of the chi life energy, dictates the placement of smaller stones in the garden design, like those in pathways. A curving path is more auspicious than one in a straight line or with 90-degree angles. In this case, the stones simulate a river. Any sharp edges can be softened by planting flowers on each side of the path. If nine round stepping stones make up the pathway, both the number and shape correspond to the metal element, or gold, and walkers may find an increase in wealth.