The Garden of Ox Herding Pictures

This garden was a three dimensional represenation of ten ancient Chinese poems and paintings, known as the Ox Herding Pictures, which portray the ten steps on the Zen path to self enlightenment. Landscape painting is one of the favoured routes of teaching employed by Zen Masters and paintings were often translated into the garden form.

The entrance courtyard was enclosed by bamboo screens which allowed glimpses of the main garden beyond. Near the gate to the main garden, a single stone represented the the ox herder (the self) at the start of his quest. As a stepping stone path wound its way around the garden, each stage of the journey of enlightenment, from the first sighting of the ox's tracks, to its capture and taming, were depicted by stone and planting compositions. Lanterns lit the way through the garden, until finally at the last gate, the ox herder no longer needs the ox.
At certain times visitors were treated to narrated painting demonstrations on the garden which translated the compositions of rock and plants back to the paintings.

The garden was completed in just three weeks by members of the JGS under the guidance of the designer, Robert Ketchell, then Chairman of the JGS, and won a Bronze Medal.