Gazebos in China and Japan
By the 4th century CE, a separate gardening culture had developed in China which then travelled across the sea to Japan, where it developed into the rock gardens influenced by Zen Buddhists and found at the Zen temples of meditation.
In China, gazebos were originally constructed of wood that made them resistant to earthquakes but vulnerable to flames and wood-rot. They were designed in an elaborate style portraying Chinese art and iconography and painted in Oriental colours of gold, black and red. Gazebos (and pagodas which are also a type of gazebo) were used as places of worship and of spiritual meditation.
In Japan, on the other hand, gazebos were constructed in a much more simple fashion and were used in their formal Tea Ceremonies. They were regarded as places to relax and for personal spiritual meditation, as well as to appreciate the beauty of the garden.
The Japanese’s view of a gazebo is similar to that found in the culture of the Western world; gazebos are designed to be a structure of peace and sited to take a person’s refuge and solitude into account, away from the main dwelling place.
Orientalism in Western Europe during the 18th century became very fashionable and had a huge influence on architecture design. Asian gazebos also became very popular at this time and Chinese-style structures were constructed in many a wealthy landowners garden.
It was at this time that the word gazebo entered the English language.
