Garden design in China is an ancient art going back over 3,000 years. Gardens were created by philosophers and scholars as quiet, peaceful places for contemplation and meditation. The elements used in design were traditionally simple and symbolic, reflecting China's vast landscape of green valleys, rocks, mountains, lakes and falling water. Paths were winding or zigzagged, which enabled different prospects and views to be gradually revealed. Steeply arched bridges over water gave views of fish or simply reflections.

Japanese gardens evolved from the Chinese over 1,200 years ago and are inspired by the lakes, hills and islands of Japan. They differ from Chinese gardens in that they have symbolic groups of shaped stones; raked gravel or sands around mounded "islands"; richer, denser plantings of carefully shaped and dwarfed shrubs and trees; and stone lanterns.

Over the years, the Oriental garden has evolved into three major styles:

• The flat garden containing the simplest elements of raked gravel or sand, a flat or vertical stone and a bamboo.
• The dry garden, which comprises stones and hills in dry channels and watercourses.
• The hill and water (or tea) garden, which consists of a complete landscape of hills, a watercourse, pines and other trees, all among rocks and a lake.

Oriental gardens are closely managed by their gardeners; they depend heavily on carefully manicured Japanese cherries and maples, pruned azaleas and evergreens, and irises planted in blocks. Mosses are often introduced as ground-cover. Water almost always plays an important role in the Oriental garden; these may include natural looking lakes and pools, or the appealing use of water spouts and bamboo flumes. Simple buildings are also a fundamental feature of Oriental gardens, with pavilions, tea houses or temples, all intended for viewing, resting and contemplation.

Whilst it may be difficult to reproduce these Chinese and Japanese gardens accurately in a modern garden, some of the design principles may be utilised: simplicity, symbolism, balance and calm are elements that are often effective in various garden designs. The creative use of water and hard materials should provide inspiration for designing even the smallest garden, whilst on a larger scale, the idea of sculpting the landscape may be useful in planning garden outlooks.

The true Oriental garden is a place of peace, meditation, and tranquillity. The greatest lesson to be learned from Oriental garden design is simplicity, which may be revealed in the flawless detailing of gullies and channels, the arrangement of stepping stones set among different plantings, or the beautifully designed buildings and adjoining decks.