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Although there are many schools in Zen tradition, Rinzai and Soto are the dominant ones. Rinzai Zen stresses koan (non- rational statements) practice and sudden enlightenment while Soto Zen teaches sitting meditation (zazen) and gradual enlightenment. In 1194, Eisai built the first Zen temple at Kataka and it is called Shofukuji. In 1236, Dogen started his own temple and became famous as a religious teacher. He is known as one of the important Japanese historical individuals. After their origins in Japan, Rinzai and Soto developed independently for about seven hundred years. From the thirteenth to fifteenth centuries Buddhist monasteries played an important role in the culture and religions of Japan. Rinzai Zen became popular with the samurai - the warrior class and that influenced the development of Zen throughout the medieval Japanese society. On the contrary, Soto school was supported by the peasants and it is sometimes referred as country Zen. The introduction of Zen Buddhism to Japan had a significant effect on garden landscaping. .
For many centuries, Japanese Zen masters have built gardens of skilfully arranged rocks and white raked sand, creating silent gardens for peaceful meditation. Compared to the Western garden, the Zen garden is peaceful, and gives importance to the space rather than geometric form. Traditional Zen gardens were made out of rocks, sand, water, trees, shrubs, ferns and moss, which represents mountains, rivers, lakes, sea and waterfalls. The main idea behind these gardens is to demonstrate a respect to life and nature and allow the observer to experience the reality of all things. There are several types of Zen gardens; the most popular one is the dry rock type, called Karesansui, which means dry-mountain-and-water gardens. Gravel and rocks have been used to indicate sacred areas of Japan centuries ago, so the development of rock gardens to express Zen thought was an easy transition.
