English index
Japanese index
Japanese index

shinji ike
心字池

heart character pond


A pond form recognized in Japanese gardening. The plan resembles the Chinese character for "heart" (心, Jp. kokoro, also read as shin in combinations like shinji ["heart" character]).  Because ponds of this shape cannot be seen in their entirety from any one vantage point, they emphasize a sense of depth.


Japanese Garden Dictionary: A Glossary for Japanese Gardens and Their History
(C) 2010 by Ono Kenkichi and Walter Edwards. All rights reserved.