Japanese gardens have been so strongly influenced by Zen Buddhism that many people think of Japanese gardens as Zen gardens, but it is important to realize that Zen Buddhism was introduced to Japan from China in the twelfth century by the monk Min-an Eisai (1141 - 1187 CE); while the first Japanese gardens to be strongly influenced by Buddhism were created a century earlier, at the end of the Heian period. The paradise gardens of Heian Japan reflected beliefs taught by the Pure Land School of Buddhism. Unlike the Zen School of Buddhism, which emphasizes meditation as the path to enlightenment, the central theme of Pure Land Buddhism is faith in and devotion to Amitabha. The core belief of the Pure Land School is that Amitabha gained Buddhahood on the express condition that all mortals who sincerely call on his name will be received at death in his paradise, where they can continue on their path towards spiritual perfection under conditions which are much more pleasant than if they had continued to be reborn into life forms on this earth.
Amitbha, who the Japanese call Amida, is believed to dwell far to the west, in a land called 'Utmost Bliss'; this is described in the Amida Sutra as having "seven-jewelled ponds, filled with water of the eight excellent qualities. The beds of the ponds are of gold sand, and from the four sides of each pond rise stairs of gold, silver, beryl and crystal. Above these stand pavilions adorned with gold, silver, beryl, crystal, sapphire, rosy pearls, and cornelian. In the ponds are lotuses as large as chariot wheels - the blue ones radiating a blue light, the yellow a yellow light, the red a red light and the white ones a white light. They are marvelous and beautiful, fragrant and pure. The Land of Utmost Bliss is filled with such excellence and splendor. In that Buddha-land heavenly music is played continually. The ground is made of gold. Six times during the day and night mandarava flowers rain down from the sky. Every day, in the serenity of early morning, the people of that land fill their baskets with exquisite flowers and go to make offerings to a hundred thousand kotis of Buddhas dwelling in the worlds of other directions. Then they return for their morning meal. After the meal they enjoy a stroll. The Land of Utmost Bliss is filled with such excellence and splendor."
