Crane Gate
Crane Gate is the preferred entry into the garden, giving way to the upper sacred garden area.
In Japanese gardens everything is balanced. Before crossing through the gate a visitors will see two stones: to the right a small stone, meant to set one’s discontent and sorrows on and to the left a larger taller stone. These two rocks will become balanced as the discontent and sorrows weigh down the smaller stone making it equal to the left larger stone.
The gate was made entirely without screws in the traditional Japanese fashion, with the exception of the door hinges and metal plaque. The metal plaque depicts the 12 cherry blossoms representing the 12 months of the year. The red dot is Garden Master Koji Morimoto’s signature and the three stylized lines represent love, life, and harmony. Upon entering either gate, these stylized lines are repeated on the walkway.
Crossing through the gate visitors have two choices. Which path is chosen is meant to symbolize one’s way of life; to the right, ridged and full of structure, or to the left, fluid and full of adventure.
