The Karesansui Story

Karesansui ( 枯山水 ), the Japanese dry landscape gardening style, is an iconic image associated with Zen Buddhism and the ancient temples of Kyoto.

Scarlet Splendour’s Karesansui rugs are inspired by the ‘’seas” of sand that form the floor of each garden. Designs, such as aranamimon ( 荒波紋 “stormy waves pattern” ) and mizumon ( 水紋 “water pattern” ), are raked into the gravel using a variety of wooden or bamboo dowel rakes. These add a subtle textural element that helps to create a tranquil ambience.

Every Karesansui rug is meant to emulate the serenity and distinctiveness of a dry landscape garden—a spectacle that places every onlooker within a moment of peace in his/her life in the city.

The essence of the gardens through Matteo Cibic’s Zen garden inspired designs, have found their way to the fingers of the Indian carpet weavers of North India since. Each carpet is hand woven and meticulously trimmed to achieve the swirls. This activity is a real feat of concentration, as the Indian artisan weaves the genius of an Italian designer's Japanese inspiration, to perfection.