iwagumi

Noun capitalized: Iwagumi

Iwagumi (countable and uncountable, plural Iwagumi or Iwagumis)

1. (uncountable) A Japanese style of aquarium aquascaping that focuses on the simplistic yet harmonious placement of stones; (countable) an aquascape in this style.
   • Coordinate term: Ryoboku
   • The most difficult task when it comes to the Iwagumi aquascaping style is to obtain that harmony and unity through simplicity. The Iwagumi is not about just collecting a number of stones but about placing them in a fluent, natural and spacious way so that they are related both to each other and the...2022 September 27, “The Iwagumi Layout: An Introduction”, in aquascapinglove.com
2. (rare, uncountable) A similar style of stone placement but for gardens.
   • In arranging rocks as iwagumi rocks are generally placed in three ways: standing vertically, lying horizontally on top of the ground, and half buried in the ground.1970, Takakuwa, Gisei, 1894-, Invitation to Japanese gardens, page 155
   • The stone grouping (iwagumi) uses seven stones symbolizing the seven wise men.2007, Motomi Oguchi, Create your own Japanese garden, page 36