Summarize the brief history of Japanese rock gardens

Quick answer：

Japanese rock gardens, known as 'kare-sansui,' have a history that dates back to the 17th century during the Edo period. Initially inspired by Zen Buddhism, they were meant to represent a natural landscape in a minimalistic manner. The gardens typically feature rocks arranged to symbolize mountains, with raked gravel representing water. Over time, these gardens have evolved and are now a testament to the fusion of nature and artistic expression in Japanese culture.