In almost every Judge Dee novel, houses have an inner courtyard, whether big or small, that has a rock garden to put the residents in touch with Nature, allow them to contemplate natural beauty, and give them peace of mind.

One can achieve this even in a highly urban setting by buying a big, clay plate, filling it with sand, and setting up a rock garden on it. The plate can be located on a balcony, a porch, a corner of an interior, even in a bathroom.