Abstract: The population properties and stress-tolerance physiological characteristics of Zoysia japonica under 3 levels of water stress (none, light, and heavy), were studied in a field experiment. Zoysia growth was restricted by water stress, but it had a physiological and biochemical self-adjustment mechanism to reduce the damage caused by water stress. The density, height and biomass of Zoysia declined as the stress increased. Relative conductivity, proline content and MDA content of Zoysia leaves gradually increased in conditions of no water stress while the response trend of wavy change was found when both light and heavy water stress were present. Density, height and biomass of Zoysia increased during the recovery phase. Both density and biomass of Zoysia a grown in areas of water stress were higher than those in areas with no water stress, and the relative conductivity, proline content and MDA content of the Zoysia leaves were also lower. There were no significant differences in any of the indexes between light water stress and heavy water stress.