TOKYO
Bunkyo District's
Gardens and Parks
Hibiya Park, Tokyo. 2006-04, (C) Seiji Yoshimoto [Source]
Showakinen Park, Tokyo. 2010-11 , (C) Seiji Yoshimoto [Source]
After Sakura, Showakinen Park, Tokyo. 2009-04, (C) Seiji Yoshimoto [Source]
Japanese landscaping developed upon a phenomena called, “ka-ch-f-getsu” which means flower-bird-wind-moon. Motivations to achieve transiency and ephemerality in landscaping led the Japanese to create a concept of formalized landscape experience that focused on natural entities which later led to stylized landscape experiences (hakkei). These experiences blossomed into a traditional scenery appreciation method that considered the rich and cultural values of the land. On the other hand, formalized landscaping that serves to improve traveling experiences for aesthetic purposes and to reflect the natural beauty of scenic spots is known as the concept of meisho. This concept, meisho, means “famous place” and it signifies the actual visiting of places for all aspects of beauty, history, and art that influence the appreciation of aesthetic values. Nonetheless, the concept of meisho expresses beautiful landscape as a highly valued tradition for Japanese people. Aesthetic preferences in landscape have been reflected in the art of Japanese gardens. In Tokyo, three of the most popular kaiyu-style (Japanese meaning for “many pleasures”) gardens are Koishikawa Korakuen, Hama Rikyu, and Rikugien [1].
Koishikawa Korakuen
The Koishikawa Korakuen garden was built in 1629 and is known to be the oldest and most beautiful of the Edo period. The architect who designed this Chinese-style garden was a Ming refugee named Zhu Shunshui (1600-1682) and the garden itself was built by Tokugawa Yorifusa. Shunshui’s designed suggested a peaceful and stable order for Edo society, but after 1868, the government turned most of the grounds into into a munitions factory. The garden was compact and looked similar to the terrain and vegetation of the residential housing outsides its gates. Later in 1938, the weapons factory was relocated and the Koishikawa Korakuen garden became a public park [2]. Today, the garden consists of a vast lotus pond, a full moon stone bridge, and a small temple dedicated to Benten - goddess of fortune. The design is ideal for strolling and contemplation which attracts many people to this serene public park [3].
The Red Bridge of Autumn, Koishikawa Korakuen Gardens, Tokyo. [Source]
Hama Rikyu
The Hama Rikyu garden originated as a land for a villa for the imperial family of Matsudaira Tsunashige (1644-1678). After 1868, it became a bayside excursion site and then later after World War II, the garden was changed to a public park. This garden was designed with a tea house beside it. It served as a way to entertain foreign dignitaries in the 19th century. While there were military defenses and trenches dug in the surrounding area of the garden, the tea house was destroyed by American aircrafts during a raid on November 29, 1944. The imperial family gave the garden to the Tokyo government who turned it into a public park that is protected by heritage preservation. The teahouse was rebuilt in 1982 [2].
Rikugien
The Rikugien garden was created during the Edo period in 1696 by Yanagisawa Yoshiyasu (1658-1714). This strolling garden stretched nine-hectares with a design that had arrangements of several trees planted with shrubs decorating a koi pond with wild turtles [2]. In addition to the ponds, the arrangement of flowers and location of streams were important to portraying the 88 famous scenes from Japanese and Chinese literature. The no-table spots stone arrangements were also influenced by Chinese culture [3]. While the construction of the Koishikawa Korakuen garden used Chinese principles in its design, the Rikugien garden standouts for its symbolism of unity between Chinese and Japanese spatial culture through the work of Japanese landscaping. In 1938, the imperial family donated the property to Tokyo City who then made it into a public park [2].
The teahouse is a very popular tourist attraction. [Source]
Many people stroll through this garden to enjoy the natural beauty of the garden. [Source]
References:
[1] Kido, E. (n.d.). ELEMENTS OF THE UBRANSCAPE IN TOKYO. Teka Kom. Arch. Urb. Stud. Krajobr., VIII(1), 75-92. Retrieved from http://www.pan-ol.lublin.pl/wydawnictwa/TArch8_1/Kido.pdf
[2] Havens, T. (2011). Parkscapes green spaces in modern Japan. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press.
[3] Knopf, A. (2001). Tokyo Japan. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.