Here’s a picture of Koko-kyo (lit. “straddling rainbow bridge”), the largest bridge of the 14 bridges esthetically arranged in the Shukkei-en garden.
There are 14 islands in the pond called Takuei-chi divided in half by the bridge. Each division has seven islands respectively. One of the respective seven islands represents a crane, a symbol of long life and happiness. The rest of the islands are all intended to look like tortoises.
A model of the original garden built at the beginning of the 17th century is displayed in the lobby of the Hiroshima Prefectural Museum of Fine Arts. It was designed by UEDA Soko, tea master and senior retainer of the Hiroshima Fiefdom, as a garden of the villa for the ruling Asano family dispatched by the Tokugawa shogunate at the beginning of the 17th century. It looks totally different from the present garden. However, gardens are destined to change and that should be the way it is.
After your relaxed visit to the garden, go out from the door leading to the museum lobby. You’ll easily find the model. The museum shop is also good to take a look and the clean western-style restrooms are available.
The bridge is said to be modeled after the embankment at scenic Xihu in Hangzhou China and was completed at the end of the 18 century, some 170 years after the original garden was built.
This bridge, a combination of a flat passageway and an arch, about 1300 meters away from Hypocenter, survived the a-bombing. Go closer and see how the blocks are stacked to make a solid semi-circle.
You are kindly asked not to climb up the stairs to the top of the bridge. You might trip on the arch to find yourself in the pond at the next moment. Besides, it’s not really elegant standing like a pole on the bridge.
Take time and breathe every different view while strolling in the garden.
There are 14 islands in the pond called Takuei-chi divided in half by the bridge. Each division has seven islands respectively. One of the respective seven islands represents a crane, a symbol of long life and happiness. The rest of the islands are all intended to look like tortoises.
A model of the original garden built at the beginning of the 17th century is displayed in the lobby of the Hiroshima Prefectural Museum of Fine Arts. It was designed by UEDA Soko, tea master and senior retainer of the Hiroshima Fiefdom, as a garden of the villa for the ruling Asano family dispatched by the Tokugawa shogunate at the beginning of the 17th century. It looks totally different from the present garden. However, gardens are destined to change and that should be the way it is.
After your relaxed visit to the garden, go out from the door leading to the museum lobby. You’ll easily find the model. The museum shop is also good to take a look and the clean western-style restrooms are available.
The bridge is said to be modeled after the embankment at scenic Xihu in Hangzhou China and was completed at the end of the 18 century, some 170 years after the original garden was built.
This bridge, a combination of a flat passageway and an arch, about 1300 meters away from Hypocenter, survived the a-bombing. Go closer and see how the blocks are stacked to make a solid semi-circle.
You are kindly asked not to climb up the stairs to the top of the bridge. You might trip on the arch to find yourself in the pond at the next moment. Besides, it’s not really elegant standing like a pole on the bridge.
Take time and breathe every different view while strolling in the garden.
