Water garden by Ueji---Namikawa Museum of Kyoto

The seventh Ogawa Jihei (1860-1933) known as "Ueji(植治)"is a great master of garden maiking in the Meiji era.  

He is called by various honorific titles: "one of three greatest Japanese garden designers", "the pioneer of modern Japanese gardens" or "a magician of water".

His masterpieces are villas' gardens in the vicinity of Nanzen-ji temple such as the Murin-an garden.

However this garden of "Namikawa Cloisonne Museum of Kyoto" is notable particularly as his debut work. 

Yasuyuki Namikawa is a great master of Japan's cloisonne ware. The building below built in 1894 was his house and atelier, and it was opened to the public as a museum in 2003.

(Above: The view of the outside with a traditional Machiya-style)

Ueji had a genius for use of water in gardens and he already showed his talent in this garden, too.

Although there are a lot of attractive spots in the garden, the highlight is the water. The pond stretches under the eaves and the house looks as if floating on the water.

The water was supplied from Lake Biwa Canal that had been just opened. Ueji made many remarkable gardens making the most of the canal water in his life; this is the first example.

He made this garden in his early thirties, however when looking at it, we can anticipate his genius as a great garden designer.

For further information: Namikawa Cloisonne Museum of Kyoto

www8.plala.or.jp/nayspo

 

水の庭と小川治兵衛・並河靖之七宝記念館・・・京都市

七代目小川治兵衛、通称「植治」は、「日本三大造園家の一人」「近代造園の祖」「水のマジシャン」など、様々な尊称とともに語られる明治の偉大な造園家です。

作品としては、名勝・無鄰庵や平安神宮神苑をはじめ、南禅寺界隈の別荘群の庭園がもっとも有名ですが、そのさきがけとなる作品として、近年、特に注目されているのがこの「並河靖之七宝記念館」です。

ここは明治・大正時代を代表する七宝作家・並河靖之の旧邸。明治２７年竣工の建物の、通りに面した外観は、京格子、虫籠窓、駒寄せを備えた「表屋造り」。

それに連なる主屋は、書院造りの系統を引く「御殿造り」。２つの様式が組み合わさった珍しい構造として、建物自体もまた貴重な遺構です。随所に、青蓮院や修学院離宮など、名建築の写しも見られます。

（上：　格子戸、虫籠窓、駒寄せなど、京町家の特徴を備えた並河靖之七宝記念館の入口部分）

平成１５年に、並河靖之七宝記念館として開館。

室内には、輸入品のガラス障子を用い、鴨居も当時としては高い六尺（約１．８ｍ）。そのためここには、表の外観とは全く異なる、明るく開放的な空間があります。また、邸内には、旧工房を利用した展示室と、復元された窯場があり、当時の工房の様子が偲ばれます。

庭園は池泉回遊式。表情豊かな園路や、大ぶりな沓脱石、一文字手水鉢など石の扱いも魅力的ですが、やはりこの庭の主役は水。

常緑樹の木々が濃い緑の影を落とす庭の大部分には、池が広がり、母屋が池の上に張り出しているのが、流水の水音とともに、いかにも涼しげな印象。

この池の水には、琵琶湖疎水が導入されています。当時は、個人宅に疏水を引き込むことは許されていなかったのですが、七宝の研磨用に使うという理由で許可されたということ。これが個人庭園に疏水を引いた最初の例となりました。

（上：　輸入ガラスを嵌め込んだ母屋のガラス戸に、疏水を引き込んだ植治の庭がよく映える）

小川治兵衛３０代前半の作。生涯において、南禅寺界隈に疏水を利用した庭園を数多く作庭した巨匠のデビュー作として、意義深い庭園と言えるでしょう。

※拝観等については、並河靖之七宝記念館ＨＰをご参照ください：

www8.plala.or.jp/nayspo

 

Garden and residence of an aristocrat---Kyoto

"Shusui-tei (拾翠亭)" is located at the south of the Kyoto Gyo-en (Imperial Gardens). This building was built as a villa of the Kujo Family, a high-ranked aristocrat, at the end of the Edo period, or about 200 years ago.

At that time, the building was much larger than now, however most of the buiding was pulled down at the beginning of the Meiji era; today, only "Shusui-tei" with the garden remains. (Photos below)

   

"Shusui-tei" with the combination of Sukiya-style and Shoin-style was a guest house used for the tea-ceremony or poetry party. So the building is not big but shows a refined and tasteful appearance.

(Above: Window with a refined taste)

(Above: Veranda water basin)

There is a spacious pond (5,400 square meters) facing the building. As the surrounding greenery is reflected in the pond, the water looks beautiful green.  

(Above: View of the pond over the railing of the veranda)

 (Above: Cut-stone bridge as a focal point of the view)

"Shusui-tei" is open to the public on Friday and Saturday, and special days.

For inquiries:  ☎075-211-6364 (Kyoto Gyoen National Garden) Association)

"Tsubo-niwa" in Kyoto

In Kyoto, there are traditional houses called "Machiya (町家)". Those houses are often compared to "Eel's bed" because of the long and narrow shape.

This Yoshida family's house (吉田家住宅) is a typical "Machiya". It used to be a merchant house which was built in 1909. 

As the inside of "Machiya" tends to be dark and stuffy, people have conceived various ideas to make it a comfortable house.

The photo above is a stone-paved passage between the kitchen and the rooms leading from the front door to the back door. It serves as a passage for fresh air, too.

"Tsubo-niwa (坪庭)" was also created for ventilation and lighting. (Photo below)

"Tsubo-niwa" is a kind of small-sized courtyard surrounded by rooms. Although it is a narrow space, it is essential to provide sunlight and fresh air to the rooms.

 (Above: "Tsubo-niwa" as practical use and scenic enjoyment)

The photo below is the garden facing the formal room. It is composed of some evergreen trees and shrubs, two stone lanterns, a water basin and stepping stones.  In spite of the small space, a lot of elements are laid out with the ingenious manner. 

 

There is a crane-shaped stone among the stepping stones (Above left). The crane and tortoise are known as  a symbol of longevity. So the formation representing them can often be seen in Japanese gardens. 

The Yoshida House called Mumeisha (無名舎) is not regularly open to the public.

For inquiries: ☎ 075-221-1317

   

Basho and Yamadera Temple---Yamagata

Cicades are singing in chorus in my yard. Their shrill sounds in summer made me recall a "haiku" of Basho.

"Deep silence
          Songs of cicadas
                    Penetrate rocks"

Basho, the famous "haiku" poet in the Edo period, made a lot of "haiku" poems at every scenic or historic place when he traveled in theTohoku reigion. The "haiku" above is one of the most popular ones.

(Above: Statues of Basho (left) and his suite, Sora)

It was made at Yama-dera (山寺) locacted in Yamagata Prefecture. Yama-dera is about 15minutes train ride from Yamagata station. When coming out of Yama-dera station, you will see a rocky mountain in front of you.

(Above: View of Yamadera over the souvenir shops)

That is Yama-dera whose official name is Risshakuji (立石寺), which was founded in the middle of the 9th century.

 

(Above: Main building of Yamadera)

Although the main building is at the foot of the hill, most of the buildings are on the hillside, and some of them stand as if clinging to the rocks.

(Above: Whole view of Yamadera from a pamphlet of Yamadera)

The entrance gate below is the starting point of the staircase of over 1,000 steps to visit those buildings.

The steps are pretty steep, however the scenes opening out before your eyes are spectacular and they make you forget your fatigue.

 

 

(Below: It is said that Basho made the "haiku" of cicadas here)

At the top, the marvelous view welcomes you.