Kōraku-en

:"This article is about a garden located in Okayama, for the garden in Tokyo see Koishikawa Korakuen Garden"nihongo|Koraku-en Garden|後楽園庭園|Kōrakuen Teien, is a Japanese garden located in Okayama Prefecture. It is one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan, along with Kenroku-en and Kairaku-en. Korakuen was built in 1700 by Ikeda Tsunamasa, lord of Okayama. The garden's form almost had turned into the modern form in 1863.

History

In 1687, the daimyo Ikeda Tsunamasa ordered Tsuda Nagatada to begin construction of the Korakuen. It was completed in 1700, and has retained its original appearance down to the present day, except for a few changes by various daimyo. The Korakuen is one of the few daimyo gardens in the provinces where historical change can be observed, thanks to the many Edo Period paintings and Ikeda family records and documents left behind. The garden was used as a place for entertaining important guests and also as a spa of sorts for daimyo, although regular folk could also visit on certain days. In 1884, ownership was transferred to Okayama Prefecture and the garden was opened to the public. The garden suffered severe damage during the floods of 1934 and during World War 2 bombing in 1945, but has been restored based on Edo Period paintings and diagrams. In 1952, the Korakuen garden was designated as a Special Scenic Location under the Cultural Properties Protection Law, and is managed as a historical cultural asset to be passed to future generations.

Scenic spots

* Enyo-tei House (延養亭)Used as a place to receive the daimyo when he visited to park, this house is a central structure in the garden, commanding a broad vista of Sawa-no-ike, Yuishinzan Hill, and Mt Misao in the background.

* Noh Stage (能舞台)Tsunamasa Ikeda was not only an enthusiastic devotee of Noh but also an accomplished performer, and is known for the extensive collection of priceless Noh costumes he left behind. Townspeople were sometimes allowed to visit this stage. The present structure is a post-World War 2 restoration.

* Nishiki-ga-oka Hill (二色が岡)Although the original design was for a thicket of cherry trees that would bloom in spring and maple trees whose leaves would turn in autumn, Japanese cypress trees took their place after the war. Wild birds visit in large numbers - rare for a metropolitan location.

* Kayo-no-ike Pond (花葉の池)To the east is Kayo-no-taki Falls and on the southwest bank is found Odateishi, said to have been broken into over 90 pieces, brought to Korakuen, and rebuilt in the Genroku Era. Daimyo lotuses can be seen in their full glory between June and August here.

* Jizo-do Shrine (地蔵堂)One of six in the garden, this tutelary shrine is quietly dedicated in the middle of Nishiki-ga-oka.

* Ofuna-iri-ato Dock Remains (御舟入跡)Formerly the landing dock for boats bringing the daimyo from the castle, it is now surrounded by a bamboo thicket.

* Renchi-Ken Teahouse (廉池軒)It is said that this was Ikeda Tsunamasa's favorite of all the teahouses in the garden. It has a magnificent view of the pond.

* Yuishinzan Hill (唯心山)This manmade hill affords a panoramic view of the entire garden, spectacular when the azaleas are in bloom. It's 6 meters high.

* Ryuten Pavilion (流店)Pebbles of beautiful colors are scattered throughout the stream which passes through the center of the building - a rare design in Japan. It has a simple appearance and was used as a resting place for the daimyo on his strolls through the garden.

* Yatsuhashi Bridge (八橋)Irises are planted all along the bridge, after the azumakudari chapter in the Tale of Ise.

* Kako-no-ike Pond (花交の池)Originally designed with mountain cherry and other blossoming trees incorporated into the view around the pond. Tanka has been passed down through time portraying how the waterfall reflects the beauty of the flowers. The stream wandering through the park passes through this pond and flows back into the Asahi river.

* Chaso-do Hall (茶祖堂)This building was originally the Rikyu-do, one part of a villa belonging to a high-ranking vassal towards the end of the Edo Period, and was taken apart and rebuilt here around Meiji 20 (1887). Resotred after the war, it is also dedicated to Eizai Zenshi, the Okayama-born priest said to have brought tea to Japan from China, from which the building gets the name Chaso-do: house of the father of tea.

* Plum Grove (梅林)In early spring, ahead of the other flowers, around 100 red, white, single and double-petal plum trees bloom and fill the garden with an elegant fragrance.

* Chishio-no-mori Grove (千入の森)The nearly 100 maple trees are beautiful in spring, when they bud, and in autumn, when their vivid tapestry of auburn hues is like a Japanese brocade. This is one of the most famous scenic spots in the garden.

* Seidan Rice Fields (井田) - The Lotuses of SeidanThese rice fields are here to remind us of older times when rice fields were spread throughout the garden. They were made at the end of the Edo Period and modeled after the Zhou Dynasty system for taxing rice fields. The Oga Lotuses, which are said to have returned to life after 2000 years, are best viewed in June and July.

* Tea Fields (茶畑)Beautifully trimmed tea trees stand in rows. This is an ancient variety of tea which has a slightly bitter flavor.

* Jigen-do Hall (慈眼堂)This building was constructed by Ikeda Tsunamasa with the goal of bringing peace to the clan and stability to the Ikeda family. Two "guardian of the temple" statues, which were restored in 2000, are currently housed at the gate.

* Sawa-no-ike Pond (沢の池)The largest pond in the garden, Sawa-no-ike contains Naka-no-shima (中の島), Mino-shima (御野島) with the beautiful fishing palace, and Jarijima (砂利島), with its beautiful white sand and green pine trees.

* Crane Aviary (鶴舎)Cranes were kept in the garden since its inception, but there were none left after World War 2. Guo Moruo, Chairman of the China Science Institute, had as a young man attended Okayama's Dairoku Senior High School, and presented the garden with two cranes. Later, in collaboration with Kushiro City in Hokkaido, the garden succeeded in hatiching and raising many cranes, bringing back their once lost beauty to the garden.

* Paddock - Archery Range (馬場・弓場)The Korakuen was built not only as a place for the daimyo to enjoy the scenery, but also as a training ground for practicing both the literary and military arts. The Kanki-tei and Kanaha-tei were places where the daimyo would observe displays of horsemanship and archery by vassals.

* Cherry Tree Grove (桜林)
* Japanese Iris Garden (花菖蒲畑)
* Cycad Garden (蘇鉄畑)
* Shitenno-do Shrine (四天王堂)
* Benzaiten-do Shrine (弁財天堂)
* Higashi-no-Inari Shrine (東の稲荷宮)
* Nishi-no-Inari Shrine (西の稲荷宮)
* Yuga Shrine (由加神社)
* Masho-an Teahouse (茂松庵)
* Odateishi (大立石)
* Eisho (栄唱)
* Eisho Bridge (栄唱橋)
* Koto-kan Hall (古陶館)
* Kakumei-kan Guest House (鶴鳴館)
* Kanki-tei Rest House (観騎亭)
* Gojusantsugi Koshikake-Jaya Teahouse (五十三次腰掛茶屋)
* Kansui-saikyo-ken Rest House (寒翠細響軒)
* Shinden Rest House (新殿)
* Kansha-tei Archery Range (観射亭)
* Heishiro-no-matsu (平四郎の松)
* Wisteria Trellis (藤棚)

Trivia

* The total area of the garden is approximately 133,000 square meters.
* The grassy area is approximately 18,500 square meters.
* The length of the stream is 640 meters.
* The garden was originally called Koen ("later garden") because it was built after Okayama Castle. However, since the garden was built in the spirit of "sen-yu-koraku" ("grieve earlier than others, enjoy later than others"), the name was changed to Korakuen in 1871.
* The garden was designed in the Kaiyu ("scenic promenade") style which presents the visitor with a new view at every turn of the path which connects the lawns, ponds, hills, tea houses, and streams.

External links

* [http://www.okayama-korakuen.jp/top.cgi Okayama Korakuen Garden official site (Japanese)]