Description on Rokujoin Garden in the Genjimonogatari

Studies on Garden Technique Expressed in the Japanese Classics Literature (3)

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to complete a history of the Japanese garden through descriptions in literature. Descriptions on ROKUJYO-IN GARDEN appear the most in the“GENJI MONOGATARI”, which consisted of fifty-four volumes, forming 42% of the total.
This garden is the ideal image of a garden held by the dynastic family during the Kanko era (1004-1012) of the Heian period. Its influence upon the future garden life is greatly acknowledged.
The characteristics of this garden are the following.
(1) It is very unique in design and particularly emphasizes the purpose, location, dimension, period of construction, policy of gardening, etc.
(2) Concerning landscape design, it features a large pond with a floating boat consisting of artificial hill, island, inlet, cape, etc. Fountain water runs as a garden stream. The four seasons are distinguished through planting. Each water landscape and artificial hill is constructed according to the law of that time. Seasonal changes are mostly featured by plantings.
(3) Concerning common-use, exhibitions such as boating on the pond, Kemari, betting bow, etc. are performed and banquets celebrating the cherry blossoms, evening cool; moonlight party, enjoying insects sing, and snow-viewing take place throughout the four seasons.
(4) Concerning maintenance, trimming of Senzai, baskets for flowering plants, white sand pavement and bonfires for garden lighting are given.
Four gardens constructed in ROKUJYO-IN are distributed to four young wives whose personalities are meant to be expressing each of the four seasons. This theory is attributed to the Chinese idea and is regerded as a desire for longlasting prosperity.