Urban Parks and Prosperity of Japanese Zinza Shrines in Korea

Abstract

apanese Concession was established here and there in Korea. And Japanese settlers in Korea made first shrines in their settlement, and then, they decorated shrines and its compounds and its surroundings with trees and other facilities such as benches, fountains, pavillions, etc. Establishing zinza shrines and making of parks in the same place was considered as a matter of course. But after about 1920, zinza shrine became an absolute being to make Korean people into devoted Emperor's citizens. As a result, zinza shrines and its compounds expanded, and sanctified. So, parks established with shrines, lost its function as a park for city dwellers. Due to the Japan's colonial policy to Korea, especially by Making Korean people into devoted Emperor's citizens Policy, Korean people disgusted parks coexisted with zinza shrines. So, they took pleasure to looking beautiful vallies, mountains, streams. They went outside of the city, and spent their holidays there. Almost all of Zinza shrines established in Korea were quickly destructed by Koreans soon after 1945.